Can the chickens go with 24 hours/day lighting?

[silkiechicken]

There has to be someone trust worthy to go into your basement and check on them every few days to make sure auto water and food are working. If you can have them in the basement, it would be real easy for someone to just go, water is working, food is still there, and all birds are alive.

When we leave for two weeks, even if there are no animals, we have someone come by just to look around the place to make sure our stuff is still there, nothing is broken, and so on.

 

[RocketDad]

Mine get irritable and prone to squabbling when they're up too late. Just like my kids. I'd worry about coming home to pecking issues.

I've used mechanical timers, the kind with the little pegs, for years. I've used them for fish tank lighting, for home security, and I have one in my coop to stretch the daylight right now. They'll last for a couple of years of daily on-off duty.

 

[Madcap621]

It won't be physically harmful for them to have light 24/7. Meat birds are kept in around-the-clock light to encourage increased feed consumption. They might over-eat and you will need to consider leaving out more feed. Also, they could be more aggressive toward each other.

If you have a door between the basement and the house proper, then you might also consider having deadbolts keyed differently from the regularly keyed doors installed for a pet sitter to use. Many communities have bonded pet sitter services available. Having someone who makes their livng caring for other's animals might give you a more secure feeling.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree.

 

[HennyJenny]

24 hours of light with the heat lamp and I had more problems than I could shake a stick at and that was over about a one week period when temps were zero and below here.

 

[dovecanyon]

Does your basement have any window at all? Does it recieve any daylight? If not, and you are sure you can't get someone to check on them, I would leave a fairly dim light in one corner of the basement only. That way the opposite corner farthest from the light would be fairly dark. Are you going to set up some kind of make-shift roost for them? You could put this roost set-up in the darkest corner. Be sure to leave more food and water than they normally consume, as the light will certainly make them eat more than usual. I don't think any of it is a good idea, but that doesn't usually stop us from doing what isn't best. Just think it through carefully before you go. Simply put, no I don't think the 24 hour light will hurt them, but being locked up in a basement with no sunlight or fresh air can't be good for them. But, I guess it's better than being eaten by a predator.

 

[ginbart]

BTW, is that 50 chickens your putting in your basement????

OH MY

 

[lavacaw]

Yes...mine have 24 hr lighting at the moment for heat.

 

[bubblebean11]

I dont have a problem with mine to have light all the time.

 

[jjparke]

Once it gets cold enough I put my red heat lamp in the coop and it stays on 24/7 never had a problem they sleep when they are tired