Chickens won't go up into sheltered part of the coop

[slcbj]

Why won't our chickens go up the ramp to their roost?

 

[kaseythomas86]

Mine do the same thing. I had to put them in the coop tonight because they wanted to huddle up in the corner of the run but it's their first night in their new coop so maybe it will get better.

 

[deborahca]

I was going to post a similar thread. How old are y'all's chickens and how long have they been outside?

I just put my 6-week old chickens out on Saturday. They seem very happy, are eating and drinking well, and have been exploring their outdoor run, but both nights we've had to scoop them up, half-inert, from the area around the bottom of the ramp, and lock them into the fully enclosed part of the coop. Are they going to figure this out, or do we need to do something to help them? The evident lead chicken, Godzilla, appears to be trying to get them to go up -- she goes up and down the ramp all the time, and they all seem to have no problem going down it to get out. The coop is a small prefab (and will probably get augmented or replaced when they approach full size), and there is no practical way to get in there to herd them up the ramp. Their food and water is on "the bottom floor" and I wonder if they are afraid to sleep apart from the food and water? They pile up at the back bottom corner by the ramp to sleep, and when I lock them in, the pile up in the corresponding corner of the "bedroom". I think this actually corresponds to the corner of the brooder box where the lamp was closest, but they hadn't had the lamp on at all for several days before I put them out. (Southern CA mild climate -- right now quite hot during the day, cool at night).

What can I do to help them figure this out? I'd like to be able to leave the inner door open so I don't have to get up at 5 to let them out, but if I don't shut them in, they come back down the ramp!

I had read that they should be locked in the interior just like the brooder for a few days, but it just seemed to small for that...

Here's a pic of the setup and one of the flock.

 

[kaseythomas86]

I was reading on another thread that putting a light in the coop may make them go in at dusk so I'm going to try that tonight. I read another thread that said to lock them in the coop for about a wk so that they will figure out that's where they need to sleep.

 

[beallfarms]

These are great questions and a big reason why I love BYC! If these chicks are new to the coop it is recommended that you leave them locked inside for 5-7 days before letting them out. They learn the coop is home and they will always return home.

Even if you haven't done this it's not too late. Make sure they have plenty of food, water and ventilation and you will never need to put to bed. They will put themselves there!

 

[slcbj]

Thank you!

 

[kaseythomas86]

Locked my chickens up last night. I hate keeping them up because they enjoy their run so much but I can't be putting them to bed every night!

 

[slcbj]

Mine just stayed up in the loft when I didn't bring them down. ???? Lazy chickens?
I'm keeping them up too for a few days.

 

[deborahca]

Mine seem to have decided that the best place to sleep is on the porch, as it were.... inside the coop, but down on the dirt instead of up the ramp inside. They go in and out all the time, they just don't want to sleep there. But they've shifted their sleeping spot to a corner that is protected with solid walls on both sides -- and also inaccessible without picking up the whole coop! So I'm pretty much resigned to letting them sleep there. I may try the light trick. Anyway, I have a local friend who swears all her chickens have always done the same thing and she just considers sleeping on the ground in a corner normal... are we breeding them that way here in So Cal? How abnormal is it to lack a roosting instinct?

 

[kaseythomas86]

I let my chickens out if their coop today and when I went out this afternoon and turned on the light inside their coop they all went in!! They are now sleeping soundly in their coop for the first time without me putting them there!!