Baby Chicks Behavior

[chickenjewel]

I allow my baby chicks to free range in the morning and I notice that they will lay down on their side. I have never seen them doing this before. Does anyone know why?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They are sunning themselves. They can often look dead while doing it too.

 

[chickenjewel]

Too funny! Thanks so much.

 

[RainForestBird]

So its normal to see a chick lying on its side with its legs sticking straight out. If I didn't see it breathing I'd swear it was dead. They all do this. They can be zipping around the brooder, eating and drinking, then all of a sudden play dead. I will pick it up to make sure its breathing and then its fine again and running over to the water or food. I thought maybe it was too cold, but the temp is 90 F. I have a brooder lamp, a red one as advised. I really wish this period was over, its cute but its way too scary!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They never really grow out of it. Every morning there's some chicken lying flat out somewhere looking dead, just sunning themselves. Sometimes they are really deep in sleep too. So I walk around poking chickens some mornings. My goats will do the same thing, crazy animals giving me heart attacks.