How, on what and how many hours a day do chickens sleep in a chicken coop?

Good afternoon, experienced and novice poultry farmers. Proper roosting of chickens at night eliminates conflicts in the herd, promotes the health of laying hens and makes cleaning the chicken coop easier. Why do chickens want to sleep upstairs: on trees or sticks? This is an instinctive defense against predators. Therefore, laying hens and roosters will feel good after proper rest.

By the way, if the perches in the chicken coop are located at different levels in height, then the leaders of the family are immediately visible. The main layers will win their place higher, and the hens of a lower rank in the chicken hierarchy sleep on the lower bars. Here’s the first tip: it’s better to install perches for chickens on the same level so that the girls don’t fight among themselves.

And it is not recommended for chickens to spend the night on the floor because there may be parasites in the straw on the ground that are dangerous for the feathered coats. And it’s cooler on the floor, especially in winter.

How to arrange nests in a chicken coop?

The work order is as follows:

1. Build a box, fasten the side walls, secure the bottom at an angle of 10°, make a roof.
2. Cut an entry hole and cover the front of the nest.
3. On the bottom back wall, cut a hole slightly larger than a chicken egg.
4. Place a container with soft material under the bottom.

Mar 29
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Effect of light on chickens

Chickens cannot live without light. Properly selected lighting will not only improve the productive system, but also reduce the number of injured individuals and correct their clock rhythms.

Lighting in a chicken coop involves dividing it into 2 components: the intensity of the light supply and the duration of its emission.

• small chickens will find food more easily;
• aggression will decrease;
• control over the growing process of chickens.

Bright light has a huge impact on chick development and subsequent productivity.

The first method is to change the mode twice a day so that the illusion of dawn and sunset appears in the room. With the second method, it is possible to carry out light changes throughout the day with several repetitions. If we take into account the opinion of experts about which mode is more productive, then farmers are inclined to the third option - continuous.

Poultry farms of Ukraine - information portal for poultry farmers

Interesting facts were discovered when studying how a chicken sleeps.
In order for the chickens to be fully productive, they require the most comfortable living conditions. To do this, you even need to equip your sleeping place in the best possible way. But don’t forget that a chicken is a bird and it sleeps on a perch or perch.

Chickens' sleep is quite restless. This bird can wake up three times during the night. This happens when the rooster crows his “song”. Why is he doing this? Apparently, in order to attract the attention of relatives to possible dangers and, thereby, protecting them from death. But so far these are only assumptions of scientific ornithologists, and the real reasons for this behavior have not yet been fully studied.

Chickens sleep on roosts - just as their wild ancestors slept on branches in nature. At the same time, the chicken's paw is designed so that it securely holds the bird, preventing it from falling. And the long and sharp claws serve as a hook.

When setting up a roost in a chicken coop, many important details need to be taken into account. For example, the height of the seating area. The optimal height is about a meter above the floor. Of course, chickens won’t mind too much if you place the roost under the ceiling. But this will take a lot of energy when the birds settle down for the night and can even be injured if they fall. After all, everyone knows that chickens cannot fly due to weakness of the pectoral muscles. But a perch that is too low will also not suit the birds. This is because chickens will not feel safe low to the floor.

Equipping a chicken coop with shelves is completely unsuitable for chickens as a night place. Even sitting on such a shelf, the chickens' toes bend, and the bird simply cannot maintain its balance. Her sleep, already intermittent and disturbing, becomes completely impossible. The chickens are starting to get sick. And one cannot even dream of egg production in such conditions.

One more detail to consider. In the chicken coop, when the birds have settled down for the night, it is extremely undesirable to suddenly turn on a bright light. This frightens the chickens, and in the first few minutes, it makes them completely blind. It seems that there is no need to explain to anyone what stress is. And the harm caused by such human behavior will not take long to occur.

Lighting modes to increase egg production

Good lighting has a beneficial effect on the chicken's body and its productivity. But a significant increase in egg production in birds can be observed only if a certain light regime is observed.

Moreover, it is presented in several versions, each of which has its own characteristics and advantages.

Intermittent lighting for laying hens

The intermittent coop lighting mode involves periodically turning on and off the lights in the coop, which is carried out in accordance with a clear schedule.

At the same time, the total duration of daylight hours of 14 hours does not decrease.

When using this method in birds, the following positive changes can be observed:

• increase in egg productivity;
• improving the shape, weight of eggs and shell strength;
• improved digestion in poultry, which leads to faster weight gain;
• chickens lay eggs for a longer period;
• all representatives of the livestock behave calmer, the number of cases of egg pecking decreases.

Intermittent lighting is a rather broad concept that only explains in general terms the principle of operation of the method. In practice, one of its subtypes is used: asymmetric or symmetric.

Asymmetrical lighting

This way of implementing lighting involves dividing the overall day into periods of light and darkness in an asymmetrical way. That is, each segment has a different duration.

For example, the following mode is often used:

• 2 hours – lights on;
• 4 hours – darkness in the poultry house;
• 8 hours – the lamp works again;
• 10 o'clock is the period of darkness.

In this scheme, only a 10-hour period without light is perceived by birds as night. The rest of the time for laying hens is subjective daylight hours.

This approach assumes the following positive changes in the livestock:

• the number of eggs that chickens lay per year increases significantly;
• general synchronization occurs in the laying hen population, as a result of which they lay eggs almost simultaneously;
• The volume of feed consumed by poultry is noticeably reduced.

In addition, when using an asymmetrical lighting regime, approximately 40-50% of the bird's feed is given during the dark period.

This promotes better complete absorption of nutrients and calcium by the body, which goes into the formation of strong and large eggs.

Also, in the dark, chickens scatter less food and behave more calmly while eating.

Symmetrical lighting

Symmetrical lighting involves dividing the day into several equal periods of light and darkness.

For example, a chicken's day may consist of four 6-hour periods, with 3 hours of light and another 3 hours of darkness. In this case, in the perception of chickens there is no clear distinction between day and night.

This method is often used in factories that breed chickens for meat, since with such lighting the birds gain weight much faster.

But in the egg direction, symmetrical lighting is also used.

It leads to a decrease in egg production and desynchronization of the laying hen population, while the quality of eggs (shape, size, shell density) significantly increases.

What does light affect?

Every farmer knows that light is not so much a way to illuminate the interior of a chicken coop, but rather a tool with which you can effectively control the biological rhythms of birds. How exactly this tool works in skillful hands, see the table below.

Lighting in a chicken coop can vary, however, it is important that it is there in any case.

Table 1. What is the effect of chicken coop lighting?

Moulting in chickens

For proper rearing of chickens, not only the length of daylight matters, but also the intensity of lighting.

Using the indicators listed in the table above, farmers must draw up a so-called lighting program. It can be constructed as follows:

• continuously, when there will be only one block of darkness in the daylight;
• intermittently, when in one day of light the hens can have from 2 to 4 blocks of complete darkness.

Provided you have your sights set on professional farming, your best bet is to use the intermittent program method.

Lighting program is the best way to raise healthy offspring

The periods during which the darkness inside the chicken coop will last are very important for each species of birds, since it is in the darkness that the following biological processes occur:

• bone tissue of birds is formed;
• there is a change in calcium metabolism, which determines how strong the shell of the future egg will be;
• the strength of the immune system increases.

That is why it is impossible to leave light on chickens around the clock; they simply will not be able to produce healthy offspring, gain weight, and, in principle, maintain health.

Among other things, the nuance of color perception in the visual system of chickens is also very important. For example, blue shades of light for chickens equal darkness, so you need to be careful when choosing lighting fixtures.

Lamps in coops must also have the correct light range

Do laying hens need lighting in winter?

Need to. But here’s the problem: all year round they will just wear and tear. Let's save up some eggs and send our Stakhanovites on vacation for two or three weeks?

Here's the best way to do it: I don't know why, but in many villages laying hens are sent on vacation 2 weeks before Maslenitsa. Although, if you think about it, after February 23, March 8 and Maslenitsa, the family will easily survive the lack of eggs, all the holidays are behind us, Lent is ahead!

How to send chickens on vacation? Leave them without additional lighting in the morning and evening for exactly 14 days. And it is advisable to do this before March 22, when there will be 12 hours of daylight and day equals night.

That's all! Proper arrangement of the chicken coop will make your laying hens happy both in winter and summer!

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Good luck to everyone and success!

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Favorable lighting modes

An effective type of lighting is intermittent light mode. Used in the process of raising chickens of any breed. It is not the duration of the light that is important, but the time of day at which it is turned on. It is divided into two types:

• The asymmetrical regime is perceived by chickens as a change of day and night with a clear boundary. Therefore, turning off the emergency lights does not force the chickens to sleep. Dawn and sunset occur at set times. Poultry productivity increases and the amount of feed consumed decreases.
• Symmetric. There is no clear boundary between the onset of day and night. Laying hens lay eggs at any time within 24 hours. There is a decrease in the egg production of chickens, but the quality of eggs and eggshells improves.

Fleas

A chicken flea can easily fly into your chicken coop along with sparrows, rodents or stray animals. Fleas are very dangerous for birds: rapidly multiplying, they are able to “bite” their carrier in a short period. A chicken infected with fleas is constantly worried, itches constantly, and does not bite well. Fleas can infect birds not only with helminths, which can pass to humans through meat, but also with plague, salmonellosis and brucellosis.

Fleas on a chicken are clearly visible; to do this, you need to take a closer look at the area around the eyes, beak and legs. Free-roaming birds help themselves by wallowing in dust and anthills. But you shouldn’t let the problem get worse, especially since fleas can be easily dealt with using folk remedies.

It is necessary to clean the chicken coop, as fleas love to settle in the litter. The old litter should be burned and the room should be treated with disinfectants. The smell of tansy and wormwood, which should be added to the bedding, drives out fleas well. Many veterinarians use the antiparasitic drug metronidazole to treat and remove parasites. After using medications, prophylaxis should be given, such as a vitamin supplement.

What does light affect?

Regardless of seasonal factors, it is recommended to accustom chickens to stable lighting from the very beginning. Egg-bearing birds begin to lay eggs at 4 months. In meat-egg breeds, this occurs within six months. It is impossible to constantly maintain bright lighting.

Intensity

Chickens see poorly in the dark, but are dependent on the intensity of light. They are more sensitive to this indicator than mammals.

Depending on the light intensity, the brain sends impulses to organs and systems. They affect sleep, development, appetite, and reproduction. This means that most physiological processes in the body of chickens can be regulated with the help of light.

In sunny weather, experts recommend shading the chicken coop. Excessive amount of light not only negatively affects productivity parameters, but also leads to egg pecking. Too intense illumination provokes cannibalism, aggressive behavior, and high morbidity among birds.

Length of daylight

The length of daylight hours affects many processes - primarily the quantity and quality of eggs. The following features depend on this indicator:

• egg weight and size;
• the process of development and maturation of chickens;
• shell thickness;
• bird health;
• bird rest;
• metabolic processes;
• chicken weight

Prevention of diseases in poultry

According to the recommendations, vaccination and the introduction of vitamins into the feed should be carried out. Timely dietary supplements will provide chickens with immunity. Chicks and adult chickens should not be mixed together. Once a month it is necessary to disinfect the chicken coop, which includes thoroughly cleaning the floor, walls, perches, feeders and treating them with special solutions.

The chicken coop must be ventilated daily. To avoid introducing infection into your chicken coop, it is recommended to buy eggs and chickens only from reliable suppliers, industrial incubators or large poultry farms. Your purchase must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate with full information about the vaccinations performed.

Temporarily house new chickens separately so that the young chickens grow and become stronger. Quarantine the new batch and keep it for at least 10, and preferably 14 days. During this time, any infection will definitely manifest itself. Every day it is recommended to examine the new arrival, paying attention to appearance, general condition, and appetite. If after 14 days the bird is alert and active, it can be released into the main lineup.

How long do chickens sleep?

Features of daylight hours for laying hens

Normal daylight hours: 12-14 hours

Do you need a regime for laying hens? It improves bird productivity. If there is 14 hours of daylight every day throughout the year, chicken productivity improves. When they sleep less than 10 hours, their body gets tired.

With activity less than 14 hours, egg production decreases, diseases appear, and carcass weight decreases. By properly organizing lighting, you can speed up puberty, influence the weight and shape of eggs, and increase the laying period.

The brightness of the lighting in the first days of a chick’s life is 30-40 lux. At three weeks of age it decreases by 5-10 lux and remains in this position until the end of puberty.

Lighting for mature hens should have an intensity of 10-15 lux, and for parent flocks - at least 15, so that the roosters become more active. Brightness above 20 lux leads to cannibalism in birds and increases the likelihood of injury.

15 suites - enough for adults

You need to turn the light on/off in the chicken coop smoothly, at the same time of day. The bird gets used to the regime, due to which the metabolism in the body improves. Chickens should not be raised in constant lighting conditions.

Chickens need to be accustomed to the dark so that in the event of an emergency shutdown of the lights, a stampede does not begin. Daylight hours lasting 12-14 hours are most optimal for birds of any age.

The length of daylight increases slowly, every day by 5-10 minutes, so as not to injure the bird. It is recommended that the lights turn on at 6 am and turn off at 7-20 pm.

How to switch a bird to intermittent lighting?

Breeders transfer both young and adult livestock to intermittent lighting. If young chickens grew up under constant lighting, then they are transferred to intermittent lighting gradually from the age of 4–5 months. During this period, laying hens are most sensitive to light stimulation. When raising young animals using a symmetrical or asymmetrical regime, after the laying hens reach puberty, the program is not changed.

As for choosing the appropriate regime to which the bird is gradually transferred, it is strictly individual. The schedule for alternating periods of darkness and light is drawn up based on the breed of bird, the climatic conditions of the region, the feed used, the age and purpose of the chickens. But regardless of the chosen mode, there are a number of points that must be observed when translating:

1. If the young animals were raised under constant light conditions, then during transfer the first period of light should begin at the same time as it began under constant light.
2. Approximately 70% of poultry feed is distributed throughout the day, with the remaining 30% given only before the last period of darkness.
3. The selected mode is used throughout the year, without changing it depending on the season.

Various studies have shown that the best productivity is achieved by those hens that have been raised under intermittent light throughout their lives. Lower rates are observed in birds raised under constant lighting and then transferred to an asymmetrical mode. The transfer of young animals from intermittent to constant lighting, according to breeders, is not at all advisable.

When raising chickens, it is important to ensure that the birds have at least 14 hours of daylight per day. If this condition is met, there is a significant increase in egg productivity and egg quality, accelerated development rates, and improved metabolism

To properly implement lighting, it is necessary to select a suitable mode and strictly adhere to it. Only in this case can you reach the maximum egg production rates of the chicken and not harm its health.

Favorable lighting modes

An effective type of lighting is intermittent light mode. Used in the process of raising chickens of any breed. It is not the duration of the light that is important, but the time of day at which it is turned on. It is divided into two types:

• The asymmetrical regime is perceived by chickens as a change of day and night with a clear boundary. Therefore, turning off the emergency lights does not force the chickens to sleep. Dawn and sunset occur at set times. Poultry productivity increases and the amount of feed consumed decreases.
• Symmetric. There is no clear boundary between the onset of day and night. Laying hens lay eggs at any time within 24 hours. There is a decrease in the egg production of chickens, but the quality of eggs and eggshells improves.

Which lamps to choose?

To make it more comfortable for the birds and easier for the owners, the lamp in the chicken coop should not consume a lot of energy and require increased maintenance. It is desirable that the light can be adjusted, and that the lamps themselves are resistant to moisture and dust.

In general, when running electricity into a chicken coop, you need to take into account that the chicken house has high humidity. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct the wiring outside the perimeter of the chicken coop, and install shades on the lamps themselves.

Let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of lamps that are installed in the poultry house.

Incandescent lamps

Just 20 years ago, incandescent lamps were installed everywhere. Nowadays, these are too “gluttonous” illuminators for large farms. Energy costs are not compensated even by the low cost of the “Ilyich light bulb.” However, for small coops it is still a good lighting alternative.

The advantages of incandescent lamps include:

• low price for the lamp;
• environmental friendliness;
• ease of operation;
• the ability to regulate the degree of heat (this will require thyristor units);
• good lighting.

In addition, the “Ilyich bulb” tolerates cold temperatures well, and can itself be used for precise heating. The chicken coop usually uses 40-60 W lamps.

LED

An LED lamp can last more than 50 thousand hours. Currently, manufacturers have begun to produce lamps specifically for poultry farms.

The benefits include:

• warm white glow color;
• ease of operation;
• ability to work at different temperatures (from -20 to +50 degrees Celsius);
• economical energy consumption;
• resistance to moisture and dust;
• regulation of lamp intensity.

The disadvantages usually include the high price of the lamp. On average, an LED lamp costs from 100 rubles. At the same time, LED lights pay for themselves quite quickly.

Luminescent

The advantages of experienced poultry farmers include:

• good uniform white light;
• durability;
• ease of operation;
• low price for lamps;
• energy savings.

Disadvantages should also be taken into account:

• A chicken's eyes work on a different principle. A cheap lamp gives chickens a poor spectral range, meaning the bird thinks the light is blinking.
• For lighting intensity, you need to buy light bulbs with dimmers. However, in poultry houses, dimmers often fail.
• Such a lamp cannot simply be thrown away; recycling is necessary.

However, if you take into account and minimize the disadvantages, such a lamp will be a good helper on the farm and in the home.

Energy saving

Energy-saving illuminators have also shown their advantages in the poultry market. The advantages include:

• energy savings;
• the ability to customize the desired spectrum, that is, warm white lighting.

It’s worth thinking about the disadvantages in advance:

• high price;
• Difficulty adjusting brightness;
• the presence of dangerous mercury in the bulb (like fluorescent lamps, such lamps must be disposed of).

In addition, according to reviews from farmers, energy-saving lamps in a chicken coop last much less than the designated period.