Best Lighting For Scared Of Dark Chicks: Nightlight Recommendations

[BayAreaMike408]

I’m going to move my chicks to their coop in a few weeks. They’re afraid of the dark and I have read it’s best to give them a little light for the first 2-3 weeks.
Can someone give a recommendation for an easy to install light that is on a timer- so I can get them acclimated to their new coop and keep them calm during the transition.

I’m not looking to influence egg laying; just a quick and easy night light.
Thanks!

 

[nuthatched]

A child's dark sensor nightlight should be plenty.

 

[rosemarythyme]

A battery operated, stick on tap light should be plenty, and you can easily remove it when it's no longer needed. No timer but just tap on before sunset, tap off when they're all in.

 

[Wrooster]

Why complicate things? Unless you already have a suitable timer, just get a light and leave it on. It won't matter during the day and it's not forever.

 

[50-45-1]

It does not need to be on 24/7, in fact constant light can intifear with their sleep.
I use my hanging or clamp style heat lamp (securely fastened)with a very low watt bulb. 25 watt is enough.
If it is on at dusk when they are going to roost, once they are settled you could have it on timmer to go off say at 9pm. I have a couple timers I initially purchased for outdoor Christmas lights. These work great.
Of course you could manually turn it on and off.

 

[David61]

mr. beam , dusk to dawn, battery photo cell auto on/off, low light stair light two pack is about $10-$12 bucks . I uses them so my scared chicken can find the nest box in the wee hours of day light. She was dropping or laying from the roost on the poop board. I put one in a nest box and one under the lowest roost bar. It worked great. one AA per light and lasts three months. by three months, day light hours are longer and the sun is up when she has to lay.
Mr. Beams MB500A-WHT-02-00 LED Dusk to Dawn Stair Night Light, One Size, White, 2 Each

Mr. Beams MB500A-WHT-02-00 LED Dusk to Dawn Stair Night Light, One Size, White, 2 Each - - Amazon.com

 

[Ridgerunner]

How about a different solution, get them used to the dark now. If you can where they are now, turn the lights off so it is really dark. Usually mine are over that fear of the dark within fifteen minutes and settle down and go to sleep. Problem solved. Some people turn lights off for a few minutes, turn them back on, and keep repeating until they quit being afraid but I like keeping it simpler.

Whether you do it now or wait until they have been in the coop for a few weeks they still have to face the dark at some time.

 

[Sycamore Hill Chicks]

How about a different solution, get them used to the dark now. If you can where they are now, turn the lights off so it is really dark. Usually mine are over that fear of the dark within fifteen minutes and settle down and go to sleep. Problem solved. Some people turn lights off for a few minutes, turn them back on, and keep repeating until they quit being afraid but I like keeping it simpler.

Whether you do it now or wait until they have been in the coop for a few weeks they still have to face the dark at some time.

I agree. I know it’s hard to watch your babies freak out though.

 

[NatJ]

get them used to the dark now.

I was just going to suggest the same thing

 

[Sycamore Hill Chicks]

I’m going to move my chicks to their coop in a few weeks. They’re afraid of the dark and I have read it’s best to give them a little light for the first 2-3 weeks.
Can someone give a recommendation for an easy to install light that is on a timer- so I can get them acclimated to their new coop and keep them calm during the transition.

I’m not looking to influence egg laying; just a quick and easy night light.
Thanks!

If you need to I would recommend a very dim light