5 Wk Old Buff Orpingtons And Coop

[ginnyj]

I am new to chickens also...I just put my 4 buff orps and 4 RIR's out about 2 weeks ago. They are around 7 weeks old. Maybe I'm just lucky but I shut them up in the run, bring their food and water inside the coop and call them to come in from the door that opens to me (not inside the run) The first night it took me about 20 minutes. I sat in a chair and called them....they got curious and came in. Now, I go out around dusk and call them. They are so cute...they all walk up the ramp and check out what is going on. Like I said it could totally be beginner's luck for me. I am having a blast though.

I am sure that as soon as your chickens get into the routine, they will be putting themselves to bed!

Ginny

 

[BeckyandHerBrood]

Mine are 7 weeks old and have been outside for two weeks. It took about 3 days, but now when they see me coming at dusk they head for the ramp. They still do not put themselves to bed, but wait for me to come tell them it is bedtime. (reminds me of my kids). I think that picking them up and putting them in confused them. I just nudged them up the ramp. They caught on pretty fast.

 

[BoltonChicken]

Facts about chickens that I find amusing.

You can't train a chicken to do ANYTHING. They come to you when you call because that represents CHOW TIME to them. You are not training them, they are reacting to instinct.

(As an aside, many decades ago there was an amusement park with a side show that featured a "dancing chicken". The music would start and the chicken would hop around in his
cage. People were amazed, and wanted to know how the owner had "trained" his chicken to dance. Turns out that when the music started pulses of electric current would be sent
to the bottom of the chicken cage.)

As an instinct, chickens will return to their roost at dusk. Various breeds will do this at various ages but seven weeks is about right to begin that activity.

 

[JimmyMack]

I had the same problem for a few nights, but I was unable to catch them...I simply used some treats/scratch on the ramp to go in. I used a night light in the coop. They were raised in the coop and then when they were 8 weeks old, I moved the coop outside (that would have been late April), so they "knew" what home looked like. I watched them for about 1/2 hour before they would go in...I think I was expecting them to go in sooner than they wanted to. Some were afraid to climb the ramp, but eventually they figured it out. It's hard at first, especially when you are a newbie like me.

 

[baha54]

well ladies and gents firstly want to thank everyone for all their helpful suggestions. i am happy to report that i believe the problem was me. i was putting them in way too early. so one nite i sat out with them until it starting turning dark and low and behold i see each one them marching into the coop one by one inside. They are even using their perch now so i am thrilled and glad that stage has ended for me...............thanks to all for the suggestions.