Chicks first night in the coop.....I'm a nervous wreck!

[ADozenGirlz]

I was the same exact way with my babies when they spent their first night in the Big Girl Coop too! The feeling passed quickly and in the blink of an eye...they're nearly two years old now!

One cautionary note to anyone using a heat lamp: worry about the heat lamp more than the chicks' comfort level ALWAYS. It's important to secure the heat lamp SEVERAL DIFFERENT ways and never rely upon the clamp or hanger to be the sole method for hanging it. I always use three different tethers. There are just too many stories of lost homes, barns, coops and chickens to risk it. ALSO: be sure that nothing can touch the lamp or fall onto it. I had a make-shift broody pen in my brand new coop recently and nearly burned it down when a piece of the brooder was knocked over onto the light itself (likely by some flapping wings) and the wood was smoldering when my husband found it. Thank God it wasn't disasterous, but it could've been.

@melloladies: Broodies are very protective of their babies and she'll take good care of them.

Chicks are super sturdy, try not to worry too much! Enjoy!

 

[ladyride]

This kinda makes me feel like a horrible chick mom , we built the coop bought the babies
10 buff orphs , 10 light brahmas & 1 funny lookin roo that was supposed to be buff orp, put them in the brooder in the coop 1st nite with light & heater. when they got to be 4 weeks old they were outgrowing the brooder so turned them loose in coop . they have been happy little chicks . Now that is not to say I haven't made several trips a day out to check on them , always before going to bed at nite.1st thing in the morning. They have been running loose in their 10x30 run everyday ,, I was so proud when they learned how to go in & out of their coop by themselves.3 days ago was the first time we turned the lights off at nite & omg the cheeping almost broke my heart . { it was short-lived }, they were asleep when I went back out 30 min later to make sure. they are 8 weeks old now got all their feathers , plump little guys omg they are growing so fast . I still keep them in on cooler & rainy days , if temps 60 or less they still got heater. Just put in practice roost they are lining up on them to sleep at nite so darned cute. This has been a steep learning curve for us, but THANKS to all the people on byc we have all survived. Great place to get info & support. I finally figured out chicken math when I asked dh if I could get 6 buff brahmas as they are so pretty & pretty good layers as well, he said yes

. So now we gotta build another coop for them.