I'm freaking out here!!!

[StephenieR]

My 5 week old chicks are spending their first night outside by themselves. I'm sad, their sad and I want to sleep in there with them.
I think I'm panicking more because it's not a real coop yet. They are in an old parrot cage made by my neighbor. It's big enough, has a heat lamp, covered the sides with canvas for now, and lots of hay, and of course their food and water, BUT I MISS THEM!!!
The racoons can't get in to get them but may scare the hell out of them. I'm terrified I'm going to go out there in the morning to "scared to death" chickies!
Anyone else feel this way at first?

 

[animallover505]

Raise it a little up off the ground if you can

 

[StephenieR]

There is no way tonight for me to get it off the ground. This is only a temporary situation. I have two weeks until I'm done with school and I can get their coop built. It's 1/2inch wire mesh all the way around, even the bottom, and the one side that has 1" chicken wire is covered by a board. I'm checking on them every few minutes and it seems as if they are whining like dogs to get me to cuddle with them. I think I'm losing it!!!

 

[fried green eggs]

Relax. They will keep each other warm and if the temp. pen is safe? They will be fine and will go to sleep soon if, you stop going out with a flash light and checking on them. Give them a half hour and then sneak out without shining a light and just listen. I'm betting they will be quiet or just doing a low cooing.

 

[StephenieR]

I haven't used a light and they were out snooping around the cage. The first time I was out, they were on their little roost and I was so proud I took a picture but my flash was on. WOOPS!!
I just wish they were closer to the house. = ((

 

[animallover505]

how far are they from the house?

 

[PrincessTamTam]

I have chicks for the first time (after wanting them for 14 years). They are 3 weeks old this Monday and reside in an empty spare bedroom in a brooder. I cut a door in the brooder and spend hours in the room with the 10 of them all over me. When the day comes that they go to their coop (a very fancy one being built out of my now grown children's play house) I will be beside myself. I plan on putting a baby monitor inside just to ease my anxiety of not having them in the house with me. I have seriously turned into a 'crazy chicken lady'. Stephanie, post an update tomorrow and let us know how their first night out was.

 

[fried green eggs]

I haven't used a light and they were out snooping around the cage. The first time I was out, they were on their little roost and I was so proud I took a picture but my flash was on. WOOPS!!
I just wish they were closer to the house. = ((

Did you get a good picture? So how did the first night go?

 

[Puddin Fluff]

We slept with a window open the first several night to make sure we could hear if anything happened or if they were upset.

 

[fried green eggs]

I have chicks for the first time (after wanting them for 14 years). They are 3 weeks old this Monday and reside in an empty spare bedroom in a brooder. I cut a door in the brooder and spend hours in the room with the 10 of them all over me. When the day comes that they go to their coop (a very fancy one being built out of my now grown children's play house) I will be beside myself. I plan on putting a baby monitor inside just to ease my anxiety of not having them in the house with me. I have seriously turned into a 'crazy chicken lady'. Stephanie, post an update tomorrow and let us know how their first night out was.

& Congrats on the new chicks. Please post Pics when you get them moved into the "fancy" coop. I think 'crazy chicken lady' describes a bunch of us on this site - so your in good company!