Do chickens need a light at night?

You may have read about night lighting for hens if you maintain chickens in your backyard or are considering doing so.

When building up a new coop, it might be tempting to have every piece of equipment and gadget a chicken could possible require, but is having lights in the coop beneficial to the chickens?

Simply said, chickens don't require a light in their coop since they know when it's time to roost when it gets dark. It is best for the health and wellbeing of the chicken to allow them to roost naturally in the dark because using illumination might interfere with a chicken's natural body clock.

Continue reading to learn more about how light might alter a chicken's laying schedule and when a coop light could be advantageous.

When to use lighting in a chicken coop?

Although a light in a chicken coop is not necessary, there are several situations in which a torch or temporary light might be helpful. These include:

1. Leading hens inside the coop with the help of a light
When it becomes dark and it's time to roost, hens that are new to you or who you're relocating into a new coop will often find their way inside.

There are exceptions to this rule, and occasionally young chicks may be a bit lost and unaware of their proper roosting location.

Because they lack night vision, chickens will remain still wherever they are when it becomes dark.

The hens will be able to climb up on the roosting bars if you shine a light inside the coop or place a small torch or light inside the coop to assist them see where they need to go to roost.

The light should be removed after the hens are comfortable so they can have a full night's sleep.

This advice is especially helpful for hens who had previously been caged or kept in batteries since they are accustomed to artificial illumination during non-roosting hours.

2. Verifying the coop is filled with hens before you close it
You could notice that some hens enter the coop to roost sooner than others if you have a flock of chickens that are allowed to roam free throughout the day.

In this situation, it helps to have a light nearby so you can quickly count the number of chickens inside the coop before locking it for the night.

3. Using an automated coop door and a coop light
If you're not always there when the hens need to be shut inside the coop for the night or let out in the morning, an automated coop door can be quite helpful.

When using an automated coop door for the first time, you might worry about whether all of the hens have entered the coop before it closes. To attract the hens inside the coop, use a tiny light that is timed to turn on just before the door is about to close.

Will chickens sleep with a light on?

Chickens won't get a good night's sleep if a light is on, much like us and pretty much any other animal. A chicken won't be enticed to roam around the coop while it's dark since it can't see; but, when it's light, they may walk around and this might lead to behavioral issues like pecking other chickens.

Their internal clock adjusts to the seasons and the availability of natural light throughout the year. Because darkness brings danger, chickens are programmed to roost when it is dark.

Similar to humans, chickens require a good night's sleep to support their regular bodily cycles and functions. However, they won't obtain the full benefits of a restful sleep unless the coop is completely dark at night.

Do chickens need light to lay eggs?

In order to increase the egg output from the birds and keep the farm financially sustainable, commercial egg-producing chicken farms often employ artificial lighting.

A decline in egg output throughout the winter is common among chicken owners because chickens require a full day of daylight to maintain a regular rhythm of egg-laying.

This doesn't mean they always come to a complete stop, but it's common to see some of them slow down, especially in really cold weather.

Do chickens need windows in their coop for light?

Because they will enter their coop at dusk and sleep there until light, chickens don't require windows in their coop.

Unless they need to go inside to lay, hens will prefer to spend the day outside while they are grazing or relaxing in their run.

Don't worry if your coop doesn't have any windows because they serve no use for the hens, and having windows won't have any negative effects either.

Benwei chicken coop lighting for egg production