Can't get my chickens to go down the ramp!!

[Richn7chicks]

I've got a question...
I built a 2 story coop, but I can't get my chicks to go down the ramp during the day. It is all screened in. I tried to train them for two days-here's what I did; I let them fly out the top doors in the morning, and then opened the door at the bottom so they could come in when they wanted to. This worked, and they came in the bottom and went up the ramp into the coop. This worked both days. The problem is that they don't want to go "down" the ramp. I would like to have the chickens get some sun and dirt downstairs, but they just aint interested...any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Richn7chicks]

Here's a pic:

 

[grammypam]

Coax them down using scratch. Put some on top of ramp. Call them. Then after they eat that put some further down ramp and call them and so on. If I call "here chick chick chick, they now come a running.

 

[Richn7chicks]

I put some feed at the top of the ramp, they ate it, looked at me, and gave me that "no way Jose" look, then went back to doing their regular thing. I tried for about an hour, but no luck...

 

[Richn7chicks]

I guess I'll have to starve them out, and put the water and feed at the bottom where I want the chickens to go. I have mixed feelings though, as I don't want to feed them on the ground regularly...

 

[Kaitie09]

Does the ramp have the little dowels that will help them not slide down it? and if so, you might want to think about spacing them even closer so that they do not feel like they are sliding. You are lucky, we could not get ours to go up the ramp for about a month. Every night we had to go out to the run and corral them all so we could pick each one up and place it back in the coop for the night.

 

[KelloggKid]

I'm hoping I don't experience this same problem. We have a Cornish hen that seems to have figured it out quickly. Hopefully she will show the chicks how it's done when the time comes.

 

[maclady]

Mine wanted to fly out. I had the spaced bar on the ramp to far apart. I added some more bars on it so they would not slide at all and now they use it to go in and out.

 

[kla37]

I was SO frustrated with this problem when my girls first moved outside! I got some stick on stair traction tape at Home Depot. It feels like sandpaper and you peel the backing off to put on stairs and such. Then I put them on the ramp in the middle and "herded" them up the ramp. I think it really helped! They did it all on their own after that.

 

[Dan B]

I'm in the same boat. Just got four chickens 3 days ago and I have to manually remove them from the coop and put them in the bottom. Three of the four have figured out how to get up the ramp but one is clueless and I have to out him back in the coop at dark. They will not come down on their own and have even fallen half way though but always catch themselves and hop right back in. I'm having to put food and water in the coop with them. Do I need to just put the food down bottom and make them come out to eat???

On a good note...we already have 5 eggs in 3 days and wasn't expecting any for the first week.

Well I tried to post an image but the system won;t let me because I'm new.....oh well.