Light on or off at night for chicks?

[luvsungs]

We recently got 6 new chicks. I'm not sure how old they are, but we got them about a week ago and they're completely/mostly covered in feathers. We use a bright fluorescent heat lamp to keep them warm, and for the past week we've just had it on 24/7. Every night they'd be awake and active, only taking short naps every few hours, and I heard that having a light on all the time is dangerous. Tonight we turned the lamp off, and they're all sleeping huddled together in a corner. I'm worried that they're too cold without the heat. We have them inside where the temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and we don't have a red light to use instead. Should the light be kept on all night or will that keep them awake and stressed?

 

[Willowspirit]

I cant really respond to whether the light is good or bad but we are using a cozy coop for heat. Every night at sundown we turn off the room light in their brooder area and every morning at sunrise we turn it on. When the room light is iff, they sleep. When it's on and now they have a window, they are up carrying on with their activities. I don't know about them but i like that they have a fairly natural resting period. When they move to the ciop this will be something they won't have to adjust to. Keep in mind I'm a newbie so this is just an opinion.

 

[lutherpug]

Can you post pictures of the chicks so we can get a better idea of how old they are?

Not enough heat for babies who still need it is far more dangerous than leaving a heat light on 24/7.

 

[DobieLover]

The chicks have to have a heat source until at least 5 or 6 weeks old.
You can use non-light emitting heat lamps like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075KFFVVM/?tag=backy-20

Or a brooder heat plate like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018KIPZTE/?tag=backy-20

But just turning off their heat source is a very bad idea.

I agree that the chicks that have been purchased should have light 24/7 for three days after placement into the brooder but should be switched over to natural circadian rhythms after those first three days. The 24/7 initial light period is to ensure they are eating and drinking well so they will recover from transport stresses and get off to a healthy start.

 

[aart]

We use a bright fluorescent heat lamp to keep them warm

Have never heard of this......fluorescent's usually don't give off heat. Do you have link to the product?

 

[50-45-1]

I brood my chicks with a range of light bulbs starting with a 75 watt, reducing to a 60, and ending up with a 25. The 25 i use when they are outside in the chick enclosure and it is mostly to encourage them to go in the coop at night and for comfort.
I know the continious light in the beginning helps them eat and drink more often, as chickens have no night vision.
Yes, without heat source they will huddle together for warmth, and if you have a weak chick sometimes they will be trampled upon and smothered by this pyleing up.