night light?

[grammychick12]

our nearly 6 week old chicks have been outside in enclosure for about 3 weeks now with no problems (knock on wood) we have a coop and they are ready to go roost just about sundown daily. we close it up to protect from possible predators. My question is do they need a light on in the coop at night now? I know they don't need the heat, central Texas is hot enough...I replaced the white bulb with a 25 watt blue one (that is what the ducks prefer in their house at night) Am I depriving them of sleep maybe because it isn't dark?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

No light. Just like all earthbound creatures, they need hemeral lighting - a day period and a night period.

 

[grammychick12]

Thanks. I had read that the ducks need 24 hours of light til 8 or 9 wks of age but wasn't sure about the chicks.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I use ceramic heat emitters for chicks. I keep them on 24 hours of light for the first 4 days so they can eat and drink any time. After that, I give them 8 hours of dark.