My week old chicks getting hyper

[alessadry]

My week old chicks look already bigger, the Plymouth White ones already have fully white feathered wings! But lately they are so hyper! The temperatures is just right at 90 degrees, but now many have started to fly around the brooder wreaking havoc. Sometimes I worry someone may get hurt as when one flies they all move around to avoid a collapse. Is this normal part of growing up? I often see some fly like if they get a kick out of making all the rest stampede. In the night they make so much noise flapping around we hardly can go back to sleep.. I have 16 in a 105 gallon storage bin.. do they need more room than that? I have another bin ready just in case I need to divide them as they grow bigger...

 

[wayneh]

I think 90 degrees is a little hot for weekold chicks. noticed ours were staying on the end of the pen without the light. the temp was around 90 so we raised the light a little to lower the temp. now they lay around everywhere. temp iin pen was around 80 degrees.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

The first week of life they should have access to (but be able to get away from the heat) 90-95, then decrease by 5 degrees each week until 6 weeks or fully feathered, then wean carefully.

If they are already a week old, then you might decrease your heat as wayneh said.

 

[Judy]

Yes, they get quite active, and will start flying out of an open top brooder at a week or two. I wouldn't separate them; they might or might not reintegrate peacefully. Any chance you could put them outside, or in a garage? You don't say where you are. Getting out on grass will calm them right down, and they will start foraging; even for short periods would probably help.

 

[alessadry]

They are under our close supervision in our living room in two 105 quart storage bins. Fourteen are in one bin, two are in the other since they are taking antibiotics for a possible ear infection. My hatchery was saying to keep them 95-96 degrees the first week and then lower five degrees. So that is why i was keeping 90, so should I lower the temperature to 85? I have a yard, but it is 43 degrees outside today.. can adding crass clipping help? Do they need grit if I give grass clippings?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
This hatchery chick care website helped me a great deal.
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/chickcare.html

The above does recommend starting grit on the third day sprinkled like salt. I do give grit, and you should if you are giving treats and they aren't free ranging to get rocks from the soil.

Make sure the grass clippings are really short or put the sod clump in there so they can trim their own so it doesn't cause impacted crop. (It can happen when the long pieces of grass ball up inside the crop.)

I don't bother with grass clippings at that young an age.

Yes, to answer your original question- chicks do start flying around the brooder especially when you come up to it. They like to exercise their wings. They act skittish and this peaks especially around 3 weeks of life.

 

[Judy]

When I raised chicks in a brooder, they always wanted it at least 5 degrees cooler than is recommended, and I ended up removing the light early. AYours should be ok for a short period if it's not terribly windy, especially if it's sunny. If you have a simple way to carry and pen them, they would love being outdoors. If you give grass clippings, yes, start offering a little baby chick grit or sand to grind it with. A little piece of sod works well, too.

Mine were outdoors at temps like that all day at that age, as they were hatched outdoors under a broody. Mama would squat down to offer to get them under her to warm up, and they would ignore her. Of course they went under her at night, for 3 or 4 weeks. I'm not saying I would put yours out suddenly, all the time, with no heat; they're not used to it. Just that chicks are hardier than we think they are when we read the 95 then 5 degrees less per week.