5-6 week old chicks needing light?

[Katlinalyssa]

New chicken mama here
I just got some chicks yesterday, 5-6 weeks old, not fully feathered but off heat, in my garage. Should they sleep with a lamp out there? Or do they like it to be completely dark? They aren’t using the roosting bar I put in there today. But they sleep together on the floor. When I go out to check on them at night, they instantly wake up and eat and drink. Are they not fully asleep because I gave them a lamp?

 

[feathermaid]

If they're completely off heat they don't need a light at all at night. Yes, it will keep them awake because they don't know it's night. It's healthier for birds to experience a dark period. I raise my chicks with a heating pad so they're in the dark all night from day one.

If they've never had a perch before, it may take them a while to get used to it, just let them practice during the day. Why aren't you moving them to the coop now if they no longer need heat?

 

[Katlinalyssa]

If they're completely off heat they don't need a light at all at night. Yes, it will keep them awake because they don't know it's night. It's healthier for birds to experience a dark period. I raise my chicks with a heating pad so they're in the dark all night from day one.

If they've never had a perch before, it may take them a while to get used to it, just let them practice during the day. Why aren't you moving them to the coop now if they no longer need heat?

The two silkies don’t look like they have enough feathers. I’m not entirely sure. I can post pictures. The other 2 (Salmon Faverolle and barred rock/ameraucana mix) are 1 week younger but have more feathers. The silkies keep trying to huddle under the Faverolle. She’s a little bigger than them and she doesn’t seem to mind.

 

[Katlinalyssa]

The black Silkie has more feathers then the white but they hatched the same day. The Faverolle and the barres rock/ameraucana are about a week younger but have more feathers than the 2 silkies that are the same age.

 

[feathermaid]

Most chicks are a lot hardier than people give them credit for, though it's really cute when they huddle together like that. I haven't had silkies before, I've just heard they like it warmer than other chickens. It's good idea to just keep them inside until you're sure they all have their feathers. Garage probably isn't that warm and will help them get acclimated.