Chicks crying at night

[MykaMom]

Bring them in before sunset and let the brooder get dark as the sun goes down. I've always synchronized artificial/full spectrum light with the sun. V
When I use a heat lamp, I've used red so they dont have this issue. They dont notice when its turned off as they dont really see the red spectrum very well.

 

[threekidschicks]

Whether you go at diminishing the light gradually or turn it off suddenly and decide to let them cry it out... either way, they will get used to the dark. It's really up to you and what you feel comfortable with. I don't think there's a right or wrong way and you aren't going to ruin them. Best wishes!

 

[debid]

That’s what I’m doing with my few day old chicks I have in a large brooder in my garage. From my understanding, they can’t see the red heat lamp but rather feel the absence of heat when it is off. I do turn off the garage lights in the evening and they have plenty of natural light so they experience darkness naturally.

It's a myth that they can't see red light. I watched mine hunt tiny insects by red bulb back when I used a red bulb in my outdoor brooder. All night bug chasing parties.

 

[gimmie birdies]

sometimes when I have brought birds in at night, the box they go in has air holes, but its not a huge box (it is for sleeping not playing), their body heat keeps it warm, they do not complain. In the morning they may be cuddled on one end of the box.

 

[Charris610]

Oh wow! I had no idea! I feel bad poor things never get to sleep in the dark.

 

[Maugwa]

They're crying about it because they're not used to it. Let them cry. At their age they don't need the heat, they're just complaining because it's something new.

Don't worry about it, they need to practice complaining too. lol

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

This is partly why I love using a ceramic black heat bulb!