Lighting and Chicks

[bellachicks]

Our chicks were born May 6, 2013. They were brooded inside, and with a lamp. Now it's time for them to move to the coop. I'm worried they will be scared, or cold. What do I do about lighting??

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

They'll be scared, yes. But no amount of lighting will change that--any change is scary to poultry (and most animals, and people, too!). They'll get used to it.

They don't need any lighting at all this time of year. Not sure where you live, but even at night it's over 70 degrees here in Ohio. My chickens are actively moving away from each other at night because it's so warm. If your chicks do feel cold (and they won't, they're wearing down parkas 24/7) they will instinctively huddle together. They will probably instinctively huddle together even if they are not cold, because they will feel safer that way.

Once the shorter days of Fall are upon us, some of your pullets will begin to lay. Probably in August. You'll have to decide if you want to do any supplementary lighting over the winter. Laying may slow down and stop completely without it. You may also have some pullets that don't lay their first egg until Spring 2014 without supplementary light.

If you search "supplementary lighting" here on BYC, you'll see it's a contentious topic. I make sure my flock gets at least 15 hours of light 365 days a year, which keeps them laying. Others believe this is unnatural and shortens the number of years that they lay eggs. On this topic, you'll have to make up your own mind.

Here's a great publication on poultry lighting from the University of Maine: http://umaine.edu/publications/2227e/

 

[Judy]

They should have been sleeping in a dark room for a few weeks by now. They do not need a light in the coop; they will rest better without it, and with daylight coming and going naturally. They should have a window or opening in the coop so daylight comes and goes naturally in there as well.

They may very well do a lot of cheeping the first night or two in the coop, even if you have them sleep in the diark for a night or two in the house before moving them, but this is just a response to change.

 

[bellachicks]

Well, I'm the poster child for how to do things all sorts of wrong!
Mercifully the chicks seem to have survived me just fine.

Night 1: I earned my official red neck medal by being out in the dark, bitten by mosquitos, rigging a sawhorse outside the coop with the brooding light pointing inwards.
I itch. They survived.
Night 2: removed that contraption and placed a battery powered lantern in one of the nesting boxes. The 2 orpingtons climbed into the nesting box with the lantern and snuggled up with it as close as could be possible. (it is tall so it was the base they were feeling and seeing, not the light in their eyes or anything). All the rest huddled near by, choosing not to go into the darker areas of the coop.

They did seem less terrified this morning, everyone just came out happily enough.

Poor birdies! They are troopers.

Furthermore it has been beautiful weather here, Until Yesterday when it became stupidly hot. I keep checking on them to make sure no one has heat stroke. I have put electrolytes in their water.

So far everyone is ok despite me

 

[bellachicks]

They should have been sleeping in a dark room for a few weeks by now. They do not need a light in the coop; they will rest better without it, and with daylight coming and going naturally. They should have a window or opening in the coop so daylight comes and goes naturally in there as well.

They may very well do a lot of cheeping the first night or two in the coop, even if you have them sleep in the diark for a night or two in the house before moving them, but this is just a response to change.

Well I got that wrong. I didn't acclimate t hem to the dark before moving them outside to their coop.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I know it's hard, but let them fledge, Mama Hen!

Your chicks will be just fine with no light and no babying. They are old enough to be on their own. I have four babies that hatched with a broody on May 15, and she's sooo done with them. She doesn't even nest with them any more; they sleep on the perches with the big girls, and have been doing so for two weeks now. I know it's hard, but your chicks will be absolutely fine--and you will be a happier chicken owner without so much anxiety and worry. Chicks are TOUGH. They can take it.

 

[Sharon Bee]

I had a low light on in the coop when my 11 chicks moved in at age 5 weeks. They are now 6 1/2 weeks old and loving it. I have a window in the carriage house but in their corner coop it is a bit dark. I turn light on in their corner when I go in in the morning. They love it and run back and forth all excited. I turn it off later in the day so it can go dark naturally. I'm in S. Ontario where it has been 30 c for a week or more. Luckily it's nice and cool in carriage house as it's thick brick walls built in 1880's.

 

[bellachicks]

I know it's hard, but let them fledge, Mama Hen!

Your chicks will be just fine with no light and no babying. They are old enough to be on their own. I have four babies that hatched with a broody on May 15, and she's sooo done with them. She doesn't even nest with them any more; they sleep on the perches with the big girls, and have been doing so for two weeks now. I know it's hard, but your chicks will be absolutely fine--and you will be a happier chicken owner without so much anxiety and worry. Chicks are TOUGH. They can take it.

Really????????? They are ok in the dark?
Thank you!