Chicken's rest requirements

[catdaddy66]

What is the optimal amount of sleep a chicken needs? Do they need naps during the day? What is the healthiest sleep for our birds?

These were a few of the questions that have not really been asked or addressed in the forums/books I have read. Does anyone have info they can share on the sleep patterns of chickens?

 

[PunkinPeep]

Hmmm...i haven't ever thought about it too much. I usually gage whether a chicken is sleeping too much by whether it's sleeping when everyone else is active.

I would say my chickens probably take one or two brief naps per day while dust bathing. At night their light goes off at 9 pm and comes back on at 5:30 (i think).

 

[jeslewmazer]

Everything should be considered. I have noticed that age, time of year, harshness of life, diet, weight, etc. have an effect on when and how long they sleep or nap. Every chicken differs. I have one rooster that is 8yrs old and been through a lot of tough times including 2 hawk attacks. Anyone that does not know this chicken would think that he is sick or something, but in truth he has always loved to sleep even when the others are active. I just say he needs his beauty sleep/rest.