Chickie Babies Won't Put Themselves in at Night

[bcmama]

My six chickie babies won't put themselves to bed at night. At around 6:30-7pm they will walk up the ramp and check out the hen house go inside and then turn around and walk down the ramp to peck a little longer and then curl up in the corner of the run and start to sleep. So at around 8:15-8:30 I go and easily pick up all 6, one at a time, and place them in their house shutting the door behind them. I've been turning the light on early so when it's dark I thought they would be attracted to the light and it would be warmer since when I pick them up they are laying on top of each other.

They only just moved out to their new abode on Tuesday so it is a little new to them, but I don't know why they won't stay in and choose to sleep in a cold corner instead of in a nice warm house with wood shavings on the ground to keep them warm?

Any ideas?

 

[ZaksGarden]

For a couple of nights when I was first teaching mine to use the coop I would take all but 1 up to the coop, and then the 1 would come running up and join the rest. Each night I left a different one down in the run and after 4 or 5 nights they all went up on their own.

 

[bcmama]

Do you think it's the light? Would they prefer it to be darker since they walk in and then choose a dark corner in the run? I am using a 125 heat lamp that is not red in the house. Just a thought.

I will have to try your recommendation.

 

[Chukarbuds]

Last night was my chicks first night out alone. I put one in the coop and the other two followed. I quick closed their door. I was wondering how you are coming along with your chicks. Are they getting the idea yet? any advise for what I can try to smooth the process for them? i have the same size light you have, yet my coop is small. just have 3 chicks. Im worried it is too warm/hot for them. Im thinking about putting a regular 40 watt in for now and saving the large red heat bulb for winter. I just fell they need some light in there.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

First how old are the babies? If you place each baby on its roost so they can learn what to do. This is how I have always done mine and it only took 2 times of doing this for them to realize what to do. I dont use a light at all, they should be close to fully feathered before going to the coop and will stay plenty warm snuggled up against one another,

 

[bcmama]

My kids are 6.5 and 5.5 weeks old.

I tried tonight to not turn on the light. No one would go up the ramp and if I put them in the house they walked out so I was chasing my girls in the run. As I put one in and went to get the second the first would come out. Once I finally got all of them in there they sat and screamed until I put the light on. No one was interested in the perch. They go up and start scratching on the ground even though there is nothing to eat.

Any ideas?

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Are you waiting till after dark to put them up?

 

[bobbieschicks]

I wouldn't stress about it, eventually they'll figure out its safer inside. I would keep trying to put them in for a few more nights, they will start going in on their own soon.

Why do you have a heat lamp on them? At that age they should be able to be without the heat lamp, especially if you're in the south.

Could your coop be too hot inside with the lamp? I've noticed my teens will stay out longer towards dusk in the summer months when the temps are higher and the coop is hotter.

 

[bcmama]

I am putting them in out around dusk, about 7:45-8:00. Should I put them in at dark?

I have the light off all day and was just keeping it on for the little silkies that look featherless and end up on the bottom of the dog pile that occurs when they are trying to get warm. I was afraid of suffocation. The coop has tons of ventilation so I don't think it's too hot. But when it was off they screamed until I put it on and the screaming stopped immediately as soonas the light came on.

Also no one would even get off my hand to get on the perch. They are chicken chickens.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Not wanting to get off your hand is normal and one reason is because your habd is warm on their feet and the feet help cool/warm them. Putting them in before sunset is great that is when my 5 month olds put themselves to bed. They will scream about new things, it is very stressfull when something new happens. Chickens love routine, they are happier, and healthier when a routine is set and kept. Ocassionally things must be changed so it is stressful and they will scream like a 2 year old having a temper tantrum but they willsettle down. You must teach them the new routine, after keeping the same schedule day after day you will see it is easier and easier until you look out you window to see it is completely dark out and yourush to the coop to find your babies on roost snuggled up sleeping soundly,,,they grow up so fast