First night in their coop!

[UrbanEggsCanada]

I have 4 seven week old chicks that I just put out in the coop for the first time tonight! They did that alarmed sounding chirp for 5-10 minutes but are now quiet. I added the night light they’d had in the room with their brooder but I’m wondering if that was a mistake as they all seem to be hanging out next to it instead of roosting.

Any advice on this transition?

Well I was so very ready to have them out of our basement I’m a little anxtious chicken momma right now!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Once they are safely in you can turn off the light - they don't need to have it on all night.

Don't be surprised if they huddle on the floor for a while instead of roosting. A lot of chicks take some time to figure that out. If they don't have older birds to follow, you can place them on the roost once it's fairly dark, and they should eventually get the hint that that's a good way to sleep.

 

[springvalley123]

I agree, it does take time for the babies (even just 1-2 weeks old, vs 7 weeks), to figure out how to roost. My mediterranean babies were a week old and it took them a day or more to venture away from the box I used to carry them outside in, and several more days to experiment with their lower baby roosts. My turkens had some example birds (grown hens) in full view in the adjacent run, and it still took the babies a few nights to imitate the grown-ups and use their own roosts.

 

[CannedMonster]

It helps to put little roosts in the brooder for them when they’re younger.
My older birds were raised by a lady who doesn’t have roosts for her birds at all.
They’re 9 months old and still sleep on the coop floor

 

[UrbanEggsCanada]

Thanks for the tips everyone! They made it throug their first night . I used the brinsea heat plate for their brooder so they are used to snuggling together at night I think. We did have a mini roost in their brooder and the did use it during the day.

How far off the ground should the roost be when they are still young?

 

[rosemarythyme]

How far off the ground should the roost be when they are still young?

At 7 weeks most chicks are quite good at getting up high. My roosts are a little over 2' and 3' I think? but 7 week olds can handle going higher than that if that's what you want. Set it up the roosts for how you want it when they're adults and it'll be fine once they get the hang of using them.

 

[CannedMonster]

X2 what rosemary said for 7 weeks.
When they’re still baby chicks in the brooder I make them a couple inches off the ground.