Bantams not going in coop at night...

[mikecoscia]

Just introduced my four bantams into their chicken ark last weekend. So far they have not entered the upper interior portion at night. They typically huddle up in a corner of the run. I started placing them inside the coop at night and closing the ramp in hopes they will catch on. So far no luck. Starting to think the ramp is so steep or doesn't have enough steps for them to get in easily. Is this normal?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Just introduced my four bantams into their chicken ark last weekend. So far they have not entered the upper interior portion at night. They typically huddle up in a corner of the run. I started placing them inside the coop at night and closing the ramp in hopes they will catch on. So far no luck. Starting to think the ramp is so steep or doesn't have enough steps for them to get in easily. Is this normal?

It could be a combination of factors - ramp issues do cause troubles, so a photo of the coop and ramp would help to determine if that is playing into this. That said, even without ramp issues, it is natural to see this with birds moved to a new enclosure - especially chicks who are moving from a brooder and into their first coop/run setup. Without the benefit of a broody mother hen to teach them what their routine should be (ie to coop up at night) they are lost - this is where you get/need to step in, be mama hen and teach them what you want them to do....and you are on the right track in what you are doing. If they have shown an ability to use the ramp during the day to come out in the morning and/or go back and forth during the day ramp issues are less likely to be the cause than simply not understanding that they should go to roost as it starts to get dark. *I* go out at the time they would normally be going to roost (this is before it is completely dark) and gently move them into the coop - meaning "herd" them up the ramp - so that rather than learning that after dark I come out and move them into the coop, before it gets dark they are supposed to move themselves up the ramp. It doesn't take too long for them to catch on once they understand what you are teaching them.

 

[mikecoscia]

Thanks for the response. They seem to get down fine in the morning, but they kind of jump out instead of walking down the ramp. However, I do see them perched half way up the ramp sometimes.

I tried moving them in before dark, but they are very flighty and don't particularly like handling. It's almost impossible to coax the up the ramp without them getting loose in the yard. Here's a photo of the coop...

 

[mikecoscia]

Just wanted to update the thread. The chickens finally started going up on their own. We recently had some really stormy weather and I think the rain finally coaxed them to figure it out...lol.