Getting chicks into coop

[New_ChickLover]

Hi, we have 5 chicks that just transitioned into the coop from the brooder. It has been 3 to 4 days since they moved. They still haven't figured out going into the coop themselves at night. Is this usual? We have been picking them up ourselves and putting them in, but want them to learn how to go in themselves. We tried putting treats on the road/ladder up to the coop. One chick keeps going up it and seems to know it's home; however, no other chicks realize it's their home. 1 or 2 of them keep looking at the ladder. Could there be something wrong with it? How can we get them to coop up at night? How long does it usually take for them to learn? Thanks!!

 

[MountainWoman73]

It's normal for it to take a few days. Just keep stuffing them in there every evening. Eventually start putting them near the top of the ramp, then halfway up the ramp. They'll get the idea eventually.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are the chicks using the ramp/ladder during the day? If not, they really need to be trained to use it before you can expect them to put themselves in at night.

 

[Mrs. K]

Put a cardboard box in the run, they will pile in there near dark. Put the box in the coop. It is an easy way to move a lot of chicks all at once.

Waking up in the coop, eventually they will figure it out. I think I would do the treat idea during the day. Sprinkle it close to the ground and make a call. Later that afternoon, do it again, a little higher up. Do it several days, then just lightly sprinkle close to the ground, bigger piles higher up.

But to be honest - doing nothing more than you are doing now, and they will figure it out in the next few weeks.

 

[Some Old Guy]

My own solution was to pick up a length of PVC pipe, and use it like a shepherd's crook. Pipe is about 7 ft long, I'm 6 ft tall, that length works well for me - adjust to your own height and comfort. I learned years ago that I could drive a pot bellied pig with a stick like that. Get her between you and where you want her to go, advance toward her, and she runs. When she pauses to look behind her, wave your stick on the side she's looking, and she'll go running toward where you want her again. There's never a need to touch the pig with the stick. Works fine for my poultry.

Are you feeding in the evening? I don't keep food down 24/7, I want them to be at least a little hungry at evening feeding time. My routine is to go out about 1/2 hour before sunset, put feed in the coop, and call "chick chick chick chick!" Most of them come running, because they know there are goodies inside. I walk around the yard with my PVC looking for laggards, and they go running ahead of the stick.

 

[New_ChickLover]

Are the chicks using the ramp/ladder during the day? If not, they really need to be trained to use it before you can expect them to put themselves in at night.

Sometimes they just stand on the bottom half of the ramp during the day. How should I train them to use it? They love hanging out in the section under the coop, so we blocked it off last night. Slowly but surely, they started going into the coop! It took a while, but it worked. I think we might keep doing this for a while 'til they get it better.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Sometimes they just stand on the bottom half of the ramp during the day. How should I train them to use it? They love hanging out in the section under the coop, so we blocked it off last night. Slowly but surely, they started going into the coop! It took a while, but it worked. I think we might keep doing this for a while 'til they get it better.

Mrs K has good advice, if there's treats they like use those to lure them onto the ramp to encourage them to use it.

I personally prefer steps (vs ramps) as there's no training involved with those.

 

[loohoo]

You can also try putting a battery powered light inside the coop (if you don’t have electricity ran) and just turn it on before dusk. They will typically go where the light is, and then you can turn the light off when you close the coop up. I read that advice on here when we first started with chickens and it worked like a dream! After a week or so of them going in like that, I stopped with the light, and they kept going in on their own!