Do your chickens nap more when days are long around summer solstice?

Mar 5, 2023
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France
Hi everyone,

My chickens look tired and nap a lot during the day... like proper head under wing napping not just chilling. And I've been wondering... how much sleep do chickens need at night? I grew up at 58 degrees north where the length of the day varies wildly between summer and winter. Now I live at a more moderate 42 degrees north, but still... now so close to summer solstice, they go to bed close to 10 pm, and are up and and out again by 6 am. Considering that in the winter, they go to roost at around 5 pm and get up at 8.30 - that's significantly less time snoozing. Could they simply be short on sleep?

The weather has been unstable, but not very hot - the gang is more likely to be wet than to be overheating.

I am more curious than worried, but have checked a lot of other parameters - Egg laying is normal. Nobody is molting or looking scruffy. When they are not napping, they show now signs of weird behaviour. I have checked for mites - none, lice - none, dewormed them 5 months ago and see no overt signs of internal parasites. I add vitamins to their water. They freerange in a large green area and forage a lot, and our place is full of greens and insects etc (ocassionally they catch a lizard) to add to their usual food - which I have not changed in the past year.

What do you think - are short summer nights making your chickens nap more too?
 
Mine still go to roost by 6-7 pm. I see birds occasionally napping. They probably need less to eat in warmer weather, so don't spend as much time foraging, or eating, so some extra free time. Who doesn't like a nap?
 
Mine still go to roost by 6-7 pm. I see birds occasionally napping. They probably need less to eat in warmer weather, so don't spend as much time foraging, or eating, so some extra free time. Who doesn't like a nap?
Fair enough, and I admit that they have inspired me to nap more. Who could resist lounging in the shade under a tree with a flock of purring floofs?!
 

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