Baby chick in the dark

[jefntami]

I Turn on All the lights on in our garage during the day where we have our 4 week chicks. They were in a room in our house with a sky light the first 2 1-2 weeks. So they had day light and night time along with the heat lamp. In the garage it is dark all the time. I just think it is good to have more light during the day. My husband thinks i am silly. What do u all think?

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas and welcome to BYC! Not sure how dark it is in the garage in the day but I know chickens don't move around much without light...so if it's dark in the garage they will need some light in the day.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!

Glad you joined us!!

 

[drumstick diva]

Are there any windows in the garage they could be near? They really like being in a "sun spot" - light on during the day is fine, but if on all night they may not sleep.

 

[jefntami]

No, there are no windows. They seem to be more active during the day, when the lights are on and settle down and lay down and sleep at night when i turn off the lights.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I raise mine in the garage too but it has a window and the big door is always open during the day. So they get lots of natural light. If the garage was closed and completely or mostly dark I think I'd leave a light on too.

 

[jefntami]

I live in the Pacific Northwest. If I left the garage door open they would freeze to death. It has been 30 degrees at night and then in the mid 40 during the day. We don't see the Sun very often this time of year.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Like all animals active during the day, chicks will do better if given a bright day environment and dark night. If it is too dark during the day they will be much less active, and eat and grow less than they should. In addition, chicks are not fully feathered out until 6 weeks of age, and should still have supplemental heat unless your garage is warmer than about 65-70 degrees for about another 2 weeks.