Light Or Not

[uranni31]

New chick momma here... Should the chicks be in complete dark at night OR should they have a night light? I kept a night light in case they needed to get to water or food but I am not sure if they should be eating at night. I know they won't be eating at night when they go in their coop but is not sure if it is the same for baby chicks.

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

What are you doing for heat? How old are they?

 

[uranni31]

What are you doing for heat? How old are they?

I am using a heating plate and they are 1 and 1/ weeks old.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

I am using a heating plate and they are 1 and 1/ weeks old.

I've found that mine have been fine with simply daylight. I also use a heating plate, and don't offer an extra light source besides the sunlight from the window right next to the brooder. I feel like it helps them keep a better cycle and get used to sleeping at night, but that's just how I've done it. I don't know if it's better to do one way over another.

 

[uranni31]

I've found that mine have been fine with simply daylight. I also use a heating plate, and don't offer an extra light source besides the sunlight from the window right next to the brooder. I feel like it helps them keep a better cycle and get used to sleeping at night, but that's just how I've done it. I don't know if it's better to do one way over another.

That makes sense because that is how they do it as hens naturally and plus their food will not be inside their coop when they sleep. Thank you, I will start to transition them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I've found that mine have been fine with simply daylight. I also use a heating plate, and don't offer an extra light source besides the sunlight from the window right next to the brooder. I feel like it helps them keep a better cycle and get used to sleeping at night, but that's just how I've done it. I don't know if it's better to do one way over another.

x2. I don't provide any additional light for the chicks and they have a natural day/night sleep cycle from the start, which also means they aren't eating and drinking at night.

 

[FuzzyCritters]

They don't need a light. A natural light cycle is actually better for the chicks than constantly having light.

 

[uranni31]

x2. I don't provide any additional light for the chicks and they have a natural day/night sleep cycle from the start, which also means they aren't eating and drinking at night.

We went ahead and turned off the light last night. One of the chicks complaint for a bit but they all went to bed. I did notice when we cleaned out the brooder this morning that there was less poop to clean. This tells me that there was less poop because they spent the night sleeping than eating.

 

[K0k0shka]

Agree with others, they need a natural day/night cycle with darkness at night to sleep. Don't switch off the light suddenly though, because they can't see well in low light and might get startled and scared if it gets too dark suddenly (probably why they "complained"). If you have natural light in the room, don't keep any additional (room) lights on in late afternoon, even if you have one on during the day so they can see better. Turn all lights off in mid-afternoon and leave the natural light to dim gradually as the sun sets, so their eyes can adjust and they can find their heater and settle down for the night before it gets too dark.

 

[uranni31]

Agree with others, they need a natural day/night cycle with darkness at night to sleep. Don't switch off the light suddenly though, because they can't see well in low light and might get startled and scared if it gets too dark suddenly (probably why they "complained"). If you have natural light in the room, don't keep any additional (room) lights on in late afternoon, even if you have one on during the day so they can see better. Turn all lights off in mid-afternoon and leave the natural light to dim gradually as the sun sets, so their eyes can adjust and they can find their heater and settle down for the night before it gets too dark.

I totally agree! That is what we were planning on doing but what happened was we try to do their last cleaning before they go to bed so they are not lying down in much poop. But that causes us to turn on lights to clean. We will try today to clean out brooder before sundown