Chicks sleeping a lot suddenly

[Jenwisp]

Okay.. our babies are 3 weeks old. Up to now they've been energetic and mobile, chirpy. They began jumping out of their little brooder tub. I'd been waiting for the Brinsea ecoglow to come so I could give them a bigger, safer space.

It's a cardboard pen, made from 2 huge boxes. The brinsea is in there. I've put them in. I've shown them it puts off heat... they aren't interested in it much. All they've been doing since I put them in a few hours ago is sleeping/dozing.

So now I am really worried about their health.

Information about the brooder set up:

cardboard walls
brinsea heater
pine shavings bed
water
feed

My girls seem only interested in sleep. Should I bring the old tub back in and restore the other heat lamp?

 

[AngieDawn]

Did they have a heat lamp before? Remember that heat lamps also put out light which keeps chickens awake. So they may just be sleeping normally now and not being kept up by the light.

if you turn a light on in the room do they perk up?

they should still have light during daytime hours. Not sure if you are keeping them in a basement or garage or somewhere dimly lit

if so make sure there is light during the day

 

[Jenwisp]

They are in a spare bedroom. I have tried putting them under the ecoglow. Sometimes one will stay under for a bit, but mostly they leave. House temperature is about 70, and that room gets warmer than the others by a few degrees.

They perked up a couple times when I went in and fussed over them, but they settle down and go back to sleep quickly.

I was hoping they would seek out warmth if they need it ( no one is huddling, no group piles ) Sometimes 1 is beside another, but they are spread out with a few inches between them.

This is my first time having chickens so I am super worried and nervous about new behavior.

edit to add- yes they had a heat lamp for 3 weeks and I switched them to the brinsea today. I worry it isn't warm enough.

 

[bluemtnwmn]

I'm curious if you noticed an increased in how much they were eating before the sleeping? All of mine had a day or 2 where they would get up, pig out, then sleep like crazy. This was abnormal for them but my daughter used to do it when she was a toddler, usually followed by an insane amount of growth, which is exactly what happened with my chicks!
Also, the person who mentioned the lack of light could be correct. When I started weaning mine off the light during the day they would sleep more. Their brooder was in a room right by a big window with lots of light but it didn't fall directly into the brooder, so they slept a bit more.
If you have gotten them to where you can pick them up, are their feet warm and/or can you feel them shiver? Mine usually chirp loud and sharp when their cold also, they'll let you know when they're physically uncomfortable.

 

[AngieDawn]

So they have plenty of light? Are they eating drinking and pooping and nobody has poopy butt?

 

[Jenwisp]

When we went in to fuss with them, some finally woke up and went crazy eating. The others woke and ran over to eat as well. While we were out of the room, someone knocked the water over... they were very relaxed and sleepy while i cleaned it up. They were just sleepy when I left them, I am not used to the quiet.

No one has poopy butt. I've left the regular room light on for them.

I can't believe the change of light could have so much effect on their sleep! But my daughter is the same way.. solar powered.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

If they are not huddling together, not cheeping loudly, and not staying under the heat source, it sounds like they are not cold. If they are not panting, standing with their wings out and cheeping loudly, then they are not too hot. Sounds like they are relaxed and comfy. Do they have chick grit available? At three weeks they are starting to molt and get some feathers in, that might require some extra energy, so like children having a growth spurt they might nap a lot for a few days, as another poster said.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

When we went in to fuss with them, some finally woke up and went crazy eating. The others woke and ran over to eat as well. While we were out of the room, someone knocked the water over... they were very relaxed and sleepy while i cleaned it up. They were just sleepy when I left them, I am not used to the quiet.

No one has poopy butt. I've left the regular room light on for them.

I can't believe the change of light could have so much effect on their sleep! But my daughter is the same way.. solar powered.

You say you are not used to the quiet. What kind of heat lamp did you have before? (Or did I miss this?) Was it a white light or a red one?

 

[AngieDawn]

Bring in a hard boiled egg yolk all mashed up. If they go crazy trying to eat it then they are fine.
They sound like they are just chillaxing.
You’re a great chicken mom

 

[Jenwisp]

Well, no one is panting or huddling. Almost all perked up just now when I went in again to check on them. They started eating. We have 1 gal who is like the garfield of the group and she is usually lounging. That hasn't changed. We will try egg tomorrow, it's nearly midnight here. They do love that.

Our previous heat lamp was red.

We do have insoluble chick grit, but I read that they should only really get it with non chick feed, so I have only been offering it if they get watermelon or egg. ( I don't give them a treat every day I swear! )