They can see better in colour than humans, can detect and see light and colour shades better than humans, have three eyelids, can move each eye independently and have a 300 degree field of vision without turning their head. ... However, chickens do not have night vision. They can't see in the dark.

Do chickens need a light at night?

So, if you've ever asked yourself, “do chickens need light at night?”, the answer is no. ... So just as much as they need light to lay eggs, your chickens absolutely need darkness to sleep and recharge.

What do chickens do in the dark?

Total darkness makes chickens go into a kind of stupor. They're an easy mark for predators at this point; they don't defend themselves or try to escape. If you need to catch a chicken, go out with a flashlight a couple hours after darkness has fallen, and you should have no problem, providing you know where they roost.