Wow, for two days now my chicks (8 weeks old) have gone into their house (2ND story condo) up the ladder at approximately the same time which is 8:15pm. All along I have been putting them in at around 7:30pm while it's still light.
Yesterday I lost track of time and did not get out there until 8:15pm and they already went into their house.
Today I came home from a church function at 8:00pm. I saw them all out at that time on the first floor. Parked my car in the garage and let my dogs out. Came back out to put the chickens up and found them, you guessed it at 8:15pm and they were all tucked in again all on their own!
I'm not sure how that is happening at 8:15pm but I'm not complaining. No more having to chase them in the coop like I have been doing. I hope this continues for a long while. I do have one chick who doesn't seem to make it on the ladder and she is a Silkie. Just got her 4 days ago. She has mingled nicely with the others although one of the chicks sometimes pecks at her but only a little bit. I wonder if this breed is not as smart as the others or is it because her legs seem shorter?
The Silkie is super gentle and does not run from me so I don't mind putting her up there but it would be nice if she went in there on her own just in case I go away for a day or so. Anyone know if she is capable of learning how to jump up the ladder? I have two rungs on the ladder about 15 inches apart from each other because the other chicks like to sit on the ladder all day. A few chicks sit on top rung and a couple on the bottom rung. If I make the rungs any closer as they get bigger I don't think they will be able to sit on the ladder without a rung being in the way. I'm new to chickens so I don't know what to expect.
Any suggestions for the Silkie would be greatly appreciated.
Yesterday I lost track of time and did not get out there until 8:15pm and they already went into their house.
Today I came home from a church function at 8:00pm. I saw them all out at that time on the first floor. Parked my car in the garage and let my dogs out. Came back out to put the chickens up and found them, you guessed it at 8:15pm and they were all tucked in again all on their own!
I'm not sure how that is happening at 8:15pm but I'm not complaining. No more having to chase them in the coop like I have been doing. I hope this continues for a long while. I do have one chick who doesn't seem to make it on the ladder and she is a Silkie. Just got her 4 days ago. She has mingled nicely with the others although one of the chicks sometimes pecks at her but only a little bit. I wonder if this breed is not as smart as the others or is it because her legs seem shorter?
The Silkie is super gentle and does not run from me so I don't mind putting her up there but it would be nice if she went in there on her own just in case I go away for a day or so. Anyone know if she is capable of learning how to jump up the ladder? I have two rungs on the ladder about 15 inches apart from each other because the other chicks like to sit on the ladder all day. A few chicks sit on top rung and a couple on the bottom rung. If I make the rungs any closer as they get bigger I don't think they will be able to sit on the ladder without a rung being in the way. I'm new to chickens so I don't know what to expect.
Any suggestions for the Silkie would be greatly appreciated.
