Light in the Coop

[NancyBchicks]

I'm new to this backyard chicken thing. I have 16 week old chicks (17) and want to know if I should keep a light on 24/7 for them in the coop? I have always had the light on but now I am wondering if that is the right thing to do. Thanks in advance for your help!
Nancy

 

[TwoCrows]

No, you need to turn that light off at night. They need at least 8 to 10 hours of complete darkness for good health. If they can't sleep, it can kill them.

 

[CityFarmer202]

by light do you mean heat lamp? if so, then no, 16wk old chicks don't need a heat lamp unless its getting really cold. Good luck with your chicks!!!!

 

[bobbi-j]

They don't need a heat lamp at all at this point - even if it does get "cold" (and that term is relative - I'm in MN, and "cold' to me is entirely different than it is to someone in, say, Florida or California) Your chickens are 4 months old. They are fully feathered, and basically full-grown. If you're just leaving a light on for them for some other reason, don't. It won't kill them - before I got heated dog dishes to use for water in my coops in the winter, I'd have a light over the water dish for them just to keep it from freezing. It was on 24/7. The chickens were able to sleep just fine, but how soundly could you sleep with a light on all night long?

 

[vbob99]

as long as the light is not real bright chickens can and will sleep with it on. we always used to keep the overhead light on in our old chicken house varmints didn't much like the light and it gave the hens a possibility of avoiding or at least they would let us know something was in the chicken house. light was on ceiling about 12ft in the air and provided light to an area about 14fx16ft

 

[NancyBchicks]

Thanks so much everyone, no it is not a heat lamp light. I think it was just for me, because I thought the needed a light. I will leave it off. Nancy