1st night chick in nesting box

[ChickensoftheHill]

This is the first night for my 6.5 week old Brahmas and Rocks to be in the coop. All are roosting except my biggest Brahma, whom we call Big Bird. The bedtime routine this first night was a bit rough on me and the girls (I have 9). Big Bird was so terrified by the change that she refused to roost and is alone in a nesting box. I didn't put any bedding in those as we meant to cover them but just ran out of time today. It's 55 degrees and rainy outside. I'm just concerned she'll get cold and that this will become a "thing" for her. Should I just cover the nesting boxes tomorrow? Or put bedding in them? They are lower than the roosts and we have 2 roosts in a very nice coop, 1 higher than the other. All are on the lower roost.

I also don't like that she is isolating herself. I did put a nightlight in there and she is in the box right by the nightlight. Should I remove that?

I was honestly concerned that she would give herself a heart attack. The poor thing already has a really hoarse voice, so her complaints were quite disturbing!

Background: we took them out every day for 5 days to play in the run before this first night in the coop so they could get used to the new environment.

I'm super new to all this and have found myself turning to this site often for best practices and research. Thank you so much for any advice!

 

[NatJ]

I would lift that chick out of the nesting box, and put her with the rest to sleep.

 

[ChickensoftheHill]

I would lift that chick out of the nesting box, and put her with the rest to sleep.

I tried and she hopped down and went to the nesting box???

 

[ChickensoftheHill]

I would lift that chick out of the nesting box, and put her with the rest to sleep.

It also isn't the best setup cuz I have to crawl up inside the coop to do that. I'm short. It's tall. And the space next to the door is full of sleeping chickens. I'm concerned about causing a ruckus at this point, too. Do you think I should try again and risk the disturbance this late at night? (past 10pm)

 

[My Bagurks]

Chickens will shuffle and change and do all kinds of weird things. If they are all feathered, I wouldn’t be too concerned with the temperature at this time of year. If she’s in a nesting box, she’s not getting any drafts. I’ve had chickens sleep in and on nesting boxes. I integrated 7 fully grown chickens and set up a fenced off area in the run with a make shift ladder style roosting bar thing. They were happy and when I joined them all together 4 slept outside of the coop on those bars. Then a week later one or two went inside and one stayed there every night until winter.

They will adjust and find their way. Just give her some time.

 

[rosemarythyme]

All the birds are 6.5 weeks old? I'd cover the nest boxes for the next few weeks, they don't need access to them at all right now. Something as simple as a sheet of cardboard will suffice, doesn't need to be fancy.

They don't need a night light (and that can cause birds on the roost to jump back off), however they do need enough natural (or artificial) light to see at dusk when they go into the coop at night to be able to navigate onto the roosts.

 

[Blooie]

I agree!

 

[ChickensoftheHill]

All the birds are 6.5 weeks old? I'd cover the nest boxes for the next few weeks, they don't need access to them at all right now. Something as simple as a sheet of cardboard will suffice, doesn't need to be fancy.

They don't need a night light (and that can cause birds on the roost to jump back off), however they do need enough natural (or artificial) light to see at dusk when they go into the coop at night to be able to navigate onto the roosts.

Cardboard it is, then! Thank you so much! I'm gonna try to get them into the coop a little earlier tonight and turn off the light.

 

[ChickensoftheHill]

Chickens will shuffle and change and do all kinds of weird things. If they are all feathered, I wouldn’t be too concerned with the temperature at this time of year. If she’s in a nesting box, she’s not getting any drafts. I’ve had chickens sleep in and on nesting boxes. I integrated 7 fully grown chickens and set up a fenced off area in the run with a make shift ladder style roosting bar thing. They were happy and when I joined them all together 4 slept outside of the coop on those bars. Then a week later one or two went inside and one stayed there every night until winter.

They will adjust and find their way. Just give her some time.

Thank you for sharing that. It helps a lot to hear about other people's experiences. I don't personally know anyone that has chickens and I didn't grow up with any animal experiences outside of a dog and a cat. I really appreciate the reply!

 

[Ridgerunner]

This is the first night for my 6.5 week old Brahmas and Rocks to be in the coop. It's 55 degrees and rainy outside.

I've had chicks 5-1/2 weeks old go through nights in the mid 20's Fahrenheit with no supplemental heat. Even with the rain, as long as it is dry inside the coop, you do not have to worry about them getting cold.

Should I just cover the nesting boxes tomorrow?

You said you will. I think that is a great idea.

I also don't like that she is isolating herself. I did put a nightlight in there and she is in the box right by the nightlight. Should I remove that?

Chickens generally don't like change but they can be very adaptable given a little time. The first time in total darkness they can get upset and vocal but after 10 to 15 minutes they usually go to sleep, they have adapted.

As long as my chicks are not sleeping in the nests and are somewhere predator safe I don't care where they sleep in the coop (or in some cases even outside). I don't care if they sleep alone or in a group. Each chick is an individual with its own preferences.

I don't know why that chick is not following the other chicks to your lowest roost or why the others are on the lowest roost instead of the highest. It's their first night out there, they might need a little time to get their act together. There is nothing unusual about that, they are still chicks. A photo showing the layout of the inside of your coop showing relationship of the roosts and nests might give us some clues.

Chickens don't need a night light. They actually do better if they sleep in darkness. Too much light can cause some egg laying problems, possibly behavioral problems too. Light and when it gets dark or gets light affects different things with chickens including when they molt, when they release a yolk to start the internal egg making process, and other things. Light and darkness is important to them. I'd turn that night light off.

As someone mentioned they need to be able to see to put themselves to bed when it gets dark. How much natural light your coop gets can have an effect on that. If you have enough windows you are probably OK but some people find it helps to get them to go into the coop when it starts to turn dark (if the coop is dark) if you have a small light on. Just turn it off after they are inside.

I'm gonna try to get them into the coop a little earlier tonight and turn off the light.

The chicks should put themselves to bed when it gets dark. Sometimes that is in the coop but often they want to sleep out in the run. You may have to train them to go inside on their own. Sometimes leaving them locked in the coop only (no run) for a few days can train them but that seldom works for me. I go out when it gets dark and they have settled wherever they are planning on sleeping. If it is outside I move them into the coop. If it is dark they are usually not that hard to catch. Some people like to set them on the roosts when they do that but I don't. I just toss them in on the coop floor, lock them in, and let them figure out where they want to sleep. They can handle that part of it. I've had some broods catch on to going in the coop on their own as it is getting dark in just a few days, I've had two broods where it took three weeks before the last few got the message. My broods are typically around 20 chicks to put it into perspective.

You can try luring them into the coop with treats just before dark and locking them in there. Depending on what your coop and run looks like you may be able to herd them in but herding chickens is often not easy. Besides you may not want them to be scared of you.

I personally don't see that you are doing anything wrong at all, though I'd turn the light off. You are just going through the first time learning curve and are really worried about them. You should soon discover just how tough they are and how well they can manage themselves with just a little help. Good luck!