Tried to move baby chickens outside, but they got stressed of the darkness in their coop.

[Henfla]

Hi! My chickens are now 4 weeks old, and I know it's a bit early to move them outside, but the weather has been nice lately and they have grown out of their brooder and they have been outside at daytime the last 5 days, and they just love being outside. I have the Eglu Cube coop from Omlet, and I installed a brooder heat plate inside of the coop since they are only 4 weeks old and also used sawdust inside the coop instead of the rooster bars because their feet are too small for the rooster bars I think. They seemed to settle inside as long as the door was open so they got daylight inside the coop, and it was nice and warm in the coop, but when I closed the door for the night they got extremely stressed and I just had to take them back inside the house for the night because they didn't stop chirping. The thing is that I live in the arctic and we have midnight sun, so they aren't used to darkness at night in their brooder. What should I do?

 

[nuthatched]

Add a light and get a better coop than an iglu.

 

[Henfla]

Add a light and get a better coop than an iglu.

What is so bad about Eglu Cube since you are saying I should get a better coop? I think this seems like a good coop when living in the arctic with the winters we have here, because then I can move the coop to the terrace at winter, so it doesn't get submerged in snow. We can get 100 cm of snow just in a few hours during the night at the worst, so it's smart to keep the coop and run under roof on the terrace. And it's also easier for the chickens to stay warm during winter when the coop isn't huge.

 

[Blooie]

They are throwing a first class chickie temper tantrum, and they won!! You caved, just as they hoped you would. Few creatures are better at putting humans on a guilt trip as a batch of chicks.

What should you do? Well, if it was me, I’d put them out, grab a cup or glass of whatever it takes to calm my nerves and harden my heart (this is why I always recommend margarita mix for a chicken first aid kit), pull the covers over my head, and get through it. They’ll forgive me. And believe it or not, it helps create friendly chicks…..when you go out in the mornin, boy, are they glad to see you!!

This is why my chicks are raised outside from the start, and never see an artificial light of any kind, ever. I went through this with my first batch of chicks 8 years ago….indoor raised with a heat lamp. I swore, never again. Too stressful on them and on me.

@Alaskan, can you help this person out as far as what you do in your area? Thanks!

 

[nuthatched]

What is so bad about Eglu Cube since you are saying I should get a better coop? I think this seems like a good coop when living in the arctic with the winters we have here, because then I can move the coop to the terrace at winter, so it doesn't get submerged in snow. We can get 100 cm of snow just in a few hours during the night at the worst, so it's smart to keep the coop and run under roof on the terrace. And it's also easier for the chickens to stay warm during winter when the coop isn't huge.

Iglus are too small, have poor ventilation and aren't predator proof.
A rule of thumb is 4sq feet (929 sq cm)per bird in the coop, 30cm of roost bar per bird, 1 square foot (939 sqcm) of ventilation per bird. And at least 0.743 square meter per bird in the run.
I can appreciate that your circumstances are fairly unique but iglus aren't the answer.

 

[Blooie]

Iglus are too small, have poor ventilation and aren't predator proof.
A rule of thumb is 4sq feet (929 sq cm)per bird in the coop, 30cm of roost bar per bird, 1 square foot (939 sqcm) of ventilation per bird. And at least 0.743 square meter per bird in the run.
I can appreciate that your circumstances are fairly unique but iglus aren't the answer.

Respectfully, living in Arizona I don’t think you are well versed in what the OP needs in Alaska, where the average winter length of day (depending on the exact location in Alaska, of course) is less than 4 hours. Yours in Arizona (in Yuma, for example) is about 11 hours. The further North one lives or travels, the shorter time winter daylight lasts.

There’s also the temperature difference to consider, and that needs no explanation. Your birds need to be able to spread way out to cope with your temperatures….hers actually benefit from tighter spaces. So while you need more than an Eglu chicken coop, the OP‘s needs are vastly different than yours. She can always add ventilation if she needs it.

All that said, I do agree that a more substantial coop would be in order, especially given the types of predators the OP is likely to encounter. I doubt if you have too many wolverines and bears wanting a chicken dinner, and those are things she will be facing. But that’s up to her. As she gains experience, and perhaps as funds allow (I don’t know her circumstances) she can build a stronger, bigger coop. In the meantime, can we try not putting her on the defensive and just address her question? We’re supposed to be more helpful than this.

@Henfla, you’ve got this…..you just have to get through the next few nights as they get used to the changes. Your daylight hours are steadily increasing so their hours in darkness will be reduced. They should have adjusted by winter.

 

[Alaskan]

Hi! My chickens are now 4 weeks old, and I know it's a bit early to move them outside, but the weather has been nice lately and they have grown out of their brooder and they have been outside at daytime the last 5 days, and they just love being outside. I have the Eglu Cube coop from Omlet, and I installed a brooder heat plate inside of the coop since they are only 4 weeks old and also used sawdust inside the coop instead of the rooster bars because their feet are too small for the rooster bars I think. They seemed to settle inside as long as the door was open so they got daylight inside the coop, and it was nice and warm in the coop, but when I closed the door for the night they got extremely stressed and I just had to take them back inside the house for the night because they didn't stop chirping. The thing is that I live in the arctic and we have midnight sun, so they aren't used to darkness at night in their brooder. What should I do?

It might actually be too warm in there?

With the sun up all day, and then it being a small coop... it will hold in the heat.

Also... with it being so small, they can't move from a warm spot to a cold spot.

Is it located in a perfectly secure run?

If yes... then I would leave the Eglu door open.

But watch them and see if they are smart enough to get in and out of the Eglu whenever they want.

I sometimes have chicks that are royally dense... and I have to show them several times how to get from coop to run... in my elevated coop chicken tractor.

The first year with chicks in the far north... they do NOT have any idea what to do with all the summer light.

My old ladies, or chicks raised by a hen, go to bed at a decent-ish time, even with the sun up all day.

But don't worry, those chicks will be fine next year with the daylight swings.... just not this year.


As to space in a coop... I highly recommend 9 square feet per bird of roofed and sheltered space. I manage that much space by giving my large flock access to the greenhouse in the winter. Just with long dark winters, especially with gobs of wind and snow, they either can't or won't go outside much... and then, if they are in a small space, will start to eat each other.

Can you wire in your terrace? And is it roofed? Make the entire thing a chicken run? With a thick tarp on the floor, then hay and/or wood chips, might work fine for winter.

I hear you on the snow.... I have an article with pictures of my coops and some cold weather tips

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

 

[nuthatched]

Respectfully, living in Arizona I don’t think you are well versed in what the OP needs in Alaska, where the average winter length of day (depending on the exact location in Alaska, of course) is less than 4 hours. Yours in Arizona (in Yuma, for example) is about 11 hours. The further North one lives or travels, the shorter time winter daylight lasts.

There’s also the temperature difference to consider, and that needs no explanation. Your birds need to be able to spread way out to cope with your temperatures….hers actually benefit from tighter spaces. So while you need more than an Eglu chicken coop, the OP‘s needs are vastly different than yours. She can always add ventilation if she needs it.

All that said, I do agree that a more substantial coop would be in order, especially given the types of predators the OP is likely to encounter. I doubt if you have too many wolverines and bears wanting a chicken dinner, and those are things she will be facing. But that’s up to her. As she gains experience, and perhaps as funds allow (I don’t know her circumstances) she can build a stronger, bigger coop. In the meantime, can we try not putting her on the defensive and just address her question? We’re supposed to be more helpful than this.

You're right, you're absolutely right, I should have just answered the question without an editorial, I had a chip on my shoulder from a frustrating day at work and I apologize. I wasn't trying to put anyone on the defensive, I most certainly could have handled that better. I am sorry.
Now, regarding Op's coop, given the crazy daylight, extreme weather and robust predators (not to mention the skeeters the size of hamsters in the summer), all which adds up to a somewhat difficult situation for housing chickens. A larger, sturdier coop would benefit op, maybe something like a hoop coop with steep sides so snow can slide off, good ventilation to avoid ammonia and moisture build up, and sturdy enough to withstand a bear (I personally find wolverines more frightening) and enough space so behavioral problems don't arise. I hope someone who's more familiar with op's climate than we are can help.
While I was in the wrong and wasn't being the least bit helpful, I didn't need your condescending, over explanation on the differences in the op's and my respective climates. To assume that I'm unfamiliar with whatever climate and hazards the op has is one thing, but to explain it to me as if I'm stupid and I couldn't even possibly fathom any other but climate but whatever the stereotypical Arizona weather is to you, is discrediting, to say the least.
You can think I'm dumb but please don't treat me like I'm dumb. Thank you, I hope you have a good evening!

 

[Blooie]

You're right, you're absolutely right, I should have just answered the question without an editorial, I had a chip on my shoulder from a frustrating day at work and I apologize. I wasn't trying to put anyone on the defensive, I most certainly could have handled that better. I am sorry.
Now, regarding Op's coop, given the crazy daylight, extreme weather and robust predators (not to mention the skeeters the size of hamsters in the summer), all which adds up to a somewhat difficult situation for housing chickens. A larger, sturdier coop would benefit op, maybe something like a hoop coop with steep sides so snow can slide off, good ventilation to avoid ammonia and moisture build up, and sturdy enough to withstand a bear (I personally find wolverines more frightening) and enough space so behavioral problems don't arise. I hope someone who's more familiar with op's climate than we are can help.
While I was in the wrong and wasn't being the least bit helpfuln order to let , I didn't need your condescending, over explanation on the differences in the op's and my respective climates. To assume that I'm unfamiliar with whatever climate and hazards the op has is one thing, but to explain it to me as if I'm stupid and I couldn't even possibly fathom any other but climate but whatever the stereotypical Arizona weather is to you, is discrediting, to say the least.
You can think I'm dumb but please don't treat me like I'm dumb. Thank you, I hope you have a good evening!

If you think that comment was bad, you should have read it BEFORE I toned it down. I deliberately worded things about the differences the way I did to give you a taste of how belittled the OP was feeling, judging by her responses. I was not fair, I was underhanded, passive aggressive, and insulting, I readily admit. I certainly don’t think you are dumb, but I did think you were a bit thoughtless. I sincerely apologize for the tone of my post. Water under the bridge.

I did, you will notice, agree that the OP’s setup is not ideal, but not knowing her circumstances it may be the best they can do for right now. I’m so glad my friend @Alaskan chimed in…..he was able to correct my misstatements too. Truce?

And wolverines scare me more than bears do too! Here in Wyoming, even near Yellowstone Park as I am, we know there are wolverines but they are rarely spotted. They are so elusive. They can stay that way!!

 

[abenardini]

Hi! My chickens are now 4 weeks old, and I know it's a bit early to move them outside, but the weather has been nice lately and they have grown out of their brooder and they have been outside at daytime the last 5 days, and they just love being outside. I have the Eglu Cube coop from Omlet, and I installed a brooder heat plate inside of the coop since they are only 4 weeks old and also used sawdust inside the coop instead of the rooster bars because their feet are too small for the rooster bars I think. They seemed to settle inside as long as the door was open so they got daylight inside the coop, and it was nice and warm in the coop, but when I closed the door for the night they got extremely stressed and I just had to take them back inside the house for the night because they didn't stop chirping. The thing is that I live in the arctic and we have midnight sun, so they aren't used to darkness at night in their brooder. What should I do?

Welcome to BYC - saw you joined in April. I can empathize with you on the drama-queen-ness with chicks. Granted, I live in Florida (not the palm tree area, but Northern - think Pine Tree ). It doesn't get a chilly here at any point in the year - - at the most 20 degrees at its very coldest in the dead of winter.

Back to the drama of chicks - they will absolutely play on your sympathies and do anything to get their way. I just moved my 4 week old chicks I hatched from their brooder on the deck to the coop and run setup last night. I even moved their heat plate last night after they chirped incessantly for 30 minutes. That didn't help. They just kept chirping. They seem to respond with chirps when they're thrust into a new situation regardless of what the change is. Mine have never had a night light, so the darkness wasn't a factor, but the new coop definitely was. I looked in on them at about midnight last night and they were all in a cuddle puddle on the coop floor fast asleep.

Don't let their cute chickie wiles get the best of you . They will do it whenever possible and every time. They'll get used to the darkness and it's really better for them anyway from a circadian rhythm perspective for day/night cycle. They just don't know it....yet.

Happy to help if you run into anything that I've encountered that I might have knowledge on.