rookie from ct
GOLD MEMBER
174 posts
Dec 01, 2009
9:48 AM
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Dose anybody have any good ideas on feeding the kit birds at night now that it is dark at 4;30 when I get home from work I tried those stick up closet lights but not enough light and the batteries run out quick.Last night i stood there with a drop light don't want to tell yous what my wife thought of me on that. Dennis
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Scott
2662 posts
Dec 01, 2009
9:51 AM
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When I hand standing kitboxes I used a Automotive drop light and a coleman lantern , oh the good old days LOL
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Scott Campbell
" God Bless "
Last Edited by on Dec 01, 2009 9:51 AM
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Ballrollers
GOLD MEMBER
2191 posts
Dec 01, 2009
11:19 AM
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Dennis,
I used to do the same thing as you with the stick-ups. I spent a fortune on batteries! This year I ran electricity to the kitboxes and stock loft.....It was a lot of hard work but it was the best money and effort that I ever spent!! One light bulb in each kitbox...three in the stock loft.....it made feeding the birds a breeze.
Cliff
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rookie from ct
GOLD MEMBER
175 posts
Dec 01, 2009
11:33 AM
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Thanks I do have electricity to the main loft but the kit boxes are 40'& 60' away and a royal pain in the as! at night. Dennis
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maxspin
372 posts
Dec 01, 2009
11:43 AM
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I also have a light socket in each kitbox, and yes I have an extension cord running across the yard. Running electricity to the loft is on the list. I will get to it on of these years……
Keith
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1530 posts
Dec 01, 2009
11:44 AM
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Dennis, Coleman makes a retro, spiral U-Tube, battery lantern. Model Number 5312-703. It takes 8 "D" batteries and is rated for 14 hours on high and 30 hours on low. I keep one for camping and power outages. It's bright and will get the job done if you must use a battery operated light.
WWW.coleman.com
Thom
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Ballrollers
GOLD MEMBER
2192 posts
Dec 01, 2009
11:52 AM
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Keith,
We had a new guy join our club who wanted some birds to get started....an electrician! Viola! Maybe you will be as lucky! LOL! The only bad part was I did all the digging for the underground....
Cliff
PS I have seen a lot of extension cords and lanterns being used in kitboxes so you guys are not alone!
Last Edited by on Dec 01, 2009 11:55 AM
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rtwilliams
GOLD MEMBER
519 posts
Dec 01, 2009
12:21 PM
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Dennis
Why not change your feed time. I feed early, They get up in the morning with food in the trays on days I have to leave that early. I can scape feed trays in the light of my garage if I need to.
I only feed once a day.
Good luck
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RT Williams
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maxspin
373 posts
Dec 01, 2009
12:39 PM
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Cliff,
I wired the loft with lighting, and electrical outlets, and then where electricity comes in I have it set up so that I can plug in the end of the extension cord. I use an 14 gauge extension cord to run out to the loft. It is digging the trench that I don't look forward to. I need to run a water line out at the same time, so it is more work than just the electrical.
Keith
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steve49
348 posts
Dec 01, 2009
1:20 PM
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have you considered solar powered lighting? it charges the batteries during the day, and will give light for an hour or more. i've got those lawn lamps with solar panels, but they're kinda small. i haven't tried them in the kitboxes, as i get home early enough to feed in the light.
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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katyroller
663 posts
Dec 01, 2009
1:35 PM
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It sucks having to feed in the dark this time of year! I have an extension cord run to the loft and a 8' shop light inside. When I rebuilt my loft I put the kit boxes inside for this exact reason.
Tracey
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pigeon pete
444 posts
Dec 01, 2009
4:11 PM
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I got one of those solar powered shed lights but it wasn't really powerfull enough to illuminate a 6x6 shed well enough for the birds to feed.
They use low powered led's.
I reckon one for each kit box might do it.
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JDA
GOLD MEMBER
614 posts
Dec 01, 2009
5:03 PM
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Dennis... Sounds like you need a 100 ft ext cord,And a drop light.JDA
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rookie from ct
GOLD MEMBER
176 posts
Dec 02, 2009
6:31 AM
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Thanks guys Old fart i will check out that Coleman but i will need 3, rtwillams my birds are always hungry and they would jump down what ever time i opened the door to put feed in and it's dark in AM, JDA if i have 10' of ext.cord i have 1,000' would have to string it up high so that the dogs wouldn't chew it.Tracey it seems that you have it together good for you. Thanks again for the ideas. Dennis
Last Edited by on Dec 02, 2009 7:01 AM
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1532 posts
Dec 02, 2009
8:03 AM
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Dennis, I got mine at Wal=Mart.
Thom
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katyroller
664 posts
Dec 02, 2009
8:10 AM
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Yeah, I've got a pretty good set up now but trust me it took many years and alot of bone head mistakes on my part.
Tracey
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J_Star
2198 posts
Dec 04, 2009
7:05 AM
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For the time being, go to Marks and in the tools section, they sell the stick on LED lights. I think $2 for a package of two lights. The LEDs gives bright light and use very little battery. I've seen the same lights at Wal-Mart, Home depot and Lowes for allot more money.
Jay
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JDA
GOLD MEMBER
618 posts
Dec 04, 2009
7:22 AM
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Dennis....If the light is on he would only chew it once.JDA
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rookie from ct
GOLD MEMBER
180 posts
Dec 04, 2009
7:26 AM
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JDA no if the cord was pluged in he would chew it once,don't matter if light is on or not. Dennis JStar I will check that out but no Marks around here.
Last Edited by on Dec 04, 2009 7:32 AM
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bman
736 posts
Dec 04, 2009
7:55 AM
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Dennis just put the feed down after dark. They will eat in the morning. Short term solution till you get lights.
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Ron
Borderline lofts
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rookie from ct
GOLD MEMBER
181 posts
Dec 04, 2009
8:25 AM
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bman thanks but that will not work with my kit birds no matter how dark it is they will jump down and peck at the tray of feed I have tried it there funney just pecking away hopeing they get something tetween there beek. Dennis
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bman
737 posts
Dec 04, 2009
9:12 AM
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Dennis, that's funny. You couldn't pry mine off a perch with a 2x4 after dark.
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Ron
Borderline lofts
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Velo99
2233 posts
Dec 04, 2009
1:02 PM
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Whats funny is the tray is empty in the morning. Cleaned OUT!!
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V99
blue sky single beat
in cadance performing now
earth beckons the winged
drawn breath is let quickly forth
orchestral movement follows
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\__\_/-|_| \__\____
/()_)__14___()_)\__\
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fhtfire
2269 posts
Dec 04, 2009
6:40 PM
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I use those stick up lights from costco...they are LED and they last a LONG TIME....they take 2 AAA batteries and they have a low beam and a high beam....anyway...they work good...the base I screwed on..the sticky stuff does not like to stick that long..but I have been using them for about 3 years....They are very bright and work great.
and in my loft I use 3 GE lanterns from Costco...they each take 4 D batteries and they last semi OK...but I only really burn one if I am just going in for a quick second..but if it is night and I have a high ball and my chair out..the loft is lit up with all the lights...anyway...I can post photos later
Last Edited by on Dec 04, 2009 6:40 PM
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Squabby*32
129 posts
Dec 04, 2009
9:38 PM
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I have a set up similar to pauls. I have the small round dimmable stick up lights in my kit boxes as well as a 3 ft fluorescent light between two of the two boxes where the light is shared. If I am going on a long trip (a few days) I will turn and leave the flourescent lights on until I return. If I am just feeding the birds after getting off work, I will turn the small round lights on, feed the birds, then turn them off after they have eaten. This has worked for me for the last 5 months so I am sticking with it. Oh, I have a tuff shed so it will be dark inside without the flourescent lights when I am away as the batteries on the small round lights will probably run out before I return.
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DJJeffman Spinners
ATAPWGIYAHTLY
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1549 posts
Dec 07, 2009
11:34 AM
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Dennis,
Stickup Bulbs
10 year guarantee
unbreakable bulb
2 for $10 plus shipping and handeling
1-800-574-0336
Thom
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rookie from ct
GOLD MEMBER
190 posts
Dec 07, 2009
11:53 AM
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Thanks Thom I called and got a recording,(do to regulations in your area we can't take your order good buy) Dennis
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1550 posts
Dec 07, 2009
3:14 PM
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Dennis, Try www.stickupbulbs.com, I was just there and the offer is the same as the commercial.
Thom
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pigeoncrazy
87 posts
Dec 08, 2009
9:09 AM
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I had this problem in the past. In winter when I leave in the morning it's dark, and dark when I get home at night.
I used to prop a regular old flashlight to shine on the feed trays, then go do other chores for 20 minutes. You could put in a cup hook to hang a flashlight or battery powered lantern...then come back in 20 min and take away the empty trays and the lantern. (I use cup hooks for lots of things around the loft, lol!)
Now I just move all the kit birds to my main loft for winter. I've got electricity in there. I don't fly the kit in winter anyway, and it only takes a few days to re-home them to the box in Spring.
Good luck!
~Karen
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