7 weeks old and the roost

Date sort Score sort
NuffSaid

NuffSaid

In the Brooder
5 Years
Mar 6, 2014
21
10
26
I have six chicks that are 7 weeks old, living outside in a tractor for 2 weeks now. The first couple of days they were kept confined in the coop, and around the third night they started sleeping on the roost, right under the heat lamp (lows were in the 20's and 30's their first week). Once we opened the door to the run, it took them a day or two to figure out the getting in and out of the coop. With temps still low at night, when it started getting cold, I'd plug the lamp in and by the time it got dark outside, they would be inside already lined up on the roost, all cozy like.

With warmer temps the last couple days, I've left the heat lamp off at night and have found that they huddle up in a group in a corner of the coop, not on the roost. They go inside the coop on their own, but I noticed last night it was already dark inside the coop by the time they all went in. Without the heat lamp, there is no light in there.... are they staying on the ground because they can't see the roost? The low last night in their coop was 60, so I'm not worried about them being cold, just curious why they are not using the roost in the dark.
 
With the heat lamp on, they were comfortable temperature wise to sleep on the roosts. Without the heat, they may have been chilled and slept together for the extra warmth. Chicks are able to see in the dark just fine.
 
Hrmm... I've seen many posts on here saying that chickens can't see in the dark.

Today it's 74 degrees in their coop, and the same thing happened at dark. They all went inside the coop, and were laying at the door looking out. I closed the door and they huddle together in the corner. Not piled up like they do when they're cold, just all in a group lightly touching. I held my phone flashlight up to one of the vent windows and they start to walk around a bit, I take the light away for a couple minutes and they are back in the huddle.
 
Mine are about the same age, maybe a few days younger. I have some that stay on the ground with the broilers and ducks, only one of which has a reason to do so( used to have a wry neck really bad , but recovered enough to get around and eat- just head tilt now) Seems the black sex links and red pullets like roosting and the majority of the speckled Sussex prefer the ground. I have one broiler that tries her darndest to flap the 18 in up to the roost, it just cant understand while it cant clear the ground. Mine now sleep in the small coop without heat and lighting.
 
Well from past experience chickens usually roost right before or at dark i would say this means they cant see well at night so they use the small amt of light they have to roost maybe putting a window or having some type of lighting in the coop would help
 
I am using my experience from a chicken that we named Lucky as well as several other hens over the years in my saying that chickens can see at night. The roosting at night is more of instinct.

I work nights so there are many times that I end up doing chicken chores at night on my nights off and it never fails that I have one or two hens that hear me and come out to join me at about two in the morning (Getting ready to go out now actually) and I never use a flashlight to see what I'm doing. I have excellent night vision and never needed it.

In addition to the curious hens, there is Lucky. She fell off of a chicken truck on her last ride (hence the name) and she was one who NEVER went to roost at night if we were outside. While the others went to bed, she'd hang out with who ever was awake and outside up into the wee hours of the morning. One night, I hung out all night long sitting on the back patio in the dark to watch a meteor shower. Lucky was right there all night long. She would scratch looking for bugs and other critters and even hung out with the dog and cat. So I can say that many of the chickens I'VE had can see in the dark. So again, I think the roosting at dusk is more of an instinct that most don't ignore.
 
NuffSaid said:
Hrmm... I've seen many posts on here saying that chickens can't see in the dark.

Today it's 74 degrees in their coop, and the same thing happened at dark. They all went inside the coop, and were laying at the door looking out. I closed the door and they huddle together in the corner. Not piled up like they do when they're cold, just all in a group lightly touching. I held my phone flashlight up to one of the vent windows and they start to walk around a bit, I take the light away for a couple minutes and they are back in the huddle.
Click to expand...

well this might be a bit further than some people are willing to go, but here's what I did when I transitioned my chicks :)

they have a light in the coop that comes on for an hour around dusk so they can get in the coop and get on the roost. at first they didn't want to, though, they would sleep on the floor like you say. I went out every night for about a week and put them on the roost at bedtime. after 1 week all but one would consistently be on the roost at bedtime. this smaller cockerel just always had a tough time getting on. I would go put him on every night. eventually, he got it
big_smile.png


btw they will be warm on the roost, also. they will have their feathers, their neighbors feathers, and their feet will be covered by the roost and their feathers.
 
JadedPhoenix said:
I am using my experience from a chicken that we named Lucky as well as several other hens over the years in my saying that chickens can see at night.  The roosting at night is more of instinct.

I work nights so there are many times that I end up doing chicken chores at night on my nights off and it never fails that I have one or two hens that hear me and come out to join me at about two in the morning (Getting ready to go out now actually) and I never use a flashlight to see what I'm doing.  I have excellent night vision and never needed it.  

In addition to the curious hens, there is Lucky.  She fell off of a chicken truck on her last ride (hence the name) and she was one who NEVER went to roost at night if we were outside.  While the others went to bed, she'd hang out with who ever was awake and outside up into the wee hours of the morning.  One night, I hung out all night long sitting on the back patio in the dark to watch a meteor shower.  Lucky was right there all night long.  She would scratch looking for bugs and other critters and even hung out with the dog and cat.  So I can say that many of the chickens I'VE had can see in the dark.  So again, I think the roosting at dusk is more of an instinct that most don't ignore.
Click to expand...

Ok well my chickens never stayed awake until 2 am but then again ive never heard of anybody with excellent night vision
 
chargerpride said:
Ok well my chickens never stayed awake until 2 am but then again ive never heard of anybody with excellent night vision
Click to expand...
I have a disease in my eyes that make seeing in the daylight difficult. Anyway, chickens, like dogs, tend to take on certain traits of their owners. Mine are used to me being out and working in the run at night so it would only make sense that they'd come out and keep an eye on me just as they would during the day.
 

Similar threads

K
First night in the coop
2
Replies
19
Views
908
KayChickMom29
K
K
7 week old chicks outside temps.
Replies
3
Views
439
Ridgerunner
Ridgerunner
L
    • Like
Can we add day old chicks to a tub with week old chicks?
Replies
4
Views
389
rosemarythyme
rosemarythyme
TattooedChickenPapa
    • Like
Ready to go outside?
Replies
8
Views
1K
kengboss21
kengboss21
jolly wattles
5 week old chicks not enough space!
2
Replies
13
Views
2K
Bigbluefrog
Bigbluefrog

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom