our seven week old chicks have been doing great in their new coup, the back room in the old house until tonight when we had a terrific storm. My DH and I had been to town. I went out to check on the chicks and they were all crowded in one corner between the plastic trashcan that holds their food and the wall. I turned on the light, they had just graduated to "no light at night", and took a head count. That was when I discovered one missing. I searched the dark corner and found one lying on the floor where they had been piled up. I was so upset thinking she was dead as she never moved at all even when I touched her. I finally reached down to pick up her body when she moved. My DH looked at her and said he thought she might have had the air knocked out of her as she was soon up running around. I learned my lesson!! I moved the trashcan so if they did go to the corner they would have plenty of room and would not be piled up upon one another. Needless to say, I left the light on for tonight and may do so whenever it storms now and hope we don't lose power. That was a frightening experience.
I have my 4 in their new coop for the first time tonight and the first thing they did was pile into a corner, and they are still there. What are you to do about it? The low tonight is supposed to be 58, a bit colder then the 68 they get in the house. Should I be trying to force them onto a roost somehow?
Barg, turn on their light and if you only have four and the coop is very large I would put up something around them...kind of like a three sided barrier to block the drafts. Just be careful with straw and a the light! Mine were comfortable with the light on last night and I went back out to check on them in the middle of the night and they were spread out and roosting. Now my DH did have me rearrange the contents of the coop so there was no "tight" corners for them to pile up into. Now there is no way for them to pile up....I don't think?
They seem to find places...last night when I went out to close the coop I found 5 of my 6 10 week olds (all standards!) stuffed into one 12x12 nest box. I had to pluck them out one at a time and set them on the roost. What are they thinking!!
Quote:I'm beginning to think this is standard behavior at that age! Mine did the same thing. I put wire over my nest boxes so they can't get in there until it's egg time, and then at about 10 weeks they all got the hang of getting onto the roost to sleep. They still cram into the smallest space possible, but at least they're off the floor now!
Quote:Well it was their first night, we had bought them a happy face night light that was battery operated, it lasted about a couple hours So I ended up dragging a corded light out there and was limited on bulb choices, anyway, morning came early for them as the big electric sun came out. I was useing a compact florecent which really didnt heat them up at all, but they didnt seem at all bothered by the temperature. As soon as the light came on they were up and digging, eating,checking things out etc... I'll buy a smaller watt bulb for tonight.