How much do chicks sleep?

[Dollhoney]

My little chicks (3 of them) seem to be sleeping a lot. They perk up and come to the edge of the cage and cheep at me when I come in the room, but when I quietly check on them, I often find them sleeping. Is that normal? Does the temperature affect their activity level? They are about 10 days old.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

Yes the temp will have something to do with it. So will the light I noticed my chicks in the outside house are sleeping more now than when I dont have the heat lamps on their brooders. It was getting too hot in there with 3 heat lamps going so now they just have a flourescent light overhead. What kind of lighting do you have.

 

[Dollhoney]

I have a 150 watt white reptile bulb, but I live in Phoenix Arizona and the chicks are in the garage. Temp inside the cage is about 86 degrees.

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

10 days old yes they will sleep alot it is the norm but then again they are either sleeping,eating, or the other thing they do (G rated) now as they get bigger and start to get up and move more they will not sleep as much with mine it was almost as fast as they eat they were asleep so no worries they are fine.

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Quote:
that is a good temp they will tell you if they are to hot or to cold with Mine I use a 90 watt bulb then drop it down to 75, 60, 40 and then none.

 

[emvickrey]

Chicks are funny to watch. They will stand up and sleep with their beaks touching the floor. I've seen mine be walking along and then all of a sudden their asleep. They have fallen over when they fell asleep standing up. When there are several of them and they are trying to sleep when one moves they all wake up briefly then back to sleep then one will move again and awake again.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

If they are in the garage they arent getting natural light so that could have something to do with it. I open the doors to my chick house and use a 4x6 piece of plywood to keep everyone from coming out. It gives them the natural sunlight and since its been in the 80's here its plenty warm for them They are about 3 weeks old now. They will be fine. A friend of mine only feeds her chicks unmedicated feed because she swears the medicated makes them sluggish. I cant tell as I dont feed medicated either.

 

[Dollhoney]

I do leave the garage door open for a couple of hours during the day, when it is really hot in there and the fresh air helps it not be so stuffy. So they do get some natural light during the day. And they are on regular start and grow, not medicated.