Can Chickens See In The Dark? No, They Have Poor Night Vision!
For being known as a diurnal bird, we often don’t see chickens outside the coop. But to inform you, chickens have poor eyesight in the dark, and it’s the big reason!
So, Can Chickens See In The Dark? No, although they have good eyesight in the daytime, like 300° field vision, they cannot see at night or in the dark. It’s because of the less light-sensitive receptors (ROD). Unfortunately, such poultries don’t have tapetum lucidum, which is a reflective layer behind the retina for better night vision.
However, I have the anatomy of chicken eyes. Besides, I have more interesting facts about chickens related to their eyesight. Feel free to check!
Table of Contents
Can Chickens See In The Dark? Chickens Eye Anatomy!
No, chickens have poor night vision because they have a few rods in their bodies.
A chicken’s retina is made up of rods and cones. Cones discern color, and rods detect motion that is sensitive to light. Cone cells (violet, red, blue, and green light) are another type of retinal photoreceptor cell.
Unlike rod cells, which are responsible for night vision, cone cells operate in bright light conditions and enable color vision. However, cone cells are ineffective in low-light environments, making color perception impossible at night.
In general, chickens have a 300-degree field of eyesight, with 30-degree binoculars, as I said before. And they can see on the sides of their heads.
When I researched chicken eye anatomy, The pecten structure is also seen in bird eyes. The feeding and oxygenation of the retina are considered to be governed by several rules. Here, the Chicken Eye Diagram can give you a more clear view.
a.  | b. |
So, how well do chickens see in the dark? It’s significantly poor, but the daytime vision is quite impressive!
5 Common Queries Based On Chickens Eye Vision!
While looking for an in-depth analysis of chickens’ eye vision at night, I found people often asked some questions. Seems curious but quite necessary to tell you all the facts about “Can chickens see in the dark.”
1. Can Hen See At Night?
Nope, hens have fewer rod cells that are responsible for their poor night vision. However, they can see in the very low light. It’s what helps them to roost.
2. Do Roosters See At Night?
Like hens, roosters have poor night vision as well. Despite their aggression, roosters seek cover in hen houses or other protective enclosures at night. This is because their poor night vision leaves them open to attack by nocturnal predators.
Moreover, roosters’ limited night vision is further hampered by their inability to distinguish colors in low light. But they still have some degree of eyesight, which helps them to navigate well
3. Can Guinea Hens See In The Dark?
Looks different, but Guinea Fowl is unable to see in the dark. Hence, hen raisers prevent broody hens from maturing in a nest. A coon, coyote, or anything else might easily approach and grab them because of how simple it is to do so. So, be alert about any type of predator that attacks on them easily. Bitter Truth!
4. Do Baby Chickens See In The Dark?
No, like adult chickens, baby chickens are blind in the dark, as they cannot see. So, they visit to roost when the night comes.
5. Are Chickens Afraid Of The Dark?
Yes, chickens are susceptible to fear, anxiety, and discomfort in low-light conditions. So, they become afraid. This stems from their reduced ability to see and move around effectively, leading to a sense of disorientation and stress.
Additionally, the darkness makes them more vulnerable to predators. Furthermore, their natural adaptation to bright sunlight renders darkness an unfamiliar and unappealing environment for them.
What Chickens Do At Night Then?
For having a diurnal nature, chickens are busy all day and roost and rest at night. They do the same behavior until the morning night comes.
The pineal gland in the head of a chicken allows it to sense light. A blind chicken is able to detect daylight and seasonal changes.
- Roosting Or Resting: They go to their location for a nap or to sleep because they have weak night vision. When night falls, chickens naturally seek cover and safety. To rest and sleep, they congregate in a predetermined spot, usually a coop or other raised building. We call it roosting!
- Predatory Resistance: Owls, foxes, and raccoons are among the nocturnal predators that pose a threat to chickens. They stay attentive and close to their roosting spot to reduce the chance of an attack at night.
- Staying Silent: Throughout the night, hens essentially stay still to preserve energy and lower their chance of drawing the notice of potential predators. The poor night vision makes them do this.
- Huddling Together: During the cold weather evenings, hens gather in groups to be warm and provide company. Additionally calming and reducing anxiety, this near proximity offers a sense of security.
- Dependency on Senses: In the dark, chickens use their other senses. They do it to hear and smell. For example, when they need to find their way about and avoid any sort of problems.
- Natural Sleep Cycle: When night falls, chicken bodies release melatonin, a hormone that encourages sleep. They can sleep better and get ready for the activities of the next day thanks to this hormone.
Recommended Read: Why Are My Chickens So Noisy
What To Do For The Chickens At Night? 5 Guides!
As they have sensitivity, why not offer some facilities to them? Let me share some ideas with you!
1. Safe Housing
Ensure you offer a safe house for hens to roost and sleep in that is both secure and impenetrable by predators. Enough room and good ventilation are essential for every hen to have a comfortable place to sleep in the coop.
2. Handy Bedding
Provide bedding in the coop that is soft and absorbent, such as wood shavings or straw. The hens will benefit from having a warm and cozy sleeping environment, thanks to this.
3. Comfortable Night Light
People often ask, “Is a nighttime light necessary for hens?” In the coop, consider installing a low-power night light or an artificial light that is comfortable for them. This can make it easier for hens to find their way about in the dark.
I have some more facts that you must hear about proper lighting!
- Heat Lamp: It’s not that necessary, but if the chicks don’t have their mother, a heat lamp is crucial for them. But ensure they’re having at least sixteen hours of darkness every week.
- Photoperiod: Usually, chickens need 6 to 8 hours of darkness to ensure activation, plus the reproductive axis.
- Intensity: Bright light is good for chickens. It significantly impacts their carcass characteristics or cannibalism and aggression. However, ideal intensity can be beneficial when laying eggs.
- Flicker: For chickens, fluorescent lighting has similarities to strobe lights. As a result, when they’re faced with it, they get enraged. Thus, before you set on a light for them at night, be sure you give the right one.
4. Standard Schedule
Make sure you have a regular schedule for locking up the coop at night and unlocking it in the morning.
This will help you understand “Are chickens okay in the dark” or not. Well, yes, chickens feel safe when you keep them in a routine life.
5. Train Them To Go Inside Coop At Night
Though a little challenging, you can train your chicken to go inside the coop on time. But how to train your chickens to go to their place?
- Keep the chicken in the coop for 1 or 2 weeks to let them habituated to the pen.
- Then, you can let them roam or forage around the yard or garden. But obviously, it’s in a routined base.
- Monitor when they enter into their coop.
- And always close and secure their coop on time.
Aside from all these tips, you can use the ring bell or do commands frequently. Also, if you run towards them, they’ll run and go inside the coop.
Doing these steps for a certain period of time will surely and successfully train your chicken to go to their coop.
Understanding 4 Crucial Facts About Chickens Eyesight
It’s not like chickens are always blind at night. There are some other reasons that affect their eyesight in the dark. Here are the reasons to note down!
- Understand chicken’s sleep patterns as they affect their vision.
- In winter, daylight hours turned into short. So, ensure they’re in their comfort zone as they have less time to forage or to remain active.
- Your chickens in the backyard may become aged enough to decline their eye vision. It’s the overall eyesight that declines. So, poor night vision becomes more problematic.
- It can be an eye infection that makes them see less. For this, veterinary care is what they need the most!
Recommended Readings:
5 Interesting Facts About Chickens Eyesight!
Done with all the discussions about chickens’ eye power at night or in the dark. Now lemme say some interesting facts about them.
- Chicken has a double-cone structure for improved movement tracking.
- The nictating membrane covers the eye and glides horizontally to shield it from dust and debris. It’s basically a third eyelid in chickens.
- Chickens have monocular vision, with their left eye being farsighted and their right eye being nearsighted.
- Due to the UV sensitivity of their cones, chickens are able to distinguish little objects more easily.
- In the first two to three weeks after hatching, the right eye of the chick is more noticeable than the left. This is because of the different sizes. However, it changes over time.
However, this video may help you understand more about chickens’ vision at night.
FAQs
Below, you’ll have some valuable frequently asked questions related to chickens’ eyesight in the dark. Hope it’ll pull out something new for you!
Q. Do All Chicken Breeds Have The Same Eye Vision In The Dark?
Yes, almost all of them have the same eye vision in the dark. That means they have poor eyesight until they have artificial lighting at night.
Q. Can Chickens Eat In The Dark?
No, chickens don’t eat in the dark as they cannot see at night. However, the hungry chicken may look for food at night. In general, they take a nap at night.
Q. Do Chickens Lay Eggs In The Dark?
No, chickens usually lay eggs during the daytime. In truth, the darkness reduces egg production and laying capability.
Summarization
So, Can Chickens See In The Dark? Unfortunately, chickens cannot see in the dark or at night. They have good vision in the daytime, about 300° field vision, but lack light-sensitive receptors. Plus, they lack the tapetum lucidum that can ensure better vision at night.
Interestingly, chickens don’t do anything serious at night. They roost at the light until the light comes. However, you need to be very active to offer them the proper nighttime environment. The given ideas, like proper lighting, fresh bedding, and a standard schedule to train them, are all you need to do.
Sources and References:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B978012800879900007X
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/47449972_Effect_of_light_intensity_on_broiler_production_processing_characteristics_and_welfare
