Am I doing something wrong?

[Ruler of the Roost]

First day/night outside and they’re chirping a lot and all huddled together. It’s low 70s outside… is there some sort or adjustment period? Or did I just throw them to the wolves?

 

[NatJ]

Wait… I have to put the chicks on their roost? I moved them out in haste as the new husky puppy has been terrorizing the pullets and actually caught one. Cinnabon is fine. Puppy caught a whoopin.

If you want them to sleep on the roost, you probably have to put them on it.

But you can just let them sleep on the floor. If you provide a roost, they will start by playing on it in the daytime and continuing to sleep on the floor, but eventually they will start roosting at night all by themselves. Some batches of chicks start this sooner than others: I've seen some that were roosting at night by about a month old, and others that weren't roosting until they were almost old enough to lay eggs, and plenty in between. Those ages are what I've seen in chicks that were raised in a pen with no older chickens. Being in a pen with older chickens seems able to change the age up or down: they see the example of the older ones roosting so they may want to start at a younger age, but the older chickens may chase them off the roost which can keep them on the floor until they are older.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Also, just a word of unsolicited advice, chicken wire is not protective against most predators. It's only designed to keep chickens in or out. Half-inch hardware cloth is stouter and will protect against most predators when properly installed. Good luck and enjoy your flock!

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

How old are they? Do they have a heat plate or lamp? If not, I would put one out there, just in case they're cold. Did you wean them off of heat slowly, or just put them out there? Chicks cheeping loudly is never a good sign. They're either scared or cold or both.

 

[NatJ]

They were off the heat lamp inside the house for nearly a week and we keep the house in the mid to high 60s most of the day. It’s warmer outside than that.

Then they are probably scared, and they may also be chilly from wind or drafts (because of which corner they are huddled in.)

Do they have a coop or shelter to go in? If not, maybe turn a cardboard box on its side and put them in that for the night. Once it is dark, they are likely to stay where you put them, rather than walking around when they cannot see.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm coming in late so I have the advantage of better information. At that age they can handle those temperatures as long as they are out of breezes and rain.

It's probably the first time they have been in total dark. After a few minutes (maybe 10 to 15 minutes the first time) they should stop and go to sleep. The second night it's usually 5 minutes, if any. After that they should have made the adjustment and just go to sleep. Each brood is different, for some it is no problem from the start.

 

[NatJ]

First day/night outside and they’re chirping a lot and all huddled together. It’s low 70s outside… is there some sort or adjustment period? Or did I just throw them to the wolves?

How old are they? How many feathers do they have? Those points can make a big difference in whether they need additional heat or not.

Do they have a sheltered area to sleep in, rather than that exposed corner? If they do have a sheltered area, maybe you could pick them up and put them there, and see if they are happier in a little while.

 

[SilverBirds]

Do you have an actual coop or house? If so, I would manually put them to bed on the roost or in the shelter. If they stay next to the fence there more susceptible to the weather and predators, especially raccoons that may come by and pull them apart through the fence. Speaking from experience.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

did I just throw them to the wolves?

Yep, they need your help.

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

How old are they? Do they have a heat plate or lamp? If not, I would put one out there, just in case they're cold. Did you wean them off of heat slowly, or just put them out there? Chicks cheeping loudly is never a good sign. They're either scared or cold or both.

They were off the heat lamp inside the house for nearly a week and we keep the house in the mid to high 60s most of the day. It’s warmer outside than that.