Coop "training"

[dwdoc]

Thanks to all who have answered. Here is what I did this morning and I think I may have answered my own question. This AM I lowered the ramp and tossed some feed on the ramp and then to the ground. After a while the birds followed the food down the ramp and then stayed in the run for an hour or so; then they both went back up into the coop. I do believe they have adopted the coop as home...

The coop built is 48"W X 36"L X 48H with a slant roof with roofing tile. There is an off-set nesting box to the rear.

I build a ramp on a hinge so I have the option to raise or lower it.

 

[Chickenkate17]

They want to be by the light. They freak out for a little bit while the sun is going down because they have bad low light vision and they're kind of scared. I just put a flashlight in the coop at sundown and eventually they would go in there automatically. After a few days, they didn't need the flashlight anymore.

 

[Kaceyx73]

After ordering my RIRs and getting their coop/run ready, I immediately went in search of a rooster, partially because I wanted some adult supervision so they would learn all the things I couldn't teach them, and primarily so they would have some protection from yard cats, mainly. I am glad I did it this way. The rooster learned the coop and run for himself, and at 3 weeks when I put the girls out they didn't need much help finding the coop (even though it was a small run for starters). The first night I did have to put them in, but only that one night. Most of the advice I got was 2-3 days, but having an adult bird sure helps.

Now if I can get advice on splitting the coop... one of my girls turned out to be a handsome fellow.