9wk Olds Not Going Into Hen House at Night

[Goober9]

Hello BYC Community!

I need some advice. I have 4 lovely pullets who are about 9 weeks old now. We completed their coop about 2 weeks ago and they have been living in the coop full time since then. Pics attached. Everything's going great but they just won't go up the steps and into the hen house on their own.

I'm in North Carolina and right now it gets dark at 8pm. I have a timer for a light that's in the hen house which turns on at 5pm and turns off at 745pm. Right now I enter the run each evening at 7pm, pick up each chicken and place them in the hen house entrance doorway at the top of the stairs. Once each pullet is placed in the hen house doorway, they go into the hen house themselves, for the most part. Because the light is on a timer, there's plenty of time and light for them to fly up to their hen house perch, which they do all by themselves.

I'd LOVE for them to start going up the steps into the hen house themselves. I know they can go up their stairs b/c I've seen them go up one or two steps on occasion. It's been about 2 weeks and they still refuse to go (or fly) up to the hen house themselves. I'm reluctant to 'lock' them in the hen house for a few days b/c I think it'd just get super messy since I'd need to put their food and water feeders in there too.

Any advice?

Thanks!

 

[The Good Grumble]

Whoa, I wouldn’t either. That’s a lot to ask of them regarding height. A light inside the coop can help. But that looks a little insurmountable for 9 week olds.

 

[sourland]

Try widening the ramp and decreasing the angle by extending it.

 

[Goober9]

Whoa, I wouldn’t either. That’s a lot to ask of them regarding height. A light inside the coop can help. But that looks a little insurmountable for 9 week olds.

Thank you. DUH! I don't know why I didnt think about that. I'll put in a less aggressive ramp.

 

[Goober9]

Try widening the ramp and decreasing the angle by extending it.

Great idea. Someone else mentioned this too. I don't know why I didnt consider the stairs would be too steep/intimidating for them at this age. Thank goodness for this community! Thank you. I'll get a gentle ramp in their tomorrow!