Guest House Hens' cottage coop. Photo by R. Caldwell

You've been brooding your tiny flock of 6 hens in your closet in a box from your new washing machine. The little peeps have been growing like weeds and doubling in size each week for 2 months. The new coop is finally done. You want your space back.

Ahhh, yes. It's time to put the chickens out in their new home! Joy!

So, you lock them in the coop with all of the amenities a flock could want for the requisite 3 days. And on a sunny afternoon you let them out to play, knowing that their food and water will encourage them to stay near 'home.'

Dusk comes. Though they went in and out of their home all afternoon and evening, they won't go in now- when you need them to go! They sit outside the door making worried noises and peeking in nervously, but won't venture in to go to bed. What gives??

Solar lights can shine the way for birds in the evening. Photo R. Caldwell

It's actually a very simple answer: your chickens are afraid of the dark! While the coop is 'home' and they recognize it as such, they can't see in well enough to be certain predators won't be sharing their space. Chickens have poor low-light vision and aren't able to determine what lies in the shadows very well.

It's time to light up your chickens' lives!

A dusk-activated solar porch light or spot-light would be a quick solution for those without power to their chicken abodes. Those with power can set up a shop-light with a compact fluorescent on a timer, so that the bulb shines about 45 minutes prior to dark. In darker winter months, the timer can be set to extend the 'daylight', as well. An 'on' time 2 hours prior to dawn helps the birds go to bed at a natural time while extending the light they receive. Some owners will set the day to be longer by extending hours of light at night, but that puts the birds in the position of having the light go out suddenly, when they may not be in a proper roosting position.

Pre-dawn light can keep egg production up. Photo R. Caldwell

By extending the light of your birds a bit in these shorter-light months, you'll get more eggs from them when they would normally take a natural break from production- but it's harder on the birds if you give them more than 12 hours of light during winter- be wise about the demands you make of your flock!

If you position the light such that the doorway is lit well and they can see it from outside, the chickens will be drawn like moths to a flame, readily go inside and climb aboard the roost for some snoozes!

A light is an easy way to get the girls to go to bed when they ought to, before the owls and raccoons come out to play. Having a light available also gives owners an option of seeing in when closing the door at night, when a flashlight might otherwise be necessary. Making light available is one more step to easy chicken-keeping.