Light in the coop?

Fairly new here so HELLO!

Our babies are about 6 weeks old, fully feathered. We finally finished the coop and moved them out there two days ago when they were 6 weeks old (we think they are 6 weeks anyways... see the picture below)! Anyways... it's about 20-30 degrees at night right now and we still use a 100 watt flood light for warmth in their coop... Do you think this is needed?? I turn it off during the day and they seem content but I am afraid to turn it off at night...

I guess it depends on your weather? Is it warm enough in their house with out the light? I have 5 week old chicks in the same situation and leave the light on because i think some of them could use the extra warmth. Some others seem a little more advanced and sleep by themselves and seem to know it's time for bed. Do your chicks go into the house themselves in the evening? Mine do not. Every night about dark i go out in hopes they are in the coop but find them outside in the run in a little pile. I have been feeding in the coop in the evening (and morning) in hopes they will figure out they should go inside in the evening but they haven't yet. I put each one inside where they eat a little and soon begin to bed down. I maybe doing something wrong and may need some help myself. I think they want to stay together while bedding down so some will fall a sleep in the yard as they do all through the day and the others follow suit and all end up in the yard. Sweet little things. Be glad when they go to bed themselves : ) by the way i thought i should turn the light out because i thought, may be they preferred the dark outdoors to the lit indoors at bed time thinking they would be alright withu9t the light warmth because they keep each other warm and our south Mississippi nights now are really not cold but they get so upset in the dark? Lol babies are so much fun : )

Interesting problem. I'm new so have no answers but wanted to wish you luck (and bump the thread!)

I'd love to hear some advice on this as well....

A bright flood light all night long is stressful and disrupts a long night sleep, increasing stress in the flock. It's especially unfortunate since it's really unnecessary.

To transition your six-week olds to no heat at night and a night without any light, I recommend taking out the 100 watt bulb and replacing it with a temporary night light and a huddle box.

The huddle box is a cardboard box large enough to accommodate all the chicks with an entrance large enough for two to fit through at once. They will huddle inside if they feel chilled and keep comfy and warm sharing each other's body heat.

Once the chicks are used to almost no light at night, you can then remove the night light, too.

azygous said:

A bright flood light all night long is stressful and disrupts a long night sleep, increasing stress in the flock. It's especially unfortunate since it's really unnecessary.

To transition your six-week olds to no heat at night and a night without any light, I recommend taking out the 100 watt bulb and replacing it with a temporary night light and a huddle box.

The huddle box is a cardboard box large enough to accommodate all the chicks with an entrance large enough for two to fit through at once. They will huddle inside if they feel chilled and keep comfy and warm sharing each other's body heat.

Once the chicks are used to almost no light at night, you can then remove the night light, too.

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This was so helpful!! Thank you! I want to add that I believe they still have SOME down on them. Not much but some. It's dipping below 30 at night still... What about painting the light red for another week or so? Or do you think the box will be enough?

Great advice thank you

The heat light is more for your reassurance than for your chicks' needs. They should be down to no more than 70F max when they do have heat provided, but a huddle box and their own body heat is going to supply that.

People lose sight of the fact that, even according to what I consider semi-useless heat guidelines, you are weaning your chicks off heat at the same time you are providing it from the first week. By the second week it's five degrees cooler, the third week ten, etc. To keep heat on chicks well past four weeks is delaying feather development and the ability to adjust to cooler temps.

Take out the heat light and give them the huddle box and they will adjust to no heat in quick order!

Many of us brood our brand new chicks outside when it's well below freezing. Chickens are outdoor animals and can handle it!

azygous said:

The heat light is more for your reassurance than for your chicks' needs. They should be down to no more than 70F max when they do have heat provided, but a huddle box and their own body heat is going to supply that.

People lose sight of the fact that, even according to what I consider semi-useless heat guidelines, you are weaning your chicks off heat at the same time you are providing it from the first week. By the second week it's five degrees cooler, the third week ten, etc. To keep heat on chicks well past four weeks is delaying feather development and the ability to adjust to cooler temps.

Take out the heat light and give them the huddle box and they will adjust to no heat in quick order!

Many of us brood our brand new chicks outside when it's well below freezing. Chickens are outdoor animals and can handle it!

Click to expand...

Thank you SO much!!!

One more question. Do they need food and water through the night?