Three Week Old Chicks Indoors?

[Momtofive86]

I live in an area that the temps run 90-97 during the day and around 60 at night. My chicks, if Tractor Supply was correct, are just over 3 weeks. For the past 4 days I have been taking them outside in the morning when temps reach 70+ and then bring them just before dark to their crate. My problem is that when they come back into the crate at night they are horrible! They have plenty of clean water, food and clean bedding but just stand there and chirp as loudly as they can. They don't sit, or lay and just keep pecking at the side of the plastic crate. It's plenty big but for some reason they seem to hate it now. Did I make a mistake by taking them outside during the day? Should I not do that anymore till they are older? Any help would be appreciated. There are only four in the crate so they have enough room I think.

 

[tsperry88]

I would bring them in earlier. They take some time to settle in for the night. Even my big chickens come in 45 minutes before sunset to fight over their favorite 6" of roost space.

 

[Momtofive86]

I would bring them in earlier. They take some time to settle in for the night. Even my big chickens come in 45 minutes before sunset to fight over their favorite 6" of roost space.

Okay! I will try that. I am outside with them as I respond and they are pecking on some squash and taking dirt baths. Hopefully tonight will be better.

 

[tsperry88]

Mine loved being outdoors for a few hours a day. They went right back to running happily around the brooder. Nightly sqaubles are normal though, just not piling in the corner, which I caused a few times.

 

[Momtofive86]

Mine loved being outdoors for a few hours a day. They went right back to running happily around the brooder. Nightly sqaubles are normal though, just not piling in the corner, which I caused a few times.

Alrighty then! It must be normal behavior. When they reach 5 weeks they will be outside. I have a pen within a pen for them to roam in right now. Hopefully the other four gals will get used to them.

 

[yakitori]

I always gave mine bed time treats. They enjoyed coming back in so much that it got to a routine where at 7:30 they would be anxiously looking for me at the edge of their outdoors pen.

 

[Momtofive86]

I always gave mine bed time treats. They enjoyed coming back in so much that it got to a routine where at 7:30 they would be anxiously looking for me at the edge of their outdoors pen.

Great idea!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any reason they can't move out? Unless there's a reason not to (i.e. they're sickly or bantams (which take longer to mature) they could be out in the coop already, provided they have already been weaned off heat.

If they have not been weaned off heat, you can do so this week and then move them out by the weekend.

Sounds like you have adult birds too? Have you already set up for integration?

 

[Momtofive86]

Any reason they can't move out? Unless there's a reason not to (i.e. they're sickly or bantams (which take longer to mature) they could be out in the coop already, provided they have already been weaned off heat.

If they have not been weaned off heat, you can do so this week and then move them out by the weekend.

Sounds like you have adult birds too? Have you already set up for integration?

They are very healthy chicks and I am weaning them off of heat. I have a run where they are isolated inside the larger run but did not want to put them in with the 4 older girls until they are a bit older and a bit larger. I 'read' that they should be close to the big girls size before they are put together. This is my first time mixing young ones in with the older ones.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

They might just be bored too. Is there anything in the roost for them to jump on and off or fly off?