New chicken mama questions

[Ms.tiamaria]

Hi there! I'm new to "backyard chickens", and also to chickens in general. I have 2 silkies that will be 7 weeks tomorrow. They spend the day outside in an enclosure. When I bring them in for the night they always go cuckoo on me! They seem very anxious and distresssed- cheaping loudly and both trying to cram into the corner or climb underneath eachother. If I take them out and hold them tightly (not too tightly), they calm down and go to sleep. But when I put them back in the box, they get upset again. This has been going on for a couple of weeks now. Any ideas? At first I thought they were stressed out because I was changing their environment, but they don't get upset when I put them outside, and if I bring them back in during the day, they don't get upset either, only at bedtime.

Also, 1 is significantly larger than the other (they are both silkies from mypetchicken). Is it normal for there to be such a size difference?

 

[New2chicluv]

Welcome to BYC
Might be just me but dont see a pic.
Mine are about that old and last night was there first night outside for good. Maybe yours are ready too. I dont have Silkies so not experienced there but, it's not unusual for them to grow at different rates. I tried to buy 2 of each breed so they'd not be lonely and it seems like they grew and feathered at their own pace. Anyway nice to meet you.

 

[Blooie]

Listen to them. You’re kinda trying to fit them into your way, and they’re telling you they are ready for their own way. They haven’t spent weeks reading charts, books, or listening to experts. They ARE the experts. If your setup is as safe and predator-proof as possible, let them stay out. You might get another tantrum or two when it gets dark out there, and that’s fine. You’ve got this!!

As for size difference, unless there’s a strength difference too it’s probably nothing to worry about.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Welcome to BYC. Chickens are creatures of habit. You will eventually get them into the routine that you desire. But it takes time- a lot of time.

 

[Ms.tiamaria]

Thanks for the responses, welcomes, and support! I'm not ready for them to be out at night for a few reasons. One being: It's getting below 60 some nights. The weird thing is that this behavior only occurs when they're getting ready to go to sleep for the night.

Also, the reason I ask about their noticeable size difference is because I'm really hoping that they are indeed both female.

They got into some miracle grow potting soil that has those little green balls of fertilizer. I'm pretty sure I saw one of them eat one of the green balls. Should I be concerned?

 

[rosemarythyme]

They got into some miracle grow potting soil that has those little green balls of fertilizer. I'm pretty sure I saw one of them eat one of the green balls. Should I be concerned?

I'd keep chickens away from any potted plants with potting soil. Fertilizer, perlite, those are things I would want them eating. If you can't move the pots away or restrict the chickens from getting to them, you can probably try covering the soil with something to make it harder for them to get to it, either some sort of weed cloth, rocks, mulch maybe?

 

[CannedMonster]

My 9 week old chicks have been outside in the coop for at least 2 weeks now.
When it starts getting dark they all go up to the coop but they try to cram themselves into a big tight chick ball!
They start peeping crazily and shifting around, each trying to maneuver into the spot they like.
There’s plenty of room for them to spread out but they just don’t.
After a while they settle down and go to sleep.
When I first put them out there they were used to having light because of their heat lamp.
They were scared of the dark.
They also didn’t know how to go up the ramp on their own.
But after two weeks they’re getting better and settling down more.
Yours will too.

 

[CannedMonster]

I have one Silkie and she’s fine outside.
We had the temps dip down to the upper 40s the other night.
She’s fine.

 

[Ms.tiamaria]

My 9 week old chicks have been outside in the coop for at least 2 weeks now.
When it starts getting dark they all go up to the coop but they try to cram themselves into a big tight chick ball!
They start peeping crazily and shifting around, each trying to maneuver into the spot they like.
There’s plenty of room for them to spread out but they just don’t.
After a while they settle down and go to sleep.
When I first put them out there they were used to having light because of their heat lamp.
They were scared of the dark.
They also didn’t know how to go up the ramp on their own.
But after two weeks they’re getting better and settling down more.
Yours will too.

ChooksNquilts, this sounds like mine! I learned that it has nothing to do with them coming in from outside. We had 2 rainy days and I kept them inside. They were happy all day long. Then bedtime rolled around, and like clockwork they started freaking out. I can't stand hearing it so I always end up taking them out and holding them until they fall asleep. Last night I crawled in their cage and sat like a contorted idiot in the pine shavings holding them until they were out. The entire lower half of my body had fallen asleep. Then I spent the next 20 minutes ever so slowly loosening my grip and moving away and out of the cage. This is ridiculous! Am I encouraging this behavior by babying them!?

My 9 week old chicks have been outside in the coop for at least 2 weeks now.
When it starts getting dark they all go up to the coop but they try to cram themselves into a big tight chick ball!
They start peeping crazily and shifting around, each trying to maneuver into the spot they like.
There’s plenty of room for them to spread out but they just don’t.
After a while they settle down and go to sleep.
When I first put them out there they were used to having light because of their heat lamp.
They were scared of the dark.
They also didn’t know how to go up the ramp on their own.
But after two weeks they’re getting better and settling down more.
Yours will too.

 

[CannedMonster]

ChooksNquilts, this sounds like mine! I learned that it has nothing to do with them coming in from outside. We had 2 rainy days and I kept them inside. They were happy all day long. Then bedtime rolled around, and like clockwork they started freaking out. I can't stand hearing it so I always end up taking them out and holding them until they fall asleep. Last night I crawled in their cage and sat like a contorted idiot in the pine shavings holding them until they were out. The entire lower half of my body had fallen asleep. Then I spent the next 20 minutes ever so slowly loosening my grip and moving away and out of the cage. This is ridiculous! Am I encouraging this behavior by babying them!?

I will usually sit with mine in a lawn chair just outside the run.
They start out in the run on the roosts out there peeping and getting up and down.
Then they start going into the coop going in and out.
As it starts getting darker, they are all in the coop but they all want to be right next to the door for some reason!
So they’re crammed in one corner next to the door.
I talk to them while they’re doing this and tell them how silly they’re being.
Somehow one of my cockerels ended up with a limp the last few days and I know it’s because of these bedtime shenanigans.
My coop is a prefab and it actually has 3 doors which I’m grateful for now because I’ll open them and pick up some of them and move them so they’re not so squished.
But most of the time they just go right back to the pile
They do quiet down when it gets darker.
I think they instinctively know that noise will give them away to predators.
I don’t know if you know but chickens have very poor night vision.

I just walk back to the house. My older birds are usually in their coop not long after the young ones. They don’t make such a fuss. It’s just a chick thing.

I think you have to bite the bullet and leave them to their peeping.
I’d hate for them to become used to you holding them as they fall asleep and they get bigger and bigger.

They’re in a safe coop, they’ll be fine!
Like I said, they settle down when it really gets dark.
All they really need is to just grow up.
They all go through this stage and they won’t have any trauma from it.

I do agree it’s hard to listen to...that’s why I go back in the house after the coop is locked up
Good luck to you!
You can do this!!