Sleepy pullets.

[jlushh]

I have 2 15 week old polish pullets. Last night we introduced them to sleeping in the coop for the first time (after 2 weeks of seperation) with my silkie rooster and hen. This morning the adults came out of the coop as normal, but the 15 week olds were still asleep, so I lifted them out and put them down, where they walked a bit and then found a corner to lay down in...So I've put them back in the coop.

It's 9:30, I've just checked them and they are still asleep in the nesting box, together, laid down.

Are they sick or something? They were fine last night and energetic as always!

 

[Clucksworth]

I have had this happen a couple of times before to chicks I have introduced to my adult hens. The tiredness may be a sign of stress and that the animals are not handling the move particularly well, it could also be a sign that they are unwell ( as you guessed).

Were your chicks kept inside before? Or with a group of other chicks? Or on their own?

If they are not used to being outside and mixing with other chickens they may have weaker immune systems and are therefore feeling a bit under the weather. Luckily pullets often adapt quite quickly to a new environment, whereas male chicks will often die quite quickly. I would recommend worming all your chickens and also giving the chickens multiple feeding and drinking stations to minimize the contact they will have with the other birds. As the adult hens may bully the younger chicks.

It is good that you introduced them in a pair, as they are less likely to be victimized and they will have a friend.

I hope this helped

 

[jlushh]

Sadly, both the pullets were found dead in the coop this morning.

They were find last night. I don't know what happened, it looked like they died in their sleep. I have taken them to the vets for a necropsy. The rest of the flock is fine! :'(