Chickens huddling together when sleeping

[chickenluver14]

Hi! I'm not completely sure whether I should put this in raising chicks but they are 5 weeks old so I think it's okay.

So my chicks are 5 weeks old, and after keeping them inside with a heat lamp and brooder, we are deciding to put them outside. This is there first night and they are huddling up, it's not cold (75 degrees F) so I was

just wondering whether this is normal. A picture is attached

 

[sourland]

It's normal. Is that cage in a secure coop? A coon could readily reach into that pen and tear them apart.

 

[Chickengirl2671]

It's normal. Is that cage in a secure coop? A coon could readily reach into that pen and tear them apart.

x2

 

[RoyalChick]

Hi! I'm not completely sure whether I should put this in raising chicks but they are 5 weeks old so I think it's okay.

So my chicks are 5 weeks old, and after keeping them inside with a heat lamp and brooder, we are deciding to put them outside. This is there first night and they are huddling up, it's not cold (75 degrees F) so I wasView attachment 3212942 just wondering whether this is normal. A picture is attached

It’s a cuddle puddle!
Yes normal. But they look a bit exposed there. I am assuming they are in a predator proof coop, but even so they might appreciate some cardboard walls in two sides so they don’t feel exposed and out in the open.

 

[chickenluver14]

It's normal. Is that cage in a secure coop? A coon could readily reach into that pen and tear them apart.

It’s a cuddle puddle!
Yes normal. But they look a bit exposed there. I am assuming they are in a predator proof coop, but even so they might appreciate some cardboard walls in two sides so they don’t feel exposed and out in the open.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OVUBOAK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
We just bought that cage. What do you recommend to protect them?

 

[rosemarythyme]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OVUBOAK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
We just bought that cage. What do you recommend to protect them?

Where is the cage located? Is it inside a secure run? Or just sitting exposed in the yard?

At the very least, covering the entire thing in hardware cloth would make it a little more secure, but something like this could simply be toppled over by a larger predator as it is.