[loretta cluck]

My girls are let out in enclosed pen at 6am at the moment, and then locked up in coop around 9.25pm, (they have approx 3 - 4 hrs free ranging when i'm home)  When the dark nights/mornings are upon us, i just wondered how other working folk went on.  I normally leave for work at 7.15am and in winter, its pitch black at that time....normally home for 4pm, but at certain times, its dark then.
I clean the girls' coop every day...will i freak them out in winter if I'm in at 6.30am with torch cleaning their droppings up....do i install a portable light, dont want to run electricity into coop...

[jamima]

My hens in winter get let out about 7.30 ish am and then go into the coop when dusk of there own accord, and in  spring/summer hubby lets them out at 6 am and they go in about 9 ish, dont think it will freak them out with a torch as i do that in the wintertime too.

[ehs284]

A battery light with solar panel on the roof is cheap and works well - you don't need anything powerful or expensive. They will moan at you, but generally have a low opinion of humans so it will just confirm their convictions that all people are mad.

[Sassy]

You can also get head torches with an option of a red light which does not disturb them. Whatever you decide they will get used to.

[loretta cluck]

Thanks for the advice....I've only had my beautiful girls 6 and a half weeks, and want everything to be right for them.  Will get the light sorted over the weekend.