My chicks put themselves to bed!

[SlowQueen]

First, let me just say how much I love BYC because I know you all will humor me in my enthusiasm here.

My little flock is 5 weeks old today. They were brooded in their current coop and we moved them from the security of the back porch out to the backyard and attached the run on Sunday. This was their first experience with grass and my first experience not having my babies basically at arms reach.
I have been working really hard on letting the little chicks be chicks and not compulsively checking on them every ten minutes. Last night when I went out to put them in the coop one of my GLW was busy having a dirt bath so I gave them an extra 1/2 hr. Well, give them an inch.... Guess they were just enjoying the moment because two of them gave me quite a time trying to get them up into the coop.
So, tonight I waited and didn't go out as early. I fully expected to find them all chattering around happily not yet ready to go in for the night, but NO! When I went out, they were all up in the coop just as snugly as they could be! I'm so proud, this is only the third night. My little 'peepy-cheeps' are getting all grown up.
Here they are on Sunday out in the run

 

[Monaschicks]

How cute!!! Love this proud Mama moment. I remember the first night I left my first chicks alone to go 'night-night'. It took everything I had to not go check on them. For weeks prior I went out multiple times a night to shine my cell phone light in the coop just to be sure they didn't need me.

It has been a few years now and sometimes I still go out to scratch a few under their beaks and pat a few on the rump after dark. It brings me joy and I'm sure it brings them joy too.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

 

[gander007]

Awe mom,ma did a great job training them to go to bed

Well you did give them a great place to live so what else could they do ....

 

[leahlefler]

Awwww, smart chickies! They love their coop!

 

[CollegeChicken]

i recently raised 5 chicks under a broody silky- three cochins and two jersey giants... mama raised babies in the coop with two other hens but she had her own nest box...the chicks are now 8 weeks old and the two Jersey Giants roost with their mama and the other chickens and the three cochins still sleep in the nest box where they were raised...plenty of room on the roost for them and all, just interesting to not differences in breed behavior etc.