Do Baby Chicks Need Light at Night?: 1 Minute to Understand Nighttime Needs of Chicks

Baby chicks require particular care in their first few weeks, and lighting plays a crucial role in their development and health. Immediately after hatching, chicks are unable to regulate their own body temperature, which is why they are typically kept in a brooder with a consistent heat source. But do baby chicks need light at night, or can they rest in darkness?

For the first week or two of life, it's standard practice to keep a light—usually a heat lamp—on 24 hours a day. This consistent light provides both warmth and illumination. Constant lighting ensures baby chicks can easily find food and water, which is essential for their survival and steady growth. Chicks are mostly active eaters, and in the wild, the hen would guide them to food whenever they're hungry, day or night.

As chicks mature and begin to feather out—usually after the first two weeks—many poultry keepers start introducing periods of darkness to simulate a more natural day-night cycle. Transitioning to about 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness can help the chicks develop normal sleeping patterns and prevent overstimulation or stress, which continual lighting can sometimes cause.

From a design perspective, creating a brooder setup with adjustable lighting is a thoughtful approach. By using a heat lamp combined with a separate, dimmable light source, you can control both temperature and light intensity, gradually guiding your chicks toward a healthy routine. For those planning to integrate chicks into a more comprehensive design for urban or home farming, considering how lighting will evolve as the chicks grow is just as important as the layout and functionality of their brooding environment. If you want to visualize or optimize your chick brooder or entire home farming setup, a home designer tool can help you plan the space for both the chicks' comfort and your overall interior aesthetic.

Tips 1:

Once chicks are fully feathered—usually by six weeks—you can keep them on a normal sunrise-sunset schedule. Monitor both temperature and light: too little light can disrupt their feeding, but too much might stress them.

FAQ

Q: Is it harmful if chicks have complete darkness at night in their first week?

A: Yes, in their first week, baby chicks need light to locate food and water, and for warmth if using a heat lamp.

Q: When can you start turning off the light at night for chicks?

A: Generally, after two weeks, you can begin introducing short periods of darkness, increasing gradually.

Q: Does a regular household lamp work as a brooder light?

A: Household lamps can provide light but may not generate enough heat; a heat lamp is often necessary for warmth.

Q: How warm should the brooder be for baby chicks at night?

A: The temperature should be about 95°F (35°C) the first week, reducing by 5°F each subsequent week.

Q: Can you use natural daylight for chicks instead of artificial lighting?

A: Natural daylight is beneficial, but be sure chicks are kept warm enough and protected from drafts or predators.