Chicks out side

[Speedychicken27]

I am raising baby chicks they are now fully fearhered and in a small coop out side. Every night I have to go out there and put them in the top thing, how do I teach them to go up there?

 

[chonsey]

How high up are your perches? Are they flat or round? They will have an easier time if they are flat. Round may be too big for their small feet. Mine are still huddling in a corner, so I gave them a nest (a basket and put it on it's side with straw in it). I have round perches - they are too big and too high. I have to convert them over to flat and I'm adding a lower level perch for them. Probably depends on the breed - my Easter Eggers are all over the place at 4 weeks, my two brahma chicks are older but they mature slower-still liking the nest at night.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Top thing? Do you mean you have to put them in a coop on stilts as they wont use the ladder? That's normal. It takes a bit over a week of putting them in by hand and they finally go up on their own.

If your talking about a roost then don't worry. Chicks should not have a roost. It can cause leg problems. If a roost is provided they will rest on it at night when of age all on their own. Until then they prefer to, and safer for them, huddle in corner on litter.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Good answers.
It is annoying to have to put birds in the coop each night. If you lock them in for two or three days, they'll automatically go in at dusk after that.