First night and day out... help...

[rechena]

Hi,
Two nights ago was the first time we placed our little chicks in the new coop.
They slept ok, we had the heating lamp in the coop. During the day they came out to drink and eat, but when we arrived home noticed that the steps on the access ramp were to spaced for them to use it..we added some more and placed some foot on the steps to try and attract them to climb up the stairs. It worked

, well at least as long as there was food on the stairs

but...at nightfall when they were supposed to climb back to "bed" they stayed with a scare look on some corner of the run, I had to pick them up and place them by hand inside the coop.
The good part was that they came to my hand like if they were really scared and let me help them

We have the lamp on a timer(just has long as they are this small) it turns on when night falls and of when day time.
The chicks are aprox 1 month old.

Any piece of advice? is it normal? do I have to do this a couple of times for them to learn?

Thanks

Regards

 

[BrattishTaz]

I had to coax mine into the coop at night for a week or so. They will eventually figure it out.

 

[catterbug]

They will eventually learn that is where they need to sleep. You may just have to show them a few times. Mine are 8 weeks old and they are just starting to figure out how to roost.

 

[rechena]

Quote:
But do I just grab them, like I did last night, or show them the way trough the access ramp?

Is it ok I change the position of the ramp now? or should I wait so I don't add more "complications" to their heads

Thanks

 

[paceysgl5]

What we did, and what I read before doing it, was to keep the chicks in the COOP for a few days to a week, not letting them in the run. The first day we let them in the run, they immediately went into the coop when it started to get dark. (well, except for 1 silkie who has finally managed to go in and out on her own LOL).

 

[rechena]

Quote:
Humm...
Guess I've should tried this way before letting them out on the Run...

now I'll just have to keep trying to teach them.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[chicmom]

Hello-

The behavior you describe with your chicks is totally normal. They will cluster together and peep in distress when it starts to get dark, instead of going into the coop. That's a behavior you have to teach them.

You did exactly the right thing.....Each night, go and get them and put them in. It may take a week or even two, but one day, you'll go out there to check on them, and they'll all be inside! TA-DAAAA! Amazing!

At a month old, they're probably fully feathered. The only thing I do differently from what you do is, when they go outside, they no longer get a heat lamp.

Sounds like you're doing a great job!

Sharon

 

[rechena]

Quote:
Thanks

So, should I remove the heat lamp? I'm just lightning between 21:00 and 7:00 during the day is off.

Regards

 

[BrattishTaz]

Quote:
But do I just grab them, like I did last night, or show them the way trough the access ramp?

Is it ok I change the position of the ramp now? or should I wait so I don't add more "complications" to their heads

Thanks

I made a bread trail going up the ramp during the adjustment period, my BO decided he preferred flying in the coop rather than using the ramp. He is an adult now and still hops over it.

I doubt they will notice a change in the ramp position.

 

[rechena]

And in the third night out two of them went to bed alone, but the smallest one didn't... so i'm on the good way.
But... Yesterday was raining a lot, and my 3 hens just stayed near the door again instead of just climbing... should I keep "putting them to sleep"?

Thanks for the help...

Regards