When do I allow my indoor chicks total DARKNESS at night??

[keeko]

I have my first flock of chicks inside (they're only about a week old!), and I've had the red light bulb heat lamp combo on them 24/7. I turn on a white overhead light when the sun comes up and turn it off when the sun goes down to simulate the day. But it seems so harsh! I've toyed with putting on a space heater for a few hours after dark, and turning off the red heat lamp, but they freak out!!! They go crazy, so I know they're scared, but I was hoping I could 'wean' them onto total darkness. Should I keep doing this? At what age is it necessary? Will it really help, or should I just keep the red heat lamp on them all the time?

P.S. I should note that I'm not at all concerned about lack of heat. The bathroom stays nice and toasty between our central air and the space heater. My concern is really for darkness they (should) experience at night.

Thanks guys!!

 

[underground chickenman]

Set your main light on a timer and set it to go off for about 15 minutes in the middle of the night. To start with, leave a night light on nearby (baby isle at Wal-Mart) that will keep it from being pitch dark when the main light goes out. You can gradually increase the amount of time the main light goes out and eventually remove the night light. They should be fine in the dark after a week or two, if not sooner. Chicks catch on pretty quick to what they should and should not be afraid of, at least in my experiences with my own.

UGCM

 

[midget_farms]

As long as the temp is OK they can be in total darkness now - shouldn't bother them much - maybe just put in a nightlight so they can find water as they won't sleep all night just yet.

Otherwise it shouldn't matter much to them if it is day or night.

 

[catdaddy66]

Had mine deal with the dark just recently and they had no problem. I heard no sounds of distress, and when I woke them up the next morning they were excited and hungry!! They are in the dark currently and doing great. I was kinda surprised at the ease of it myself...

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I don't put mine in total darkness until about 8wks. I want them to have access to food and water 24/7 until then.

 

[lambchicks]

Good "timely" question for me too, Keeko. Thanks for posting it.
I personally think that I am going to put mine in the dark tonight. They are 3 weeks today. But the partied ALL night last night. This is the first time they have done that. This is only my second set of chickies and I do not remember the ones doing that last spring. DH said these must be "party chicks." LOL!

 

[jmagill]

Mine have dark every night. My heat lamp is a ceramic heat emitter that gives off no light.

We turn the light off when we go to bed. There is about 5 to 10 minutes of pure hell the first night and less every day until they get that the light going off is not a problem.
We get quiet at night ( they are in the house for the first three weeks) and they jump up in the morning and eat and drink and play.