Huddling?

[sugar pants]

We have 10 week old chicks. They are fully feathered and have been in their outdoor coop for two or three weeks.

They have never really gone into the coop on their own at night...I always make a show of putting more food in the feeder and they come running. They usually sleep with one or two on the perch...and the rest still sleep in the wood chips...cuddled but not piling up.

Well tonight, one started doing her 'not happy' chirping and they all ran into the coop. They were huddled together in the back corner of the coop. One came out and ate a little when I refilled the food....but not the usual feeding frenzy. She quickly ran back and fought her way to the bottom of the pile.

No WAY are they cold, current temps here are 78. I'm really worried that one is going to get trampled or smothered.

(We lost one yesterday. I don't *think* it has anything to do with this....but just so you know. Pretty sure it was heat stroke...all my fault. It had been cool at night...and I'm a baby and had been turning the heat lamp on. I had to be out all day and the hubby was home...well....I forgot to turn the heat lamp off before I left...and he was busy all day and didn't let them out or anything. When I came home....it was really hot in there. The girls were all panting...except Belinda. She was already gone.

)

Any ideas what is going on with my girls??

 

[4-H chicken mom]

I had chicks one time that were actually afraid of the dark. I had the usual heat lamp on them and as they got older the heat lamp was raised higher and higher until they didn't need it anymore. So I shut it off. They started running in the dark into the walls and chirping like crazy and piling into the corner. I was afraid they were going to suffocate so I turned the light back on and they were fine. So I got a night light and put it on and they were fine with that. They did eventually outgrew it.

 

[sugar pants]

Well, and I did post about them being afraid of the dark last week....but I ended up leaving that heat lamp on even though they really didn't NEED it (it was 50s at night, and their coop is not drafty). But now I'm feeling terribly guilty about Belinda and afraid to turn it on again....that I might forget. Maybe I'll pick up one of those tap lights or something for them. Or a solar something or other so we don't burn through batteries.

 

[lilchick]

trade out your heat bulb for a regular 60 watt bulb. Thaty way they will have light but will not cook!

 

[sugar pants]

Should I do that...or is it babying them too much? My husband thinks I should just let them be and they will get used to it.

I'm worried that the one on the bottom might get trampled or suffocate. There are only 3 of them though...and he doesn't think it's possible with so few chickens.

Also...do they NEED a certain amount of darkness every day? Is it healthy to leave a light on for them every night?

 

[lilchick]

a night light of sorts would not hurt them. If anything it would make you sleep better at night! Goodness we never stop worrying about them do we!!!

 

[gritsar]

They're scared of the dark, but they will get used to it. They definitely don't need heat at 10 weeks old.
Your husband was right "There are only 3 of them though...and he doesn't think it's possible with so few chickens."
It's normal for them to huddle when they're young. They'll get braver as they get more used to living outside.

 

[stormylady]

Im so, so sorry for your loss!


My oldest chicks are 15 going on 16 weeks old and I kept them in a brooder in the house way too long im sure, They have been outside for about 3 weeks and they still get in there little groups at night and cuddle up to sleep, my DF, says that they are just use to being close and now the habit is instilled in them and i will take time for them to get over it. They have a huge coop and plenty of room for everyone and yet they insist on being huddled up together, but if there happy Im happy.

 

[Oakeyacres]

I replaced the heat lamp with a 25w "candle" bulb so they wouldn't freak out at knight. After about two weeks they were fine with no light.

Good luck'
Walter