Bedtime Chaos

[Holly0]

My ten chicks are 8 weeks old. They have been in their new coop for the past 4 weeks. A couple of days ago I weened off their heat lamp so now it is total darkness in the coop at night. When I put them in at dusk, so they can still see, it sounds like total chaos in the coop to the point where I actually open the door to see if there is a problem. They look fine, just loud. They seem to be settling, some perching, some in a chicken pile. Is this bedtime chaos normal as they settle in for the night?

 

[goathill]

It's not really the same setup, but my chicks seem to do this same thing in their brooding boxes, even when they're settling down for naps in the middle of the day.

 

[Delta2 23]

It seems to be pretty normal. Here is an old thread that talks about it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/181771/chicks-loud-before-settling-in-for-the-night
Perhaps they are just getting used to the dark, or figuring out where it is they are going to roost.