I have four 3.5 week old Australorps. It is has been staying hot here in Arkansas, so I've been turning their heat lamp off during the day (they stay inside, and since DH and I are cheapskates, we haven't turned our air conditioner on yet). Last night when I went to bed, it was still 82 in the house, so I decided to just leave the heat lamp off and let the chicks sleep in the dark for the first time. They peeped for a bit and then quieted down, but after about 30 mins of laying in bed worrying about them, I went and turned the light back on.
My concern is this: I know my chicks will have dark nights soon (no electricity in the coop), but I have also read that chickens have really, really bad night vision, so I was worried that the chicks would get hungry/thirsty during the night and not be able to find their food and water. Am I being to paranoid? Do chicks this age need access to their food and water 24/7? Can I leave the lights out at night without them starving or dehydrating?
My concern is this: I know my chicks will have dark nights soon (no electricity in the coop), but I have also read that chickens have really, really bad night vision, so I was worried that the chicks would get hungry/thirsty during the night and not be able to find their food and water. Am I being to paranoid? Do chicks this age need access to their food and water 24/7? Can I leave the lights out at night without them starving or dehydrating?