First Day Outside Deaths

[BradyMSU]

First time chicken owner here. It's been a warm sunny day in southern Michigan so I let my 3+ week old chicks outside for the first time today to explore their run. They were nervous but eventually the more timid ones came out no doubt inspired by the happy chirps of the braver ones who were feasting on bugs and lettuce. After watching them for a couple hours to make sure they were okay, I went inside.

I came out this afternoon and walked up my hill to the coop and saw eight of them were lying on the front porch of their coop, on their sides, wings spread out, feet in the air, no sign of life. My heart skipped a beat and I ran toward the coop to find what animal have gotten passed my four lines of defense. As I got near the coop, the dead chickens jumped up and ran inside. Relieved but perplexed, I pulled out my copy of Keeping Poultry to discover they were simply sunbathing. What a relief! But I wonder, do chickens get sunburns?

 

[bionic_chicken]

 

[thechickenchick]

I don't know about sunburns, but thanks for the great giggle!!!

 

[zatsdeb]

it is funny, when we have the chicks and they are laying under the light, they lay our flat like they are dead! It is weird, the first time I saw that my husband said, yep, they are dead.... then he laughted and tapped on the box and they were all "revived!!!"

 

[gumpsgirl]

Shame on you! You scared me! Thank heavens they were all okay. Don't do that again!

 

[ChelleEnchanted]

Haha that honestly worried me. I was like HOW DO YOU LOSE EIGHT ON THE FIRST DAY!?

 

[jemagsy]

OH my goodness!!!

I just put my six babies outside today - saw your post and went into panic mode. Glad I didn't start screaming and freak out hubby. My heart was already halfway out to the coop though.

Agh. Once I realized you were just as scared your babies had died it did ease the panic somewhat. lol

Oh my! Its gonna be a looong night.

 

[plapczynski]

Good Story!

 

[snowydiamonds]

They do live life with GUSTO, don't they?!? Life is so thrilling and exhausting for them... yep, had me worried, too! I put my RIR hens outside for a few hours since it was so nice, but by the time I was getting them back inside the cleaned coop, their run was wet from melting snow and I'm thinking of laying down more shredded paper & straw so they can go out again. Need to move that coop from the backyard neighbor's and set the run onto their coop! Bulbs in a coop do not compare to natural sunshine in any way, shape or form! Sit out there w/a cup of tea and relax, you need it now LOL

 

[keeperofthehearth]

Yep! The first time my chicks did the sunbathing thing I just about

It still gives me a start and I feel just a bit unnerved when little ones lay flat out under their heat lamp. They really do look soooo dead.

Thanks for posting!