Is it ok to raise chicks in total darkness?

[Elizabeth82]

So this has been bothering me for a while now...I know a local farm that raises it's broiler chicks in big wooden boxes with no natural, or artificial light. They're in the darkness pretty much constantly, until they're big enough to be outside safely. I'm by no means a chicken expert, but this just seems wrong to me on multiple levels. Don't the chicks need natural light for their eyesight to develop, to find food and water, etc?

Also, do meat birds need roosts, or is it better to just let them sleep on the ground? I've heard that they don't need roosts, but that also seems counter intuitive to me, as most chickens have the instinct to roost. (Especially non-commercial breeds)

Thanks!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Are you sure they are always kept in darkness? I know alot of people that raise meaties, and they do their light 12 hours on and 12 hours off (or something like that) to keep them from over eating (meat birds are gluttons, and will literally eat themselves to death). I've never seen a roost in my friends meaties pens, which probably has something to do with their enormous size and fast growth...

 

[Elizabeth82]

They're kept in the darkness for most of the day...I think maybe they get handled once a day to get them accustomed to people. Once they get to be old enough to be outside they get brought out for an hour or two each day. For the first few weeks I'm pretty sure they're just kept in a dark wooden box with out natural light.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Darkness or lack of light is helpful for prevention of feather pecking and cannibalism issues as well.

The typical, fast growing meat birds of CornishX will be processed in the blink of a 9 week eye. Their purpose is provide meat. Their lives are very short, just a bit over 2 months from hatch to dispatch. I suspect the farm you observed is doing what they have found to be the best.

 

[CAjerseychick]

Probably fine for little meaties, not something I would do for your layer birds or farm birds/ pets who will have long lives and who need to develop all their parts to be able to function normally.

 

[Elizabeth82]

Well, I guess I'm looking at this from more of a moral position. If a farm touts itself as sustainable, humane, etc, do you think it's obligated to provide it's animals the most natural, happy, healthy life possible, even if it's a short life? Who knows, maybe keeping chicks in the darkness for weeks at a time has absolutely no negative effects. My basic common sense suggests otherwise, but I may just be misinformed.


Anyone have any info on whether or not meat birds should be offered roosts?

 

[gabrielle1976]

It probly lets them keep more croweded condetions without as much fighting and pecking. That being said , Its really not good for things not made to be in total darkness to be in total darkness. You will notice animals that have developed in total darkness for millions of years look alot diffrent there bodies have to be differnt fo rmany reasons to dwell in darkness. As long as they get proper feed and clean water and clean bedding they can survive that way but its not very nice. If you wooudlnt want to live for nine weeks in complete darkness I dont think you sould make anything else live that way that isnt sapose to. The lives of most meat and egg chickens grown for mass production is horrible enough to give you nightmares thats why I never complain about anyone raiseing there own meat and egg birds becuase those babies almost always know compassion and have pleanty of clean air water and food unlike the poor things raised in mass. If it bothers you find out if there is an exstension office or some sort of ordance people you can call about it and see if they can do anything about it.

 

[cluck-cluck]

I'm with you, Elizabeth. I've always felt that it was our moral obligation to treat our animals well, give them a nice life until it is time to slaughter, which should be done so that the animals don't know what's coming, IMO. I don't know how much more food would cost if we did this, but I suspect it would create more jobs? At least they aren't treated the way they used to be (unless illegally) as there are standards now. Still not good enough though

It kind of scares me a little, now that I have my first eggs in the 'bator, that I might not be able to take good care of them! I'm such a ding dong, get worried over everything! LOL