Are they smart enough?

[Birchwood]

I have some chicks that are about 3 wks old. I have them in a coop, with attached yard. There is a heat lamp that keeps it about 80-85 degrees under the lamp. When I try to put them in the coop at night, they come right back out. Are they smart enough to go inside before they freeze? Link to pics below. (How do you get the pics to show without having to click on link?)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/28384_dscf2662.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/28384_dscf2657.jpg

 

[JennsPeeps]

You'll need to check on them regularly. I think it's more likely that they'll huddle up before they remember "oh yeah, there's heat in them thar parts".

 

[tryingtohaveitall]

I am far from an expert, but I also have 3 week old chicks. This will be their 2nd night spent out in the coop with a heat lamp. They've been enjoying being outside the last two days and have figured out how to go in and out of the coop. If you see them huddling up, you might need to remind them where the lamp is. Otherwise, if they're feathering up, they should be fine. Mine seemed pretty comfortable today in high 60's, so I turned off their lamp while they were out in the sun.

 

[Tala]

Mine were smart enough.

When it was warmer they huddled on the floor but they did come in when it was cold or dark. Didn't take 'em long to learn that the roost was higher and closer to the lamp when it got colder out

 

[k2chickens]

The way to get the picture to show up is to put the image code in the post. You can do this by uploading the picture to the uploads section next to recent posts and golden feather. After you upload the picture it will give you and image code that will start with [IMG you copy and paste this code into your post!

 

[Judy]

Well, I would have closed them in the coop at night, at least for a few nights. But maybe it's not necessary.