how much do chickens sleep

[cary 1973]

so i have 4 chickens abut 3 1/2 months old we live in Las Vegas Nevada and last few days its been HOT HOT HOT almost record braking heat. now from mid june when i am home i have let the chicks come in during the heat of the day and lay in front of the fan (i have a unfinished floor with just cement and what carpet i do have the dogs and cats have done a # on already so a few dropping not big deal clean up and we are good as matter of fact chickens make less mess then cat has last few days with her fur balls) ok anyway the last few days I let teh girls out about 7am they come strigh to the room and the dog bed lay down they may get up 3 or 4 times during teh day to go drink and eat but then back to there spot and they sleep so i would say they are sleeping from 7am to 5pm (5pm they get the boot out the door no matter what they suppose to be chickens not indoor pets and by that time everywhere they go is shaded and i water everything down) they sleep about 10 hours in that time frame

so my ? is how much are they suppose to sleep during the day in summer?
do I need to force them out side to be chickens is letting they lay around all day on a bed sleeping doing them harm?


should I just let them be they know what is best for them?

thank you

 

[centrarchid]

When it gets really hot or cold the birds sleep more to conserve energy and for the former to limit the production of heat. When it gets really hot the birds got to locations that are cooler but usually offer less food. Less food in itself is a reason to power down by sleeping but also limits heat production associated with the processing of food. Reduced activity also reduces heat production which can be significant. When it gets really hot my birds take a ciesta that starts at around 1000 and stops at around 1800 (6:00 PM). The ciesta involves actually lying on ground with reduced vigilince since predators also power down.