What could be wrong?!

candemaye

In the Brooder
Apr 22, 2015
55
1
43
My chicks are 4 and 5 weeks old, nearly fully feathered (the younger ones just have some tufts of down on their heads and bellies and under their wings, the older one are starting to feather under their wings and are feathered everywhere else.) They've been outside most of the day yesterday and today, from about noon to dusk in the little coop with no extra heat (highs around 75), and then I bring them back into their brooder with the heat lamp for a bit before shutting it off for bed. Well tonight when I brought them in they started squawking their heads off. I immediately checked their box because they were crying like they do when someone spills the water everywhere, but nothing, box is dry, bedding is dry (and cleaned), they have food, everything looks good. So I shut the lamp off thinking they are to hot and they keep carrying on. I turned on a light, in case they weren't ready for bed, no difference. So I finally shut the lights off, put their lid on, and covered it up part of the way with a blanket. They've quieted down but still chattering some. What the heck? Is this their way of telling me they never want to see the brooder box again? Lows will be in the mid 50s for now but I thought that would be to cold-the little "transition coop" has no electricity as they're only supposed to be there during the day light hours when the sun is up and the wind is low. The big coop is no where near ready for them yet. Should I just start leaving them out? Their little coop is one of those silly ones from TSC (was given to us free) that says it holds 4 hens but really is only big enough for one hen, maybe 2.
 
I have 3 week old chicks in the same type of coop with no light. They are perfectly fine. I'd let them stay in the little coop, especially if they are fully feathered.
 
How do you have that coop reinforced? I haven't done anything to it to keep predators out of it since I never meant for it to be an overnight place
 
and then I bring them back into their brooder with the heat lamp for a bit before shutting it off for bed. Well tonight when I brought them in they started squawking their heads off.

You turn the heat lamp off when it is time for bed???
 
As of last night-yes. They weren't sleeping under it at all and my house stays around 70-74 overnight. I woke up this morning to chicks all stretched out across the place. I'm weaning them off the heat in preparation for the move outside in what I had originally planned would be a week from now.

I finally, somewhat calmed them down and turned the heat lamp back on and took the lid off about ten minutes ago and they are currently arguing over roosting space around the top of the box, far away from the light. The lamp keeps it around 76 degrees directly underneath.
 
Last edited:
It is probably the light its self, they are used to a night light. Just keep it off, they might fuss at first but will calm down. My chicks were already outside full time with no heat at 3-5 weeks, I had 10 of them to huddle when chilly. Days were 70 & nights were 50. My started in the baby coop (holds 4 hens)
 
Could be. They were throwing a tantrum even with the light on though. They did eventually sort out the roosting space and calm down. I left them on the edges for about an hour then closed them back up (I have a dog or else I would've just let them roost on edges) then they were much happier over bedtime and no squeaks at all when the light went off. Who knows. If they throw a fit again tonight I'll be fairly certain they are just grumping over the brooder box
 
I just woke them up and turned the light on. They all went to have breakfast and some water and promptly started chirping loudly again and flying out of the box
 
How do you have that coop reinforced? I haven't done anything to it to keep predators out of it since I never meant for it to be an overnight place

I have a brick on top of the nest box hatch and I put welded wire under the entire cage. Otherwise I consider it pretty safe. They know to go inside when it gets dark
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom