Unhappy Chicks

[moniquem]

Mine are 4 weeks old and this will be their first night in the coop. I have turned the light off at night since day 1 so they should be used to darkness. They've been off heat for a couple weeks in the house and I have been keeping the bathroom window opened until really late so they acclimate to the cold. I have been letting them hang outside for a couple days.

I have food and water in their coop and have set up a MHP cave that they used to love. When I put them into their coop they were running all over exploring the cave, eating and drinking. I did give them some mealworms because they are good girls.

I've already checked on them twice and they seem to be doing fine. I think I'm more worried about this than they are.

 

[Blooie]

What you're experiencing with your chicks is a first class toddler temper tantrum. They don't like change, even as adults, and moving, then having it suddenly get dark is a huge change. Besides, standing at the gate looking pathetic and whining worked, right? They got to come back inside. They learn habits very quickly, so if you keep doing that they'll get the idea that this is the "normal" bedtime routine - that as the sun goes down their job in this new lifestyle is to stand in huddle and yell before they have to go inside to sleep.

As I always tell people, if not now, when? Eventually they have to learn to be chickens. They can't be divas their entire lives. Yep, they'll be mad. Yep, they'll fuss and squawk. And yes, they'll huddle together. But they huddle together as much for security as they do for warmth, so that doesn't necessarily mean that they are freezing to death (poor little things!) It means that the only familiar thing they have is each other. The light is gone. The sounds and shadows moving are different. The noises are different. There's no 4 walled brooder to keep them in. And yep, they'll forgive you, I promise.

Good luck! Pour a glass of wine or cup of tea and relax. If a two pound broody hen can do this, you can do this! I have total faith in you!

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Be brave, put them out close the door and check on them in the morning.

Gary

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Mine threw a fit their first night in the coop. They sqawked and carried on for about an hour beforw they settled down to sleep. They were fine the next night.

 

[Rlmp817]

Mine had the opposite issue! Hahaha!
They spend their days out in a little wire run, but it is no where near secure enough for them to stay in overnight. When I put them back in their broody box, they were peeping and making a ruckus like, what the heck- let us out!

 

[Blooie]

Mine had the opposite issue! Hahaha!
They spend their days out in a little wire run, but it is no where near secure enough for them to stay in overnight. When I put them back in their broody box, they were peeping and making a ruckus like, what the heck- let us out!

Kinda proves the point that it's the change, and the quickly established routine of screaming until bedtime that is the issue, huh? I can't imagine listening to that in the house! You are a braver soul than I am.

 

[Rlmp817]

Kinda proves the point that it's the change, and the quickly established routine of screaming until bedtime that is the issue, huh? I can't imagine listening to that in the house! You are a braver soul than I am.

They are in the garage thank goodness! And they don’t carry on too long, maybe 5-10 minutes. I went to the garage to change laundry and they were all in a snuggly heap.

 

[Blooie]

Love it!

 

[PirateGirl]

The coop is a big DARK scary cave. A small flashlight or something inside at bedtime will help lure them in and you should be able to lock the door behind them. Then you can shut the light off and leave them to sleep. Good luck. They will adjust. Eventually you will do a happy dance when they choose to put themselves to bed/roost.