Moving on up

[anartist]

Not new to having backyard hens, however, only the second time I’ve raised baby chicks.
One week ago bought a dozen week old baby chicks from a farm. The 5 sq. Ft. set up had everything they needed then, but they soon needed more space. Moved them to a improvised 64 sqft space in an attached windowed workroom. They were happy as could be. They had grass clippings and dirt and food and water and space. Loved laying in the grass with the morning sun streaming in through the windows.
Happy until evening. Instead of going under their brooder/heaters, they huddled chirping their distress in the corner nearest where they had spent the last week (16ft away and 2 rooms away). I shooed them over under the brooders, but they came right back. I did this again until finally they stayed. I move them using an enclosed smaller box and they could not see where they were going. I was totally amazed. They had not been in that corner all day as there was nothing to entertain them/nothing they needed in that corner. They had been happy all day sweetly peeping, not loudly chirping. They’re happy again this morning!
Hopefully tonight and they will get that this is their new home and be happy at bedtime as well as all day.
Anyone have an explanation or hints? Thanks!!
Elizabeth

 

[anartist]

 

[Ridgerunner]

No explanation at all. With them being moved blind and it being two rooms away I don't have any reason they preferred that corner.

Were their heaters the same so they were familiar? I imagine in Virginia you might still be having some cool nights where they need heat. I don't know if that plaintive chirping was a desire to get back to that other spot or if they were cold. Now they should know where the heat is if they need it so maybe they will go to it tonight. But you need to check at bedtime, which I'm sure you plan to do.

 

[anartist]

No explanation at all. With them being moved blind and it being two rooms away I don't have any reason they preferred that corner.

Were their heaters the same so they were familiar? I imagine in Virginia you might still be having some cool nights where they need heat. I don't know if that plaintive chirping was a desire to get back to that other spot or if they were cold. Now they should know where the heat is if they need it so maybe they will go to it tonight. But you need to check at bedtime, which I'm sure you plan to do.

Well, I still have no idea why they did what they did last night, but I guess my encouraging them to go under their Yes, familiar to them brooder/heaters,worked. Tonight they’re all under the little heaters except one and she’s right there next to it. They’re quiet and it’s not dark yet. Seems like how it supposed to happen. Smart chickens. I really didn’t know how smart chickens were and I’ve had them off and on all my life…. long time. So thank you for your reply and I didn’t know until you replied that I was supposed to move them blind. I was just doing that so they couldn’t get out of the box and sometimes I don’t look things up. I just do it but I do thank you for chiming in and the I’m happy that they’re happy.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't always move them blind, I don't think it matters with my set-up. I don't know that it would have in yours either. I have no idea why they initially seemed to prefer that one area.
I agree that they are not dumb. Their logic may not always follow my logic, but I find baby chicks straight out of the incubator are really good at managing the warm places once they figure out where they are. Glad yours worked out.