These chicks have me stumped about bedtime

[Collieoftheborder]

I got 38 chicks from Murray McMurray Hatchery exactly 1 week ago. All has been well (I did lose one on day 3) they are all vibrant and healthy. Growing incredibly fast. I am using a brooder plate and I have the brooder in my garage. I had 2/3 of it blocked off the first 4 days and then opened up the whole thing and added pine flakes.



Since I expanded the brooder it’s been extremely difficult to get them to go to bed at night. Prior to that it was just turning the big light off and dimming a tiny lamp until they went under the brooder and then I’d turn it off completely. I’ve gone through different bulbs, brightnesses, lamps, timing, placement because of shadows, anything I can think of and it takes me at minimum 30 mins to get them to calm down enough to stop them from trampling eachother against the wall of the brooder. Any dimming of the light causes panic and chaos. Last night they didn’t even go under the brooder plate at all, all night, they just all snuggled together against the wall of the brooder (except 2-3 that go under the brooder plate every single time no problem! I am unsure if these are the same 2-3 chicks or not)



Tonight I turned the light off while it was still light out and let the normal sunset put them to bed. There was no panicking and crushing but they are still not under the brooder plate. The low tonight is 34*F so I am guessing the garage will get to around 45 or so. Right now the garage is 70*F. I think the brooder plate is in a good position. It is higher on one end than the other. They can stand easily at one end and lay at the other end. During the day they use it a lot and they are pretty evenly distributed underneath it.



I am at a loss as to why they aren’t using the brooder plate at night and why trying to mimic the gradual decrease of light in the evening causes such panic. Please help!!

Pictures attached: Chicks panicking and crushing into the corner. Other pic is of the brooder as a whole so you can see the layout (if you have advice about the massive amount of poop on the brooder plate I am open to suggestions! I clean it every day and it's so time consuming. I fear cardboard or something similar is a fire risk)

 

[rosemarythyme]

That is a LOT of chicks in one brooder and trampling is a real risk when you have that many in one spot. I don't suppose you have a second brooder to break up the group so there's less chicks to reduce trampling risk?

Don't know why a gradual dimming isn't working for them, but is there any way to move the brooder closer to a window and just let nature dim the light for them from now on, or is the light too inconsistent for that since we're heading into fall?

It sounds like they're warm enough just from huddling together if that's what they've been doing. And I only see the 1 plate in the photo, which isn't enough anyhow for the number of chicks. Is there another plate or heat source I'm not seeing?

 

[Sefirothe]

Your plate might still be too high. Have 11 chicks hatched Oct 14th and the slightly smaller version of that plate.

This is where I have my legs set and they go under no problem.

 

[Collieoftheborder]

That is a LOT of chicks in one brooder and trampling is a real risk when you have that many in one spot. I don't suppose you have a second brooder to break up the group so there's less chicks to reduce trampling risk?

No I do not have that option.

Don't know why a gradual dimming isn't working for them, but is there any way to move the brooder closer to a window and just let nature dim the light for them from now on, or is the light too inconsistent for that since we're heading into fall?

It is in my garage which has a window in the door. Last night I turned the light off in the afternoon and let it naturally darken for them and that did seem to help a lot. I got up at 4:30 and turned the light on for that to give them an extra hour of daylight today. I will get a timer for that. I may see if I can move the brooder closer to the window (it's a big ol thing!)

It sounds like they're warm enough just from huddling together if that's what they've been doing. And I only see the 1 plate in the photo, which isn't enough anyhow for the number of chicks. Is there another plate or heat source I'm not seeing?

The brooder plate is for 50 chicks so I thought that it'd be plenty big for 37. They all fit under there easily with room to spare still.

While I have you here I'd like to ask another question about all these chicks. They are moving out into the coop soon (not sure when I should do that? I was thinking this weekend or next if the weather is fair. They are 8 days old today) I am worried they will be extremely panicked out there. Should I put the brooder box in there first? Or just put them out in the open in there with their heat plate? It is ~150 sq ft and the brooder is ~35 sq ft.
Also regarding the coop. I was thinking of keeping a single bulb on 24 hrs a day for the first 2-3 days so they aren't in darkness until they've been in there for a few nights and settled a bit. Do you have any thoughts on this?

I appreciate your help

 

[Collieoftheborder]

Your plate might still be too high. Have 11 chicks hatched Oct 14th and the slightly smaller version of that plate.

This is where I have my legs set and they go under no problem.

View attachment 4237272

Mine hatched the 14th as well. I think I will lower it a bit. I see you were smart and got the cover What kind do you have? Mine are Austrolorps and New Hampshires

 

[AnneGirlGG]

I don't have advice about the bedtime thing, but I use Glad Press N Seal on top of my brooder plate to help with cleaning. I saw it in a chicken book, and it works great. I just tear a piece off to size and adhere it to the top of the plate. I change it every morning and evening. It's been a lifesaver!

 

[Collieoftheborder]

I don't have advice about the bedtime thing, but I use Glad Press N Seal on top of my brooder plate to help with cleaning. I saw it in a chicken book, and it works great. I just tear a piece off to size and adhere it to the top of the plate. I change it every morning and evening. It's been a lifesaver!

I'm going to do this! Thank you!!

 

[Sefirothe]

Mine hatched the 14th as well. I think I will lower it a bit. I see you were smart and got the cover What kind do you have? Mine are Austrolorps and New Hampshires

I knew poop was inevitable and the cover was right there on the shelf next to the brooder for just a couple bucks so I grabbed one!

I have a mix of one each of a bunch of different breeds/color combos.

Green Queen, Olive Egger, Orpington, Marans, Swedish Flower Hen, Ameraucana, Welsummer, Polish….and I’m sure I’m forgetting something.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

I'm going to do this! Thank you!!

You're welcome! I did consider the heat and any risk. The first day I used it, I went in every hour and put my hands on it to make sure it wasn't too warm. I haven't had any concerns at all, though. And it sure makes cleaning less annoying, lol.

 

[Collieoftheborder]

I knew poop was inevitable and the cover was right there on the shelf next to the brooder for just a couple bucks so I grabbed one!

I have a mix of one each of a bunch of different breeds/color combos.

Green Queen, Olive Egger, Orpington, Marans, Swedish Flower Hen, Ameraucana, Welsummer, Polish….and I’m sure I’m forgetting something.

The cover for mine was like $44 and I thought oh for that much I'll just clean it I will for sure be getting the press and seal wrap at this point though

I've never heard of a Swedish Flower Hen. They are stunning!