My chickens are afraid of the dark!

[1 acre willows]

I replaced the heat lamps with red led bulbs, no where near as bright, but 20w combined versus 500w and no heat is kinda nice

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Becareful with those heat lamps out in the coop. You can find tons of stories of people who lost their whole flock to fires started by heat lamps.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Put a regular light in there inplace of the heat lamp. As soon as they are all in the coop and settled, shut it off.

I dont have a light inside my coop, but i do have white Christmas lights in the run. They are more out there for me so I can see when I am opening and closing the coop. I have them on a timer.

 

[coach723]

X3 on the light. I only use LED lamps in my coop so I don't have heat/fire risk, and they are well mounted. Even though I have adult birds, they can still be reluctant to go into a dark coop, and the young ones will be like this until they become accustomed. A simple LED lantern or flashlight inside the coop turned on before dusk and off after they are all in will solve your issue.

 

[Cebarmlds]

Is there a window in your coop so the hens can see inside to enter? chickens cannot see in the dark so add a dim light on a timer as others have said.

 

[aart]

Is there a window in your coop so the hens can see inside to enter? chickens cannot see in the dark so add a dim light on a timer as others have said.

Ditto Dat^^^

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is there a window in your coop so the hens can see inside to enter? chickens cannot see in the dark so add a dim light on a timer as others have said.

x3. My first thought was "Can they even see inside?" Since chickens can't see in the dark they won't go into a dark coop. A light (NOT a heat lamp) inside is an option but windows don't need electricity and are an easy way to add more ventilation.

 

[ChickNanny13]

That's why I don't use a heat light, converted to MHP in the brooder. They learn early on day & night ... I start them off in a plastic bin in the house with MHP, they around 3 - 4wks they go out to the brooder w/MHP in the patio. It has windows & they're fine. I've found with the MHP they're quiet, calm and not skittish, they learn early on day and night.