Is this normal behaviour?

[andreanar]

I take my almost 6 week old chicks outside every morning and bring them back in to their brooder at around 4pm. Last evening I didn't get to them until around 8:30pm, and they were totally freaked out. They were all making that high pitched screeching sound and flying at me and climbing all over me.

Does this have anything to do with it starting to get dark out? They aren't in their coop yet because I am waiting for a guy to come with his forklift and move it to its permanent area.

 

[iwiw60]

Sure it's normal...the little things were wondering "where's mom??" ... "it's getting dark out here!!"

 

[andreanar]

I'll try not to leave them out that late again, they were totally flipping out. Lol. I can't wait to get them out to the coop! I'm done with having them in the house. Bigger chickies= bigger mess!

 

[iwiw60]

You know, I'm not 100%, but I think if your chicks are feathered out you just might be able to move them to the coop. Put a heat lamp in there for them at night. That's what I did at 8 weeks and I ended up turning the heat lamp off after 2 days! Best of luck!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

At six weeks I'd put them out in the coop 24/7 - and no need for a light, even at night. As to the issue of the location of the coop - you can always use it where it is for now and then just move the coop when the guy comes.

 

[andreanar]

Where the coop is now, it is tilted a bit on its side. When I had it dropped off, the ground was soaking wet so I just had it set down there so I wouldn't tear up the lawn and get the truck stuck in the mud. Ugh,I didn't know it would be so hard to find someone with a fork lift to come move it again!

 

[yoopersue]

This actually is not a reply, but another behavior question. I have pullets that are about 16 weeks & have had them for about 3 weeks. Everytime I come near pen, they run behind coop screeching like they know I will put them in a pot of hot water while still alive. YIKES. The last time I had chickens they would run to meet me in case I had food (usually I did). Even though I feed them & give them treats, they still hide. What is up with this? They also won't come out of the pen, but stay close to the coop.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

This actually is not a reply, but another behavior question. I have pullets that are about 16 weeks & have had them for about 3 weeks. Everytime I come near pen, they run behind coop screeching like they know I will put them in a pot of hot water while still alive. YIKES. The last time I had chickens they would run to meet me in case I had food (usually I did). Even though I feed them & give them treats, they still hide. What is up with this? They also won't come out of the pen, but stay close to the coop.

Hi and welcome - it might be more beneficial to you to start a thread of your own rather than posting within this thread as that will allow others to reply to both you and the OP (Original Poster) of this thread individually with focus on each of your own respective situations. To start a new thread you simply click "Start a New Thread" rather than "Post a Reply"

 

[Oscarsgravett]

They were flipping out because chickens get used to a routine very easily and if the routine is change it upsets them madly. I wouldn't worry to much mine did the same thing

 

[andreanar]

Haha they were madly upset!