Red Lights-Eye Development Question!

[HennyB]

Hi everyone!

I've been doing all my due diligence in researching every little thing for getting my chicks this spring; I'm going to be a new momma!

I decided against a heat lamp and want to use the MHP method. My husband mentioned it to someone at work who also raises chickens and he made mention that the red lamps are necessary for the proper development for their eyes. I tried Googling it with little return; he said the MHP was perfectly fine, but just to add a regular red bulb somewhere near their brooder.

Has anyone else heard of this and is it true?

TIA!

~Danielle

 

[lazy gardener]

Hi everyone!

I've been doing all my due diligence in researching every little thing for getting my chicks this spring; I'm going to be a new momma!

I decided against a heat lamp and want to use the MHP method. My husband mentioned it to someone at work who also raises chickens and he made mention that the red lamps are necessary for the proper development for their eyes. I tried Googling it with little return; he said the MHP was perfectly fine, but just to add a regular red bulb somewhere near their brooder.

Has anyone else heard of this and is it true?

TIA!

~Danielle

Welcome to BYC. Danielle, that is the biggest crock of foolishness I've heard in a very long time. Broody hen raised chicks have a great advantage over any artificial brooding we can provide. Broody raised chicks don't have red lights, and they see just fine! MHP is the one thing we can do when artificially brooding our chicks to bring them one step closer to the broody hen model. Those hours of darkness ARE necessary for proper development of the eye, whether it's human, or bird.

You're going to have fun with your little peeps, and when you hear them singing themselves to sleep under their MHP, you'll know you made the right decision.

Might I also suggest: fermented feed, and deep litter management in the coop and run for your chickening pleasure!

 

[donrae]

Okay, reading LG's response, I now have a mental image of a red, lazer eyed broody hen, her gaze sweeping her chicks and locking focus on their eyes, one at a time.....

I agree with her. Folks repeat things that don't make any sense, without really thinking about them first.

 

[HennyB]

Ok, this totally makes sense to me AND made me laugh all at the same time. I'm afraid I over think things sometimes and being a nervous new mom, I was concerned for a moment! Thank you for returning me to sanity!

I shall proceed with natural day/night rhythms and the MHP method...and deep litter also! I have heard about fermented feed, but not quite sure what to do there. I haven't researched that yet! Yikes, so many things to learn!

 

[azygous]

Someone should start a thread on all the idiotic advice they've heard proffered over the years here on BYC. Some of the things people come up with are truly in the realm of the absurd, yet people will believe them because "someone told me so."

It's easy enough to fact check a supposed piece of advice. You google it and then skim down the list until you find a source with a university study backing it up. It takes all of twenty seconds.

The next best thing is to come here to BYC, and you will get accurate responses refuting the idiotic information, just as you did, in slightly over twenty seconds.

 

[Yaychicks]

If using lights, chicks are less likely to pick on other chicks- esp with a small wound or whatnot- under a red light, as the spot is not as visible. That's why they are preferred if heating by lamp.

In a hobby farm, it's easy enough to seperate one chick until well- we don't have a few thousand birds housed together here LOL.

 

[HennyB]

Someone should start a thread on all the idiotic advice they've heard proffered over the years here on BYC. Some of the things people come up with are truly in the realm of the absurd, yet people will believe them because "someone told me so."

It's easy enough to fact check a supposed piece of advice. You google it and then skim down the list until you find a source with a university study backing it up. It takes all of twenty seconds.

The next best thing is to come here to BYC, and you will get accurate responses refuting the idiotic information, just as you did, in slightly over twenty seconds.

I did try to google with little return, which is why I asked here. Luckily there's a knowledge base here that's generous with their experience to those of us with none.

 

[azygous]

Here. I got this in five seconds. https://academic.oup.com/ps/article...ence-of-red-light-on-reproductive-performance
It says red light has no effect on eye development as well as no effect on other functions.

 

[Folly's place]

I brood chicks under the red heat lamp, with windows and daylight/ white lights on during the day (12 to 14 hours), and darkness at night. Everyone does fine. Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Some people swear by fermented feed, and some of use leave out that extra step, and feed right out of the bag. Do pay attention to the date on each bag of feed you buy, and stick with very fresh. That means one month old or preferable fresher, and then don't plan on long term storage. Mary