Solar chicken coop lights are an eco-friendly way to keep your chickens happy, safe and productive. Our overall favorite is the Jior Solar Indoor Pendant Lights, but there are some other great options available depending on your needs and preferences.
The best solar lights for chicken coops
Here’s our round-up of our favorite solar chicken coop lights. Some are perfect for giving light inside your coop on winter days, while others are ideal to set up outside your chicken coop and keep predators away.
1. Top pick: Jior Solar Indoor Pendant Lights
This double-head solar lamp comes with a powerful solar panel and battery that gives an impressive 10 hours of run time. It also has an in-built protection circuit that helps to extend battery life, and two extra 118-inch cables to give you extra cable length for positioning the solar panels where they will have maximum exposure to the sun.
It is equipped with bright, 16-LED lights that will illuminate a large chicken coop, or can be put on a dimmed setting. You can also choose between a white light and a warm-toned light, depending on the type of light that your chickens like the most.
The lights can be adjusted and positioned to light up the entire chicken coop. We also like that they are easy to install, being simple to set up without specialized knowledge or tools and you can turn the lights on and off using the remote control.
These Jior pendant lamps are rated IP65 waterproof, meaning they will withstand rain and extreme weather if your coop isn’t fully covered.
What we like:
- Adjustable brightness: With 16 LEDs, these lamps are bright enough to illuminate a large chicken coup or can be set on a dimmer with motion detector settings.
- Various settings: The lamp can be adjusted to the perfect position, changed between white and warm.
- Long run time: When the battery is fully charged it will run for up to 10 hours, providing light all day to extend your chickens’ laying time. It also comes with an in-built protection circuit that helps to extend battery life.
- Extra-long cables: Giving you more length to position the solar panel in the sunniest spot.
- Durable: IP65 waterproof and sturdily-built, these lights will withstand outdoor use and harsh conditions.
What we don’t like:
- Short remote control range: Although you can turn the lights on and off with a remote control, the remote doesn’t have a very long range.
This double-head pendant lamp is our top pick for solar chicken coop lights because it is durable, versatile, and easy to set up and used. Being IP65 waterproof, they are suitable for all types of chicken coops, and the bright, 1-LED lights are adjustable and can be set to white or warm light.
With up to 10 hours of run time, and extra cables for optimal solar panel positioning, these lights won’t let you down!
2. Runner up: Richarm Solar Flood Lights
If you’re looking for a solar light to set up outside your chicken coop, as a predator detector, this floodlight from Richarm is a good pick. They are suitable for outdoor use, being made from durable metal and glass, and IP65 waterproof.
Fitted with LEDs giving 10 watts or 500 lumens, this super-bright light will deter predators and keep your chickens safe. They are powered with a powerful 4000mAh, 3.7 volt lithium-ion battery that will give five to seven hours of continuous runtime when fully charged.
The Richarm flood lights are fitted with various settings: you can set them to turn on at dusk, during a set two to six hour time period, or control them with the remote control. You can install the light and solar panel on your chicken coop wall using the adjustable wall bracket, or place it on the ground like a patio light.
What we like:
- Bright: With super-bright 500 lumens, this floodlight is bright enough to scare away predators.
- Powerful battery: The 4000mAh battery is powerful and reliable, giving five to seven hours of runtime.
- Durable: Made from sturdy metal and glass, these lights are durable and IP65 waterproof.
- Multiple settings: You can choose to have the lights on all night, or set to run for a set period.
What we don’t like:
- Remote unreliable: Some online users report that the remote is defective or won’t adjust the lighting settings.
This solar floodlight from Richarm is durable, powerful and IP65 waterproof, so is perfect for mounting on the outside wall of your chicken coop to deter predators and keep your chickens safe. With a powerful battery and multiple settings, this is our second favorite solar light for chicken coops.
3. Budget pick: KK.BOL Portable Solar LED Light Bulb
This light bulb from KK.BOL can be connected directly to the 0.8 watt/5V solar panel and battery, or you can use a five – eight volt charger for backup charging. The 800mAh battery will supply enough power for the light to run for four to five hours when fully charged.
You can also charge the battery from mains electricity as a backup if solar charging is not an option, and a USB charging cable is included.
With 12 LEDs producing 15 watts of power, this isn’t the brightest light on the market, but it will be sufficient for a small chicken coop. Furthermore, this light comes with a very reasonable price tag, making it excellent value for money.
This versatile solar light bulb can be fixed in place as a permanent fixture, or you can take the light, panel and battery with you and set it up anywhere. The whole setup is compact and portable, so you can take it with you for camping in summer or use in an emergency, and then return it to your chicken coop in winter, for example.
What we like:
- Portable: Compact and easy to transport, you can move this solar light between your chicken coop and other uses.
- Affordable: One of the cheaper solar lights around, this KK.BOL light offers excellent value for money.
- USB backup charging: There is an option to charge the battery from mains electricity, to top up the battery when sunshine is short supply, for example.
What we don’t like:
- Short runtime: With a comparatively small 800mAh battery capacity, the light will run for just four to five hours when the battery is fully charged.
- Not very bright: The bulb only produces around 15 watts, so is dimmer than most lights on this list, so may not be effective in a larger space.
Although this light may not be bright enough for a large chicken coop, it should be sufficient for most small to medium coops. Given the affordable price, it may even be a good option to buy two of these for a larger coop.
Being portable and versatile, you could put this light to multiple uses: not only keeping your chickens happy, but also lighting your way in other outdoor spaces and activities.
4. Highest rated: InnoGear Solar Wall Sconces
These solar wall sconces from InnoGear have one of the highest user ratings on Amazon. Reviewers highly praise their quality and performance, easy installation, and versatility.
You can choose between four modes: one quarter brightness overnight, half brightness overnight, full brightness when motion is detected and otherwise off, or dim mode overnight with full brightness if motion is detected. In full brightness, the lights will give out a lot of light, with 80 LEDs producing up to 450 lumens.
One thing we really like about these solar lights is their various motion sensor functions. Mounting them outside your chicken coup will allow you to scare away predators and protect your chickens without needing to have the lights on all night, draining the battery.
Online reviewers also praise these lights for their durability, with users reporting that they have withstood extreme weather conditions including storms and hurricane-force winds.
What we like:
- Motion sensor: Sensor-triggered lights help you to get the most out of your battery while scaring away predators.
- Multiple settings: You can choose between four different lighting modes to suit different situations and needs.
- Bright: The light has a total of 80 LEDs, giving out 450 lumens at full brightness, making it an effective predator deterrent.
- Durable: These sturdy lights will withstand extreme winds and other weather.
What we don’t like:
- Mounting pole: These sconces are designed to be mounted on a pole extending from the eaves and gutters of your house, which may or may not be suitable for your chicken coop, depending on the design.
These popular wall-mounted lights from InnoGear will make an effective predator deterrent when you mount them outside your chicken coop with their very bright lights. Durable, easy to set up, you can choose between a variety of settings, depending on your needs.
5. Best predator deterrent: Yinghao Solar Powered Red LED Light
These solar-powered lights from Yinghao are specifically designed to scare away predators and deter pests. They are fitted with two red LED lights that emulate blinking eyes of large animals, keeping wild animals at bay and protecting your chickens.
The red lights constantly flash throughout the night, providing an on-going deterrent while it is dark. Red light is effective as a deterrent because it not only mimics the eyes of large predators found in the wild, but it can also be seen from large distances, over 3000 feet away.
The lights are powered by a rechargeable battery that is charged by built-in solar panels, all part of the same compact unit. The energy-efficient blinking red lights will run for up to 12 hours after solar charging for just five hours.
This means that it will work effectively even with minimal solar charging and work all the way through long, dark nights in winter.
What we like:
- Effective predator deterrent: The flashing red lights mimic eyes and signal danger to wild animals, scaring them off.
- Long range: These lights can be seen over 3000 feet away, keeping predators far away and making sure your chickens are safe.
- Energy efficient: The two lights will run for 12 hours on just five hours of solar charging, meaning you’ll get a long run time even when solar charging is limited.
What we don’t like:
- One mode only: Though an effective predator deterrent, you won’t be able to use these lights for any other purposes such as illuminating the area.
These double red flashing lights will deter pests and predators alike, keeping your chickens safe. Being very energy efficient, they are a great choice if you live somewhere with limited sunlight during some parts of the year.
6. Best remote-controlled lights: Kyson Solar Powered Led Shed Light
These Kyson solar lamps can be effortlessly controlled at a distance with remote control, or using the manual pull cord, making it easy to turn on in the dark. The same remote will control both lights included in the pack.
They are also easy to install and set up: all you need to do is attach the panel and lights to the included fitting brackets.
With the standard installation, these lamps sit at a 15-inch drop from the ceiling, but you can customize this set up by hanging them on a hook instead. Another plus of these solar lights is that they have an extra-long, 9.8-foot long cable so you have more room to position the solar panel in the best spot to capture the most sun throughout the day.
We also like the classic design of these lights, which is sure to contribute to the aesthetics of your chicken coop!
What we like:
- Easy to use: You can turn these lights on and off from a distance with the remote control, or up close in the dark using the pull cord.
- Great aesthetics: These solar lamps have a classic, aesthetically pleasing design.
- Extra-long cable: You can find the perfect spot to position the solar panel and then connect it to the lamps with the almost 9.8-foot long cable.
- Adjustable: You can install the lamps hanging 15 inches, or hang them closer to the ceiling in a smaller coop.
What we don’t like:
- Limited functionality: These lights only have one setting, so you cannot adjust the brightness or light color.
These lights make a great option to give your chickens extra light on gloomy winter days and extend their egg-laying time. With the remote control, you’ll be able to turn them on and off from a distance, or use the easy pull cord.
Solar chicken coop lights buying guide
Although you won’t find many solar lights marketed specifically to be used in chicken coops, you can find solar flood lights or security lights that are well-suited to this purpose. Although there are plenty of suitable solar lights, it is important to know what you’re looking for in order to choose lights that will keep your chickens happy and safe.
Why buy a solar light for your chicken coop?
If you have a chicken coop, you’ll know how important lights are to keep your hens happy, productive, and safe.
- Chicken coop lights can deter pests and predators, either by shining light in their eyes or flooding the area with light when they sense movement.
- They can also be used to emulate the sun in gloomy winter months to extend your chickens’ egg production.
- There are many ecological benefits of solar chicken coop lights rather than installing lights that are wired into your main electricity supply. This is one of the many ways you can lower your energy consumption and reduce your carbon footprint.
- Good-quality solar lights come with rechargeable batteries that will charge during the day and then have enough power to last all night. Additionally, if you choose a quality product, the battery should last you for years before needing to be replaced. Furthermore, because the lights run on their own system and built-in battery they’ll work reliably, even during a power outage.
As many people are setting up chicken runs in their yards as a way to live a more self-sufficient, sustainable lifestyle, solar lights fit perfectly with this approach.
However, it is important to note that you shouldn’t leave lights on inside your chicken coop at night. You should either set lights up inside your chicken coop and use them on gloomy days, or have lights outside the chicken coop at night to deter predators and keep your chickens safe.
Things to consider when buying solar chicken coop lights
Here are some of the most important things to take into consideration to choose the best solar-powered lights for your chicken coop. Because there are few solar lights that are designed for chicken coops specifically, here are some criteria you can use to assess outdoor, shed, or camping lights to see if they are suitable for your chicken coop.
How much light does it provide?
The brightness of the light is an essential consideration for solar chicken coop lights. The lights need to be bright enough to serve their purpose, but shouldn’t be so bright that they stress out your chickens.
When it comes to brightness, you should look at the total amount of watts provided by all the lights combined.
Most chicken coops need between 100 and 300 lumens of light, depending on the size of the coop, which will require between three and six watts of power to run. Having multiple LED lights of smaller units, such as 1.5 watt bulbs allows you to evenly distribute the lighting throughout the space, as well as reach awkward spots and corners.
How big is your chicken coop?
The size of your coop or the area you want to light is also an important factor when it comes to choosing solar chicken coop lights.
Firstly, the size of your coop determines how much light you need:
- A small chicken coop generally needs LED lights with three to four watts of power or 100 lumens.
- A large chicken coop usually needs around six watts of LED lights or 300 lumens.
How long does it take to charge?
As with any solar device, how long solar chicken coop lights take to charge affects their performance. Ideally, you should look for a system where the battery will fully charge in five to seven hours like the Yinghao Solar Powered Red LED Light, helping to ensure it charges every day.
This will also be affected by how much sunlight the panel receives. If you live in a climate without a lot of sun, it is even more important to have a battery with a large storage capacity, so that more power can be stored on sunny days to help ensure the lights have a constant power supply.
Depending on the location of your chicken coop, a panel that comes with a long cable like can be helpful. This way, you can put the panel in the best spot to receive maximum sunlight throughout the day and optimal charging.
Along with the amount of time the battery takes to charge, it is also important to consider how long the battery will last when fully charged. This is important to ensure that the lights run all day or all night for a predator deterrent.
For example, Jior Solar Indoor Pendant Lights will provide 10 hours of light when fully charged.
What is your budget?
You should also keep in mind that using solar lights will greatly reduce your running costs as you won’t need to pay for electricity to power them. Therefore, it can be more cost effective over the long run to invest in solar lights over wired-in lights, even if there is a higher initial investment.
What do the lights look like?
Solar chicken coop lights come in a variety of designs, such as hanging bulbs, pendant lamps, or outdoor flood lights. As with anything you have in your property, you probably want it to look good, though this will be more important to some people than it is to others.
Along with aesthetics, each type of solar chicken coop light has its practical pros and cons. Some are more suitable to be mounted outside as a predator deterrent, while others are better for inside your chicken coop.
Therefore, it is important to consider how you are planning to use the solar chicken coop lights to choose the right design for you.
Are the lights permanently fixed?
Some solar chicken coop lights need to be permanently mounted while others are portable and can be set up or removed as you like.
The advantage of portable lights like the KK.BOL Portable Solar LED Light Bulb is that you can take them down and use them for other purposes like camping, and then put them back up on your chicken coop afterwards.
However, more portable lights may not be as sturdy or durable as those that are permanently fixed such as the InnoGear Solar Wall Sconces.
Does it have special features?
Some solar chicken coop lights come with special features. For example, they may come with dedicated predator deterrents such as flashing red light, such as the Yinghao Solar Powered Red LED Light.
Most solar chicken coop lights are waterproof and this is particularly important if your coop is only partially covered from the elements. It’s best to look for solar lights that are IP65-waterproof rated such as the Jior Solar Indoor Pendant Lights or the Richarm Solar Flood Lights.
Some solar chicken coop lights come with USB charging as a backup charging option. For example, you could go for the KK.BOL Portable Solar LED Light Bulb that has USB charging as a backup on gloomy days or when solar charging is not otherwise available.
FAQs
Still have burning questions about how to buy the best solar chicken coop lights for you? Here are the answers to some of the most common questions on the subject to help you make the best purchase.
Why should you put a light in your chicken coop?
Putting a light in your chicken coop can keep your chickens happy and emulate the sunny on dark or gloomy days, particularly in winter, and extend their egg-laying season. However, you can also use a light on the outside of your chicken coop.
There are three main reasons to install chicken coop lights:
- Illumination on dark days, particularly to emulate the sun in winter
- Providing warmth
- Keeping your chickens safe from predators at night (outside the chicken coop)
Do chicken coops need a light on at night?
You should not leave lights on inside your chicken coop at night as this can disrupt your chickens’ biological rhythms. However, lights on the outside of your chicken coop can be an effective way to keep your chickens safe from pests and predators.
How much light do chickens need in order to lay?
Generally, chickens need at least 12 hours of sunlight every day to be productive egg-layers, while 14 to 16 hours of daily sunlight is optimal.
Key takeaways
A good light can either encourage your chickens to lay through short winter days, or keep predators away at night. Solar lights are a great option for chicken coops because they are eco-friendly, reliable, and cost-effective.
Our top pick as the best solar light for chicken coops is the Jior Solar Indoor Pendant Light. We also really like the Richarm Solar Flood Lights and the KK.BOL Portable Solar LED Light Bulb makes a great budget-friendly option.
These lights will keep your chickens happy, healthy, and safe using the sun’s energy and protecting the planet at the same time!
If you’ve found this round-up of the best solar lights for chicken coops helpful, do share it with your networks on social media.
