Chicks won't got back under light.

[nikchick]

I posted earlier today about putting our 14 three week old chicks outside in a rabbit hutch coop for a while. They liked it so well we decided to just leave them in it and put a lamp in the back. The problem is, they won't go in the back under the light. They are laying in the run area (it's a raised floor. About waist level) and still eating, drinking, and running around. I have put them in the back to show them where it is, but the just hop right back out into the front run (the coop area doesn't have a door to close it off, it has a half wall/wind block instead. )

Will they be okay? Do I need to put them in the back with a light and close the opening off with a board to make them stay? They aren't making distressed chirps. They have been laying in the run in touching each other but not piling up. It's still 84 degrees here with a low of 74 tonight.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

At three weeks old, they will require access to temperatures of 80-85 degrees or so.

As long as they are not lost and cannot find their light, they are fine. Three weeks of age is the soonest I allow them to have more freedom to explore and leave the "room" containing their light- at one or two weeks of age they aren't smart enough to find their way back. So you are letting them explore their world and their temps are OK.

However, I would check on them at night to make sure they have found their way back to the light. And also make sure that predators cannot clip their toes off by going underneath their hutch and biting between the wire flooring if it is a wire floor. If that is the case you can put something under it to prevent that.

Since temperature requirements decrease by 5 degrees per week, I would say that if your low is around 75 each night, in just a few days to a week you could turn off the light. If they start chirping at night they are cold. You might also consider dropping the wattage of the bulb, say from 100 to 60, even now. They would really like that if it is a small space. I would check the temperature in the coop somewhat near the bulb where you would like them to sit.

I hope this helps and enjoy your chickens!!

 

[nikchick]

I had my daughter climb inside the coop (yay free labor) and move all the chicks to the back with the light. I'm using a 100 watt bulb. I figure they can get back out if they get hot, but at least they for sure know where to go. The bottom of the coop/run is solid under where thy will sleep and close slats where they lounge. The run is covered in a layer of welded wire with another layer of 1" chicken wire on top of that with a wood door that has to be raised in order for the latch to open. I feel like it's pretty good predator protection (for the types of predators we have around here, anyway).

 

[Silkylover12]

They are probably hot, and they don't feel like going under the light. What you can do is raise the light a little so they will go under it if they're cold, but still at a comfortable temperature for themselves. Do you use a red light?

 

[nikchick]

They had been under a red light until last night when I switched to a 100 watt bulb because there wasn't enough room in the coop to raise the light high enough for a proper temp. We moved them into the back and they finally settled down, but not before having a field day with all the bugs the light drew. This morning they were back out in the run area and sunning.

 

[Silkylover12]

Hmm.. I think you should turn off the light in the day, but still keep it for them at night. If the weather changes where you are to cooler temps, keep the lamp on all day to make sure they don't catch a chill. Hope that helps!

 

[nikchick]

Thanks! I've been turning it off during the day (well, today since it was their first full day out). Going to see what they do tonight. I probably won't move them this time since I know they know how to go in and out of the box.

 

[Silkylover12]

Good! It looks like your doing just fine! Let me know if I can help anymore, otherwise I wish you good luck!