Brand new chicks not using brooding plate

[snkjohnson]

I'm raising 21 chicks in my outdoor coop this fall. I have a large brooding plate in in there set to 100 degrees, which I often find them under during the day. But at night after it's dark and I go out there, they are always huddled together in the complete opposite corner. It gets down into the 60s in there at night and they are only a week old so I think they would want/need to use the plate. I have it slanted so it has varying degrees of heat options. I don't have any supplemental light in there at night (after the first two days), could it be that they can't find it in the dark? I've been moving them under plate when I go in there at night, but should I just let them snuggle in the corner? I'm in Northern Utah so nights get chilly starting here in a few weeks but I don't love the idea of having to move them each and every night. Thanks in advance!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is the coop naturally well lit enough that the chicks are getting a true day-night cycle, that is, does the light naturally dim as dusk falls? They should take that as the indicator to get under heat if they know where the heat source is, which seems to be the case.

 

[snkjohnson]

Is the coop naturally well lit enough that the chicks are getting a true day-night cycle, that is, does the light naturally dim as dusk falls? They should take that as the indicator to get under heat if they know where the heat source is, which seems to be the case.

Thanks for your response! Yes, the coop has two windows so it doesn’t get dark suddenly.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Might need to keep herding them under for a few nights to make sure they all get in there then, as you're right, they would still need the heat at 1 week old if it's 60ish.