When to remove light....

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Nohoka

Nohoka

In the Brooder
10 Years
Jul 3, 2009
46
0
32
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
What is the best age to remove the brooder light?

We have 8 - 3 week old chicks and they are being kept in our basement so they are warm, the light is being used for light and not heat at this point. I have heard removing it too soon or leaving it too long can cause phsycological damage to layers and may cause them to peck their eggs.
hmm.png
 
Wynot? :

I have heard removing it too soon or leaving it too long can cause phsycological damage to layers and may cause them to peck their eggs.
hmm.png


I've never heard that. We've brooded chicks in the winter that have needed the light 24/7, for eight weeks. We've had hens raise chicks without any light, except what occurs naturally. Haven't noticed any psycological problems with the chickens.​
 
I am by no means ---- and I mean NO means an expert... but I noticed when I got my Silkie chicks that they seemed to crave a good nights sleep. They actually seemed bothered by the light, and I figured that since they were indoors they'd be warm enough without it... I pulled the plug on their lamp after 4 weeks and they quieted down easier at night time, and during the day they seemed a lot calmer. I won't use a heating lamp in the future... and of course, them being indoor pets - well, I don't know if the heat lamp was necessary after all.
 
i leave mine under a light for the first week. but, it's so dang hot here, they don't need it for heat anyway. they seem to enjoy the dark time too. no chirping or anything. my brooder is outside though, so that may factor in some. they get to see the sun come up and go down.
 
If you are not using it for heat at this point and the nights will be warm enough without it, turn it off at night. Provide natural or artificial light during the daytime.
A word to the wise. They will freak out when you first turn their light off. Just watch for pile-ups and let them get over it.
All living creatures need periods of light and dark IMO.
 
I've seen a few possible causes for pecking/eating eggs discussed on here, but never lack of light. They seem to do best in natural light. Does your basement have natural light? Can you get them into their coop? (You didn't say where you are; that is always helpful.)

Many use a red light for heat after a few days, because it seems to disturb their rest less than white, so they are avoiding too much light.
 

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