First night outside - worried about piling!

[SilverSpringChicks]

Ok I looked! They are all indeed huddled together in one of the nesting boxes. They seemed fine though, just started chirping a bit when they saw us. I think I’ll go listen one more time before I go to bed to make sure thy aren’t chirping.

 

[ackie]

I've lost a couple chicks from this - really cute mass of chickens but I never considered there could be one underneath - so I'm all for checking. Mine were younger and there were way more of them though.

I'm glad yours are okay.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I just put my 8 week olds out in the small coop for acclimation. I'm just hoping the temperatures don't harm them. It's packed with straw, so hopefully it's enough to keep them warm. It's supposed to get down to 31°F tonight.

 

[SilverSpringChicks]

I just put my 8 week olds out in the small coop for acclimation. I'm just hoping the temperatures don't harm them. It's packed with straw, so hopefully it's enough to keep them warm. It's supposed to get down to 31°F tonight.

Hope yours do ok too! Keep us posted in the morning!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Hope yours do ok too! Keep us posted in the morning!

Okay.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ok I looked! They are all indeed huddled together in one of the nesting boxes.

Just FYI, I would block off the nest boxes. You really don't want them in the habit of sleeping in them. If they want to huddle on the floor otherwise, that's fine.

 

[SilverSpringChicks]

Update - everyone did just great. They were all starving when I let them out at dawn though. I did actually put their food in the coop, but I guess they couldn’t see it or something.

And good to know about sleeping in the nesting boxes! I’ll rig something up

 

[21hens-incharge]

Update - everyone did just great. They were all starving when I let them out at dawn though. I did actually put their food in the coop, but I guess they couldn’t see it or something.

And good to know about sleeping in the nesting boxes! I’ll rig something up

First night ✔!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Update - everyone did just great. They were all starving when I let them out at dawn though. I did actually put their food in the coop, but I guess they couldn’t see it or something.

If there's no window/windows aren't oriented towards the rising sun, they might not have seen it.

They won't starve though. I don't put out any food overnight so they have to wait until I get out in order to eat.

 

[SilverSpringChicks]

Another update. Second night went great too, though they slept in the nesting box. Tonight I put them all up on the roost right at dark. Just checked and they’re all still up there! Hope that works to keep them from getting used to sleeping in the nesting boxes.