How many hours of sleep do chickens need?

[Random Fluffy Chicken]

Do they have a bedtime? I know they can’t see well I the dark, so I’m guessing they go in the coop after the sun sets? How many hours of sleep do they need?

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Hmm. That’s a good question. I’d guess 8 hours, similar to humans. But I’m probably wrong. I think they’re ‘bedtime’ is when it gets dark out, that’s when my birds automatically go into the coop.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I agree with Lemon Drop, the natural state of affairs is for chickens to sleep from dark to light. Naturally, this changes with the seasons. Commercially, I believe layers are kept on a 14-hour light cycle, which means they sleep 10 hours out of every 24. But these battery hens are only kept in use, I understand for two years (is that right? Maybe it's only one year). Work hard, die young. Most of us backyard chickeners wouldn't do that to our birds.

 

[chickentrains]

In the winter mine sleep from 6:30pm-7am - 13hrs

In the summer its 8pm-8am - 12 hrs

Not usually down to sun up. Mine are sometimes still on the roost asleep at 8:30 ish in the morning. they appreciate their sleep

 

[BigBlueHen53]

In the winter mine sleep from 6:30pm-7am - 13hrs

In the summer its 8pm-8am - 12 hrs

Not usually down to sun up. Mine are sometimes still on the roost asleep at 8:30 ish in the morning. they appreciate their sleep

Do they have a window? Ours often don't go in the coop till 9 or 9:30 in mid summer, and are up by 6 or so in the morning. They are NEVER still asleep at 8:30 in the morning, even in winter, but they have a large window that lets light in.

 

[chickentrains]

Do they have a window? Ours often don't go in the coop till 9 or 9:30 in mid summer, and are up by 6 or so in the morning. They are NEVER still asleep at 8:30 in the morning, even in winter, but they have a large window that lets light in.

Yep, they have a window. Two, actually. They just don't come down. Fast asleep on the roost.

 

[Saaniya]

Chickens have very fast phase of REM they don't go in deep sleep like Humans their REM is very fast and they complete their sleeping in 3-4 hr

 

[AseelMurgha]

So we should not turn on light bulb in their cage so they can sleep?

My chickens go to sleep after sunset which is around at 6:50pm these days. Then at 8:30pm I turn on the light bulb and give them food. I switch off bulb between 6:30am and 7:00am.

 

[Callender Girl]

All I know for sure is that my rooster, Sir Henry the Loud, whose coop is Very Close to my house, doesn't sleep much after 3:30 or 4 a.m. -- unless he CROWS in his sleep.

It used to be a bit annoying, before I got used to it. Now, it's reassuring because I know everybody in his coop is okay. Besides, it's apparently a signal to my rescue dog to drag me outside so she can do her business. A conspiracy of species?

 

[Sally PB]

Sir Henry the Loud.