When & how to wean chicks from having the light on all night?

[Gloria]

Great thread, glad I found it before I posted it. I'm having the same problem with my 4 almost 3 month old RIR's. They don't even care if it's raining, they still stay outside in a corner of the fence all piled on top pf each other.

I just figured out it was the light a couple of nights ago. So now I turn on their heat lamp just before dark, and they all go inside. I didn't have this problem with my EE's last year when they we're old enough to go out with the grownups.

It will be interesting to see what other's have to say about this problem. Good luck with your's. Hey, at least we figured out it was the light causing the problem.

 

[CathyB]

I was just wondering the same thing! I have some that are 6 weeks old today. I kept the light on the first couple of days since they were in their big girl coop! Well, last night DH turned off the light and you would have thought someoone was mudering them. Peeping wildly and loudly, crashes, sounds of things falling down, you name it! I ran back to the light as I could not take it, and turned it back on.

My question is this, it can not be good for them to have a light source 24 hours, can it? I though it could not be good for moulting and just their general well being. Anyone keep their light on all night, all the time? I would not mind as my babies are spoiled and I have an energy saver bulb in there. Just wondering!

BTW- I love this forum! I love the pictures and as someone else stated, I have never had a question go unanswered.

 

[lovemychicks9]

Okay this is what I did and it has worked like a charm, honest. My girls are 10 weeks old and have always slept in the coop since day one. At 5 weeks of age I took a 60 watt light bulb and spray painted it red and I turned off the light in the day and just before sundown I would plug it in. It was bright enough for them to see but dimmer with the red paint. Then at 6 1/2 weeks I went to ACE and got a 25 watt red light bulb and pluged it in the lamp and that is all that I have used since then. I turn it off when I let them out in the morning and turn it on at bedtime. In fact my 4 week olds have only had the 25 watt bulb since they have been here almost a week. That way they are not in the complete dark and I feel better and I have actually forgotten to turn it on once or twice and the 10 week olds did not even complain. So get a red 25 watt and try that or do the step down with the red paint and then the 25 watter , it works great!

 

[CathyB]

Thanks lovemychickens9! I know the light I have in there can't be that strong, it is just one for a lamp. I think I will try to step down and then get to the 25w red for nighttime. I just hate hearing them peep like that, it is so sad and breaks my heart! I have a night heat bulb that I used for a lizard, I wonder what that would do??

 

[chickenbike]

I like the light step-down plan as well. Currently I have a pink, 60W bulb in the ark. I'll get a 25W red builb and give it a go in a week or so.

My other challenge is getting the girls to go back up the ladder! When we lower the ladder in the morning they all make it mid-way down then flap and soar the last little bit. They haven't gone up it on their own yet though. The ladder is 4' in length and not on too steep of an angle. I'm thinking they're just a bit small to quite figure it out? (They're 4 weeks).

When it's dusk I turn on the light so they look up at the warm glow and they're interested in the light as they know what it's about, but no one's tried to go up. Each night I get in under the ark and put each pullet midway up the ladder and help guide them up. I'm hoping one of these days they'll have a go themselves!

 

[chickiebaby]

sometimes I do feel like looking at cute chicks, and sometimes I dont. But I find that people on this forum are remarkably good about labeling their cute photos as cute photos. So justdont look at them when you don't feel like it. Meanwhile, I have learned so much on here long before I even began posting. I find this community genuinely invaluable, and it is the only forum, on any subject, that I've ever had the desire to be part of.

I love the lack of flaming, the general respect and the knowledge - like having 1000 grandmothers and 1000 kids -- only they all love chickens!

Notice you got a bunch of good answers to your question already so I wont bother you with repetition.

Happy poultry,

 

[lovemychicks9]

I forgot to put this in the post last night, but another reason I like the 25 watt bulb is it gives enough light for the girls to see in the coop and if a predator would be in there I feel they could see it and perhaps have a chance of a get away. I also like the fact of I can see them if I have to go out there for some reason, and turning it on before dusk helps to guide them into the coop at bedtime and I don't have to go and chase them around , they know where to go on their own. I have noticed that it also helps keep them from pecking each other . Trudy

 

[Gloria]

Hi everyone,
I just wanted to give an update on my babies and the night light problem. Last night I turned the light on for them to go in to bed. After they were in there for a little while and everything was quiet I turned the light back off and never heard a thing from them until this morning. So I'm thinking that maybe they need the light on just to see their way up to bed. Maybe, being babies they go in too late and it's too dark to find their way up to go to sleep. Any thoughts on this idea?
Thanks,
Gloria
p.s. they are about 12 weeks old now.

 

[gritsar]

My chicks have been without a nighttime light since they were 4 weeks old and the nighttime temps were warm enough. Yes, they freak the first couple of nights; but they get over it. During the freaking out periods I checked them frequently for "pile ups". I've said it before and I'll say it again. IMO, it's not healthy for any creature to have light 24/7. If you don't believe me, try leaving a light on in your bedroom for a week and see how you feel at the end of the week.
I think you found a nice compromise Gloria.

 

[chickenbike]

A few nights ago I left the light off for the first time. My girls were 6.5 weeks old. There were no problems at all! One end of the ark does have a large plexiglass window so they can enjoy first light at 0400.