how much do baby chicks sleep?

[ChickenChicki]

So im getting a 3 week old chick soon, and i just am wondering if they sleep through the night like birds do? or do they wake up and chirp all night?

 

[ChickenChicki]

and if they dont sleep through the night, are they relitivily quiet? or do they like chirp and make lots of noise?

 

[azjustin]

It should be fine at three weeks but you will more than likely have chirping for a day or so as it acclimates to the new digs.

Chickens can't see in the dark, so if there isn't any light then there won't be much for it to do other than sleep.

 

[ChickenChicki]

so other then the first day or so, do you think it will be pretty quiet? i dont do very well with being woken up at night, or not sleeping, as i remember from having rats/hamsters and them chewing the bars, or the puppy we fostered a few days who whined insessintly in the kennel at night. so if a chick isint gonna sleep i dont know that i can handle it lol. i almost thought of a duck till i read they are simmilar to puppies, and will cry at night from lonlieness

 

[azjustin]

Puppies are definitely different than chickens.

One thing that might be an issue is having only one. Chickens are social creatures and might get lonely. THAT would definitely start some cheeping!

Also, unless you're getting up at first light, you're going to be awake because that chick is going to be funking around and doing it's thing at 4 AM as soon as it can see well enough to move around. Ask my rooster, he's up at 3:30 sharp every AM.

 

[ChickenChicki]

i always thought a house chicken (or two, i could do two) would be good. so they get up that early? are they pretty quiet still though? or do they chirp a lot? my room has a darkining curtan as well, so its dark for longer but about 5 light starts through the sides.. its enough to see by then, still dark but not enough to not be able to see.. hmm.. may have to re-think. i was really wanting a duck, or chicken, the duck apparently is super clingy and cries if you leave it, or if its away from you. which makes me not want it so much. i want it to want to be with me, or around me, but not to the point that it cries a bunch if im not there, or sleeping

 

[azjustin]

Can't say I've ever raised a house chicken, but the ones outside are up at first light, eggs start dropping around 5-5:30.

Most poultry that I've observed are always social creatures, so they will get lonely and probably cry a lot.

If you're set on a house chicken/duck, I'd make a separate post with the title stating as much and that should get the attention of people who have raised chickens in the house.

Good luck!

 

[Gnarled Carrots]

Chickens are social creatures. They form bonds within their flock and don't like being alone. You could probably do 2 chickens indoors. I'd maybe suggest bantams because they're smaller! If you get hens, they really don't make a lot of noise. Although they will get up at dawn. Every day. No matter what.

They're not the best house pets, though... They produce A LOT of dust. Even with just a couple of them, having chickens isn't like having dogs or even other small pets like hamsters or rabbits. You can't potty train them or keep them from making noise when they get up and oh the dust...and feathers.

The biggest issue with having them indoors is that chickens don't have fur like dogs or hamsters, so they don't shed in the same way. Instead of dropping little hairs all over your sofa, they produce a large quantity of dust and drop a lot of feathers. About once a year they also molt where they lose some to all of their feathers and grow new ones. I would not want this in my house.

That having been said, it's not entirely unheard of to have indoor chickens! They do make chicken diapers and chicken leashes for these sorts of things. Chickens need a lot of space, though. You couldn't just put them in a rabbit cage in your room and expect them to be fine. They'd need something more laundry room sized or you'd have to invest in some chicken diapers and let them free range around the house. Although they would roost on and try to eat everything in sight. It would be the end to shag carpets and curtains and house plants...and anything shiny. They've been known to eat things like tiny screws and buttons.