Evening Anxiety

[WaChicks213]

Hi all,
My chicks worried me last night. At dusk they started calling out and seemed anxious.
I had my chicks in an XPen the last few days as their coop/run is not quite ready and they are getting a little large for their brooder. The XPen is just outside my window. They have a little kennel in there that they like to hang out in and which I transfer them back and forth from the XPen to the brooder. I've been putting them back in the brooder at night - but not last night, I thought I'd leave them out since it was staying warm enough.
They are about 7-8 weeks old. The XPen is on grass and they have food, water and some treat 1,2 or 3 times a day.
When I heard them chirping in the manner they were I looked at them from inside the house and couldn't see any problem. So I went to check on them. They were all out in the grass area, not in the kennel. They didn't settle down when they saw me and I called to them.
I couldn't find anything that should be a problem for them.
Anyway, I tossed a little handful of meal worms into the kennel and they went in and ate then settled down.
I think they were nervous about not going back into the brooder.
Could that be?Any ideas?

The pic below is from June 20th.

 

[angel8035]

If it was their first night out they may have just been a little nervous with the new routine. Make sure they are tight and secure while they are out because a raccoon or possum can be very persistent in trying to eat chickens.

 

[ChicKat]

My chicks look a lot like some of yours. They were 6-weeks old on Friday.

While I was traveling, a snake got into their wire run, and in their little coop, killed one of the chicks. Subsequently the chicks avoided going in. The snake had swallowed the head of the chick it killed and after awhile being unable to swallow the whole chick/body left the coop and the suffocated chick was left behind. My chickens will really put up a ruckus about a snake.


In your case, I think maybe the previous poster was right. It was the change in their routine.

 

[WaChicks213]

I could tell they get a little upset with change but my goodness they were so upset. Luckily they seem like their mom and the treat offered settled them in.
They've been fine since then. Happy little chicks this morning.
Their very secure coop and run are just about ready for them. This set up isn't fully secure but I've got it right next to the house.
The only snakes we have are the occasional garden snake and they are too small around here to bother a chicken.
But we do have the 4 footed predators. I've got the top covered so I don't think any raptors (which we have plenty of) can get to them.

My dog is smitten with them and I'm sure she would alert me if one of the other type predators would come around.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[theoldchick]

Evening anxiety is common among young birds whose instinct is telling them to roost in a safe area-usually as high as they can get- but can't get off the ground. In a natural situation, young birds growing up in a well established flock will get assistance from the older members on what to do.

In your situation you have your birds on the ground with no place to roost? Is that correct? And they are supposed to stay in a dog kennel at night but don't know what to do? I imagine they are confused if they were being put back in the brooder (a safe place for them) only to be suddenly left out in the open. All that loud talking was a cry to be put in a safe place like you have been doing. Seeing you only increased their excitement which turned to confusion when they weren't put up for the night.

Honestly, to me, you set up does not appear very secure. I'd continue putting the chicks in the brooder at night, and get on the ball about finishing a more secure area for them to stay in. Don't be surprised if you have to help them get the idea of roosting once they are in the coop.


These youngsters were purchased from private breeder and had never touched the ground. I transported them in a dog carrier and they found it secure.



They used the kennel to stay in at night and loaded themselves in when I appeared at dusk. I locked them in and they were comfortable with this. I believe decreasing their anxiety level helped them stay healthy. This trio did not roost until they were 20 weeks old. This is what happens when birds are raised in a sterile environment.

 

[WaChicks213]

The chicks continue to adjust to their evolving environment.

I do feel bad that I don't have everything perfect. Funny, I'd think back yard chicken people may have limitations as I have.

Unfortunately, my building/construction phase was prolonged for a few reasons. The weather had not been cooperative during my available hours. It's awkward building things. It's been nearly 20 years since I've allowed myself such a hobby. I sure am out of my comfort zone trying to build something. Having only my two hands also means I've got to figure out how to do things w/o a helper pair of hands. To boot that I've been in pain on my dominant hand for 3 1/2 weeks. Apparently I fractured a bone in my wrist. Now I'm splinted till I can see the specialist in 2 days.

I also did not anticipate how fast they would grow. Trying to match their space requirements as well as trying to acclimate them to outdoors and trying to match their overall quality of life have been my concerns. I'm listening to them and learning.

Maybe I am still too inexperienced but not having them outside at the age noted (was it 20 weeks?) makes me a bit sad. I'm hoping to let my gals do some free range eventually so I'm thinking the exposure to outside earlier is reasonable.

They all had huddled together during the day in the kennel so I thought that wouldn't be too bad for a temporary time for the night.

 

[theoldchick]

You can let them out at early as you want so long at the weather is warm and your chicken place is secure. The three chickens pictured in my post didn't roost until 20 weeks or so because they had no idea what a roost was for. But the instinct to roost was there. They perched on a 4x4 board I put on the floor of the coop. They were terrified of going outside. Had no idea how to use the ramp, but when I introduced the chicks I raised the original three learned how to do chicken things.

Chicken coops don't have to be pretty. They need to have good ventilation, be predator proof, and provide a dry spot in bad weather. The chicks I raised were stuck in a cardboard corral out in the garage until 6 weeks of age because our southern weather decided to remain rather cold.

This wasn't fancy, but I was able to keep the chicks entertained until the weather improved.
While this set-up is not dog or kid proof (if the garage door was open), the Cardboard Corral supplied warmth and remained dry. Amazing what a redneck can do with cardboard and duct tape!




Since I'm not handy with a hammer and nails, and the hubby had been stabbed while on patrol, he made use of the Ole Boy Network to make the Fortress.

 

[WaChicks213]

That looks great. I like the idea of useing several boxes together to enlarge the brooder area. I don't have a garage.

I apparently don't socialize well - so no network for help. Or, maybe that's my stubborness and strong push towards DIY, with emphasis on the Y.

Trying to do things left handed, only, now is a bit of an extra challenge.