Nighttime - Dark or light?

[Jen71]

My chicks are 6 weeks old and fully feathered. Heating is not an issue.
If I had a coop, they would be outside in it. But our coop is not built yet - I won't go into the details of that here. It'll be ready in about 2 weeks.

My question is this:
Can chickens see at all in the dark?

When these chicks move to the coop, it's going to be pitch black out there at night.
Right now, my girls still have the light on in their brooder at night.
If I turn it off, they all squawk and squeal and fumble around the in the dark.

What should I do?
Turn off the light so they get used to regular daylight hours?
Or leave the light on while they're still in the house?

Thoughts? Advice?

 

[math ace]

When I took my chicks to the coop - - they too were fully feathered and did not need the light.

The first time they went to the coop and I tried to turn out the light - -- they went nuts.

The babies were afraid of the dark

So I had to wean them off the light. I know I am indulgent and they are spoiled.

They will sleep better in the house if you turn off the lights. I would start turning off the lights NOW before they move out to the coop.

 

[Jen71]

Ok thanks!
So they can see in the dark enough to function?

I just went downstairs and turned their light off. They cheeped for awhile, but now they are quiet.
Hopefully they'll sleep better too.

 

[wildorchid053]

chickens can't see at all in the dark.. if you go into your coop when it is dark be prepared to be attacked lol.. they are pretty much totally blind in the dark. that is why you can grab them so easily.

 

[GoldenCometLady]

I did not know that about chickens being blind at night.
Well I am thinking I might give mine a night light in the coop.
We have been waiting for the nights to warm up some more
before we take the heat lights away. They have a lot of
feathers but are only 4wks old.

Well does a night light sound stupid just so they can see
if a predator does get in the coop??

 

[lemurchaser]

I find it is easiest on them to shut the light off during the day and not turn it on for them at night. That way they have to find their way to a sleeping spot themselves. I have a coop with a little run, and the first night without the light they'll usually not get back in the coop, so I turn the light on for them and they get in, then I turn it back off. Usually in a couple of nights they're putting themselves to bed.

 

[Menmyrc]

I, like Lemurchaser, turn the indoor lights off in the early evening. That way, as the sun sets it darkens the room slowly. Mine are in a brooder in the garage, but there are a couple windows in the garage which allow some natural light.

 

[math ace]

I have sneaked into the coop many times - - - they seem to sleep pretty soundly to me. . .

I think a quiet predator - - - like a snake - - - would sneak up on them with or with out a light.

 

[Jen71]

Thank you all for the advice.
I turned the light off last night and they were just fine.
Today we changed the top of the brooder. It used to be solid wood, but now it's made of hardware cloth so they get much more natural light. I'll be leaving the light off all the time and they can get used to the dark naturally.