Light in brooder at night

[plucker]

We've had record heat here in TN lately and so I do not need to use my IR lamp. But do chicks need or just do better with some light at night? Or should they be fine in the dark? They are 3 weeks+ old and live in a brooder in my sunroom.

Mine seem to sometime appreciate having the light on at night. They are okay at night but sometimes start chirping loudly in the dark after a few hours. They stop when I turn the room lights on and leave them for the rest of the night.

I assume it doesn't make a huge difference but...

 

[Imp]

I've not read that the light is important, just the heat.
It seems, at least, yours like a night light.

Imp

 

[plucker]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, mine seems to get restless after about 4 hours of dark. I'm slowly increasing the length of darkness every night so they'll be accustomed to it when they go outside. Didn't really think it was a problem. Just being an old mother hen (or rooster might be more gender appropriate)

 

[New2TheCoop]

I'm in south Louisiana and it's been warm here as well. I took my heat lamp out & replaced the bulb with a regular 60w bulb. I don't know why, but my chickens won't go inside at night unless the light is on in the coop.