Why are they huddling

[MTchickengirl]

So I have a group of nine bielefelder chicks that have been huddling at night instead of sleeping under their brooder plate. The plate is on and hot and they have been outside since I got them (in a trough) but I just now letting them out into the open and the little pen I have. Throughout the day they are just fine and healthy and we are at high 60s and low 70s at night

This is more than likely just bad chick parenting, but is this normal or bad, like should I be concerned?
Thanks in Advance!

 

[Themellowyellows]

They are probably still cold.

 

[MTchickengirl]

They are probably still cold.

Is there any way to make them go under the plate they have used it their whole life so idk why they aren’t now. And ik that’s it warm so that’s not the problem

 

[SourRoses]

It's probably too hot under the brooder plate and too cold in the rest of the brooder. Try raising the brooder plate to offer a warmed but not hot area.

 

[MTchickengirl]

I have it fully raised in the front and raised on the second of third peg on the back so they can get wherever they want for heat

 

[rosemarythyme]

Pretty normal for chicks to huddle together to sleep regardless of temperatures. If they know how to use the plate, then they can decide for themselves if they want to use it or not.

 

[MTchickengirl]

Ok thank you!

 

[JanetRN1]

So I have a group of nine bielefelder chicks that have been huddling at night instead of sleeping under their brooder plate. The plate is on and hot and they have been outside since I got them (in a trough) but I just now letting them out into the open and the little pen I have. Throughout the day they are just fine and healthy and we are at high 60s and low 70s at night

This is more than likely just bad chick parenting, but is this normal or bad, like should I be concerned?
Thanks in Advance!

This is my first time with chicks, and mine are 3 weeks old.
I just put them outside this week because our temps are in the 80’s and 60’s at night. They have their heat plate if they need it, but they haven’t been using it, really.
Tonight I noticed they were all huddled up next to it. I immediately came here to see what I’m doing wrong!
But I think they know what they’re doing more than I do. They know they can get warm if they need to. And they are happy little peepers who are growing like weeds.
If they have everything they need, they are perfectly fine