BYC Café

[LaFleche]

Some really good "chicken minds" on this thread, so I have a question to toss out.

I'm getting chicks on Saturday. This time, I'm using a heat plate instead of a heat lamp, and the brooder will be in the mudroom. It will be near a south facing window. I've read that I need to leave a light on so that chicks can eat and drink as they need to, 24 hours a day, for a least the first few days.

My plan is: The first week, I'll have the light in the room on, 24/7. Then have a reading lamp on at night for 4 nights, and then just a night light for 3 nights. At two weeks old, just have natural daylight as it comes in the window.

How does that sound? Is full light 24/7 for a week too long/short?

Leaving the light on so the chicks will be able to eat 24/7, leads to bone (leg and toe) issues and prevents the important deep sleep phase, that only happens in the dark, where important hormones will be released.

And they will get aggressive and often start feather picking and other bad habits due to sleep deprivation.

 

[LaFleche]

Good afternoon everyone!
I brought another pot of coffee, enjoy!

 

[Sally PB]

@LaFleche So would the nightlight (4 watt bulb) be enough light at night from the beginning? It would be about 6 feet away from the brooder, which is an XL dog crate.

@aart Re: reptile light: is that IR, or visible? It would be either on top of or inside the dog crate, which is 30" tall. I have a "shop light" fixture (aluminum) that I could use.

Thanks for the information. I really appreciate it!

 

[LaFleche]

@LaFleche So would the nightlight (4 watt bulb) be enough light at night from the beginning? It would be about 6 feet away from the brooder, which is an XL dog crate.

@aart Re: reptile light: is that IR, or visible? It would be either on top of or inside the dog crate, which is 30" tall. I have a "shop light" fixture (aluminum) that I could use.

Thanks for the information. I really appreciate it!

In your case with shipped chicks, it might be necessary to leave the light on for some days, until all of them have recovered and know how to eat and drink properly and go to sleep with a well filled crop.

But then they should be left to switch into the natural circadian rhythm: getting up at sunrise and settling down to sleep at dusk.

 

[Grandmas Coop]

Good afternoon everyone!
I brought another pot of coffee, enjoy!

Yes please and thank you!

 

[DobieLover]

In your case with shipped chicks, it might be necessary to leave the light on for some days, until all of them have recovered and know how to eat and drink properly and go to sleep with a well filled crop.

This is what I do for shipped chicks only. 3 nights with the lights on. Lights go off on the morning of the 4th day and they go to the heat plate with a natural dusk.

 

[LaFleche]

Yes please and thank you!

Here you go:

 

[Grandmas Coop]

@LaFleche So would the nightlight (4 watt bulb) be enough light at night from the beginning? It would be about 6 feet away from the brooder, which is an XL dog crate.

@aart Re: reptile light: is that IR, or visible? It would be either on top of or inside the dog crate, which is 30" tall. I have a "shop light" fixture (aluminum) that I could use.

Thanks for the information. I really appreciate it!

I left the night light on, the one by the coffee pot,

 

[aart]

@aart Re: reptile light: is that IR, or visible? It would be either on top of or inside the dog crate, which is 30" tall. I have a "shop light" fixture (aluminum) that I could use.

Visible.....incandescent.
I put it in a metal shaded fixture.

 

[Sally PB]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

@LaFleche, that is an adorable mug.