Chicks Piling together?

[wesley m]

I am brand now to chicks. Mine seem to want to huddle together and sleep. They lay down all the way and sleep on top of eachother. Does it mean they are cold? Earlier they were panting and sprawling themselves out and keeping away from the others. I seem to be having a hard time finding a happy medium with my temp.

 

[Mehjr10]

Usually when they are piling up they are cold. If you can place the light on one end where they can have a warm area and on the other end a cool area, they will move as they need.

95f first week then drop 5 degrees per week till you reach ambient temp or they are fully feathered.

 

[cainiac]

What would be the appropriate temp for young birds? Mine are 9 weeks and huddle up. Also any ideas on when they start might roosting on poles?

 

[ccammarata1]

At 9 weeks, they should have all thier adult feathers. Mine are 8 weeks and are outside in their coop, a few nights ago it was 35 degrees and today it will be 85, crazy Maryland weather. They should be fine in a wide range of temps. As long as it dry and not drafty.
Mine roost now, some do and some dont, all long as its provided for them, I wouldnt have any worries.

 

[khoe]

Piling is not normal at 9 weeks I don't think. Mine are 7.5 weeks and basically fully feathered. They start peeping at about 55*, so they are still inside but will soon get kicked out.

 

[cafarmgirl]

What would be the appropriate temp for young birds? Mine are 9 weeks and huddle up. Also any ideas on when they start might roosting on poles?

9 week old birds do not need any supplemental heat at all. As long as they have a coop where they can get in out of the weather they will be fine. They should start roosting any time unless they don't like your roosts for some reason, what are you using?

 

[cainiac]

It is a used starter coop a friend gave me. The roosts are a couple of branches and a couple wooden play ground rungs. They might be a little fat for small feet and maybe a little high. They also have no adults to follow. I have had them about a week and tonight is the first night they have put themselves away. The coop has an open bottom and is probably a little breezy. For their age, I am going by what I was told, they have all their feathers but the under carriage feathers are very new.