Adjusting to the coop and using ramp - tips please

[Wintersun]

We put our 5 week old chicks in the run yesterday afternoon and they loved scratching and pecking and chasing bugs. I picked them up and put them in the coop last night. This morning, I opened the ramp door for them and left and was pleased to see when I got home this afternoon they had let themselves out.

Now, tonight, about 8pm, I went out and they were all under the coop part of the run. They wanted no part of going back in the coop. I did coax one up the ramp and into the coop and then she turned around and came right back out. It was about 8pm in NH so not dark but the sun setting. Do you think they were under the coop thinking it was a safe place? Should I have waited till later in the evening? If I had waited till dark, would they have found their own way back in?

I'm upset by this because picking them up in the run isn't easy and it's upsetting for them and therefore upsetting for me and I feel like all the time I've spent getting them used to me is going to be ruined by these traumatic encounters. Please give me some tips!

 

[jeepguy982001]

They get the hang of it eventually. Some people just let time take its course, others put a small light in the coop. And i would wait till later i'm in wv so similar time frame and mine usually head in around 8:30 give or take some go to roost early some like to sit out as long as they can.

 

[justafeedboy]

It can take a while or no time at all. I always encourage the birds after they are down in the bottom by putting treats the whole way up the ramp and some on their perches before you know it they will get the idea of the ramp and to perch at night. When I come back later in the day somehow the treats are gone. Might be a day or two if I remember correctly for the ramp up to a month for my first flock to use the perches. I added some birds this year to my flock from last year and they got the idea of the ramp right away. Perches in about 3 days.

 

[RonC]

When mine were young they wanted to stay out till it was completely dark. Now that they have gotten a little older they go in before dark. First night had to put them all in the coop. Second night put a couple in and the rest followed. Third night them all went in on their own. They fussed so much the first night I put a night light in the coop and they quieted down. Just left it in there for them. Makes it easy to check on them before bed too.

 

[Wintersun]

Thank you all. Today, it's going to rain part of the day so I'm going to leave them in the coop. Tomorrow, I'll try the treats on the ramp trick to get them used to walking on it and I'll wait till dark to see it they put themselves to bed. I'm hoping my chickens are just like all other chickens and will take care of their needs by instinct.

 

[jm22508]

I've been facing this issue, but have decided to let them figure it out on their own, assuming they will.

I got my chicks in two groups of three, four weeks apart. They pretty much hang out in these two groups and for a while, the younger group was going up into the coop each night, while the older three chose to roost out in the run (it's predator proof). Well, I went out of town last week and returned to find that all six now prefer to roost out in the run vs. the coop. I'm still placing them in the coop by hand each night, but am about to just stop that.

Then there's the buff orp that won't come out of the coop. I wake up every morning to find five hens in the run, but the BO won't come out. I've been setting her on the ladder to encourage her to figure it out, but it just isn't taking.

Who knows...

 

[DanEP]

wintersun As long as your coop has plenty of ventilation the easiest way to train your chicks is to lock them in the coop for a few days to imprint it as home.It takes a few days for chicks to adjust to change but they will get it. just make sure they have food and water and they will be fine as long as the coop isn't to hot. Try locking them in the coop for 3-4 days and then let them out. As far as them putting themselves to bed try a small nite lite in the coop at dusk. Chickens don't see well in the dark and tend to just hide in a corner after dark and not move till they can see again. If the coop has light most will go to the light ( in this case a good thing). I have a small coop that they can get under and block it off till they get the hang of it because it's a pain getting down on hands and knees to get them out of there at dusk so I just don't let them in there till they are putting themselves to bed.Some will get the hang of it real quick others will take longer but don't worry they all learn and the slower ones will learn from the others.
Also do not leave the light on all nite just long enough for everybody to get in and get settled. they will complain at first if they have always had lite but will get used to it in a day or two and they really need the dark for a good nites sleep.

 

[RonC]

The light might draw them into the coop at night. I have a very small night light in my coop. They seem to sleep fine with it on. If your run is predator proof, including having a racoon or cat reach in to grab a bird, then in this heat I can see no harm to them sleeping outside. I'm sure when he weather gets too cold they will start using the coop.

 

[jm22508]

We've made some progress, except for my BO...

The three younger ones seemed to have finally figured out when it's time to go in at night. I've been putting the older three up in the coop as well each night to try to get them used to it. When I get up in the morning, everyone but the Orp has found their way down into the run. We've had a slight break from the crazy heat for the past couple of days, so I've left her in the coop, thinking once she's hungry/thirsty, she'll find her way down.

Nope.

We're three days into this, and she's still hanging out in the coop until I get home in the afternoon and take her out. I'm worried about doing this once we start breaking triple digits again.

 

[Wintersun]

I'm sorry it's taking so long for you. I think I got lucky because it really only took a few nights for them all to figure it out. First couple nights I had to place them all in the coop. Then 2 figured it out, next night 8 figured it out and the past 2 nights all of them put themselves to bed! So far, we've been closing the coop hatch even though the run is fully enclosed. If we go away for a night, I would leave the hatch open but at least now I feel confident that they'll go in the coop at night.

Now, I have discovered that I have a rooster (at least I think it's a rooster by his behavior). He rounds the others up then heads in the coop and the others simply follow. I didn't want a rooster. So far, he's not aggressive toward me and I'll wait to see how often, loudly and early he cockadoodle dos before making a decision whether to keep him. But I'm not changing "his" name. If he ever knew his name is Cinnamon, he just might get aggressive to me.