Can young chickens suffocate themselves?

[Sharon Bee]

I just transferred my five week old chicks to their coop yesterday. They had been in their brooder in the attached garage but it was time to move them as they were getting big and smelly in the garage. I have 11.

I carried them out one at a time to their coop which is an area built in our carriage house. They were not happy about it. I talked to them and put their brooder in there for comfort and will leave there for the first few nights. Later in the evening I went out to check on them and they were all squashed into a corner behind the brooder. I assume they were scared and/or trying to sleep but didn't know how to get back in their brooder as I still have the wiring around most of it. I just opened up an area about a foot wide so they could hop in and out.

I think they were confused. So I picked them out of the corner one at a time and set into the brooder where I have a clock that ticks. They have had this since day one. My brooder is a kiddie pool. Anyways, after much chirping they settled down. I went out again after dark and lo and behold they were all sleeping huddled near the clock. Too cute. I was going to put a night light in but they seemed OK so I didn't want to disturb them.

This morning they were still in their little brooder and when they saw me, they rushed out a few at a time and ran to their bigger feeder and waterer. So all seems well at the moment. But I am still wondering about the suffocation risk if they huddle into a corner?
Thanks.

 

[TheReadyBoys]

Yes, there is a risk of suffocation. Keep a watchful eye on the chicks over the next week or two, just to make sure they aren't always rushing to the corner.

 

[3riverschick]

Quote: Which brings to mind an endearing story from the history of the collie dog. Years ago, there was a collie kennel named Earlcrest. The lady who owned it also had a poultry farm. The collie's chore was to keep the young chicks in the large brooder rooms from piling together and suffocating the ones on the bottom. Her collies were bred for this intution. The two chored with this work would carefully walk thru the brooder building. separating the chicks from piling while not distressing them. The dogs never stepped on a chick. They were careful room monitors. Later, another kennel named Reignmaker used dogs from the Earlcrest strain to found a kennel of collies known for their guide dog work with the blind.
Best,
Karen