What time do your chickens get up?

[ssteiner]

We live in Southern California, so weather's not an issue this time of year. My coop has a run attached to it and the girls have 24/7 access to it and I got to wondering. This morning, I was out on my backyard patio about 6:30AM and noticed the girls out scratching around in their run. It was still practically dark outside and I just started wondering what time chickens get up in the morning...

-Scott

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Ive got one rooster that starts crowing every morning about 5am. It doesnt get daylight till around 7am.

 

[seismic wonder2]

I get up around 0430-0500 almost every day. Sometimes I get out early to "release the hounds!" As I say, and there they are, 0545, pacing back and fourth waiting for me to open door to the run so they can get out and tear up my yard.

 

[crazy hen quartet]

ssteiner, I often wonder the same thing.

I don't have a coop, just a large pen with some shelter and roosts. I have looked out my sons window before the sun is up and seen them scratching and pecking around. It makes me wonder what time they wake and start moving around.

I thought they were "night blind" so what is with them getting off the roosts in the dark?

Hmmmm....

 

[Maidservant]

Mine wake up between 3 am and 5 am, but we have roos going off at all hours of the night. The ducks are up all night, I don't think I've ever seen them asleep except during their "nap time" at 11 am. It never fails, everyone except the little chicks will fall asleep right at 11 for about an hour, every day!

Emily in NC

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Some one on here said that a chicken can see infrared light and therefor sees the sun coming long befored it actually rises.

I am guessing this is why a roo crows so early in the morning.

My chooks are in the barn and they have a light panel on the roof.

I have been up there at various times of the night and day. I have opened the barn door to a waiting crowd at 5 am. But most were still roosting or hudled up in the corner.

If I get there late, say 8 am, like today. OH MY GOD, I have a pacing, squaking and P.O. 'd group of chickens. The ones in the wire mesh stalls that do not get out until I open them are darn near frantic !! Dumb chooks.

 

[seismic wonder2]

I feel your pain, If I don't get the door open by 0630 it sounds like a train wreck out there. I only have TWO silkies. I can't imagine having a whole flock of leghorns etc...

 

[chickorama]

Today I waited until about 9:30 and could hear them complaining across the backyard.

 

[LynneP]

We have extra light in the coop from 5 am - 8 am. Of course they might get going before then, I can't hear them because the coop is insulated and we have no roos.

 

[crazy hen quartet]

Mine get loud too... they are out 24/7 so it's more about the big dish of layer pellets soaked in warm water I bring out first thing. If I don't get out there by 7ish there is a lot of very loud discussion - I have to assume about my whereabouts.

I have no roos but if I'm late one of the EEs likes to get up on a bucket, stretch out her neck and yell "buk buk buk BGAAAWK!" then flap her wings around.

I swear the first time I heard it I thought something bad was going on out there, a dog or feral cat even tho my yard is pretty much impenetrable.