coop question. . . chicken door.

[Alphabetcoop]

I built a coop with a sliding door in the floor that goes to a ramp for the chickens to enter and exit. My 5 week old chicks seem to come up the ramp and jump into the coop just fine, but they have yet to exit the coop by themselves. Will they get it in time? Or do I need to redesign the door?

 

[chfite]

Simplistically, they can get in, they can get out. My new chickens (10 weeks) stayed inside their coop for several days, looking out of the pop door at the outside world before they ever ventured out. Now they go in and out all day, but sleep on the porch along the front of the coop.

It won't be long before they are too large to sleep on the porch. I suppose they will go inside and roost in the fullness of time in the same manner as the older chickens in the adjacent coop and run.

Interesting creatures.

Chris

 

[rikithemonk]

Simplistically, they can get in, they can get out. My new chickens (10 weeks) stayed inside their coop for several days, looking out of the pop door at the outside world before they ever ventured out. Now they go in and out all day, but sleep on the porch along the front of the coop.

It won't be long before they are too large to sleep on the porch. I suppose they will go inside and roost in the fullness of time in the same manner as the older chickens in the adjacent coop and run.

Interesting creatures.

Chris

My 8 week olds were the same way. When I moved them over to their new coop they cowered inside of it for two or three days. Peeking out the door or occasionally going to the thresh hold but they wouldn't ever step onto the ramp. Its just nerves. Little by litter they got bolder and bolder. After a week, they began feeling more at ease and then the pecking order fights began.

Riki

 

[Alphabetcoop]

Like clockwork to the day, at exactly 5 weeks old all the chicks started going out the door just fine. Now they are using it all the time. Took a little motivation. . . some bread pieces, but they got it!! Not going to redesign the door. Phew.