Chicks afraid of the dark??

[ninafe]

Morning guys! I have four 2.5 week old chicks that are currently being housed in our first floor guest bedroom. The blinds are up all day so they get plenty of sunlight. However I noticed that in the evening, after I shut the blinds and the room becomes dark, they start screaming in a way that sounds like they are really really terrified when I turn off the light. As soon as I turn the light back on, they fall peacefully asleep... It's really cute! But...Is this normal behavior?

 

[swamphiker]

Yep, that is normal. As long as the temperature is right, I wouldn't worry about it. You can give them some sticks to roost on which might help them feel more "safe" when it starts getting dark.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Morning guys! I have four 2.5 week old chicks that are currently being housed in our first floor guest bedroom. The blinds are up all day so they get plenty of sunlight. However I noticed that in the evening, after I shut the blinds and the room becomes dark, they start screaming in a way that sounds like they are really really terrified when I turn off the light. As soon as I turn the light back on, they fall peacefully asleep... It's really cute! But...Is this normal behavior?

Mine did the same at i was certainly alarmed hearing the 'screams'! it wasnt all of them, just one of the six but it made me nervous. I wound up putting a tiny night light so it wasnt 100% dark and that helped. so precious. good luck xo

 

[Lor]

Morning guys! I have four 2.5 week old chicks that are currently being housed in our first floor guest bedroom. The blinds are up all day so they get plenty of sunlight. However I noticed that in the evening, after I shut the blinds and the room becomes dark, they start screaming in a way that sounds like they are really really terrified when I turn off the light. As soon as I turn the light back on, they fall peacefully asleep... It's really cute! But...Is this normal behavior?

Went through that here recently. I left a lamp on in another part of the area because I felt bad. They would all huddle on the side that got a little light from the lamp.

 

[ninafe]

Went through that here recently. I left a lamp on in another part of the area because I felt bad. They would all huddle on the side that got a little light from the lamp.

Got it- i will leave a tiny light for them and gradually decrease

 

[ninafe]

Since you all have had small chicks- a random question for ya! Have you had problem with their feet having too much poop stuck on the bottom?? I tried to clean them with a soft tissue but they hated it. Would it naturally fall off or should I indeed clean them once in a while?

 

[Lor]

Since you all have had small chicks- a random question for ya! Have you had problem with their feet having too much poop stuck on the bottom?? I tried to clean them with a soft tissue but they hated it. Would it naturally fall off or should I indeed clean them once in a while?

I've never had to clean a chick's feet.
What type of bedding are you using?

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I've never had to clean a chick's feet.
What type of bedding are you the brooder is a

Since you all have had small chicks- a random question for ya! Have you had problem with their feet having too much poop stuck on the bottom?? I tried to clean them with a soft tissue but they hated it. Would it naturally fall off or should I indeed clean them once in a while?

I found the brooder needs cleaning often! I would pick up the poop quit often. I used hemp bedding and never had issues with poopy feet, but like i said i cleaned the poop out often. Boy was I happy when it was time to move outside

 

[ninafe]

I've never had to clean a chick's feet.
What type of bedding are you using?

I started with puppy pads because the chicks kept eating pine flakes. I guess since the poops don't get buried when using puppy pads, unlike pine shavings, the chicks step over them and get poop stuck on their tiny feet. I just switched back to pine shavings last night and noticed an improvement!

 

[My Three Chicks]

Morning guys! I have four 2.5 week old chicks that are currently being housed in our first floor guest bedroom. The blinds are up all day so they get plenty of sunlight. However I noticed that in the evening, after I shut the blinds and the room becomes dark, they start screaming in a way that sounds like they are really really terrified when I turn off the light. As soon as I turn the light back on, they fall peacefully asleep... It's really cute! But...Is this normal behavior?

Do you have a heat lamp for them? At that age they still need the supplemental heat unless your basement has heat at sufficient temperature.