Getting the chicks to go back into the coop.

[MI55TR355]

They have no problem coming out of the coop in the morning on their own and down the ladder. But they never go all thr way inside on their own. I always find them in the evening huddled together on the ground. I love them inside by hand.
Any advice?

 

[appps]

Go to your local dollar store and buy a cheap garden solar light. Pop it out during the day to charge then late afternoon put it in their house. They will follow the light inside when it starts to get dark. After a few hours it will go flat and turn itself off but they will all be asleep by then. After a couple of weeks you won't need it any more.

I would also reduce the angle of their ladder by putting a brick or something under one end. When the get bigger you can take that away too.

 

[Shezadandy]

They have no problem coming out of the coop in the morning on their own and down the ladder. But they never go all thr way inside on their own. I always find them in the evening huddled together on the ground. I love them inside by hand.
Any advice?

Light in the coop is a very good idea as suggested above.

One thing I learned is that just because chicks and chickens know to go DOWN the ramp does not mean they know how to go back UP the same ramp into the coop. We had 2 persistent stragglers who couldn't make the connection, and weren't smart enough to follow the 8 other chickens who figured it out for themselves. The first three nights I carried them into the coop and put them in, but they didn't learn anything from that.

Finally I made them walk up the ramp (hands on either side to guide them)-- they need to actually walk up the ramp under their own power to make the association. One by one use your hands to push them along, but don't carry them -- make them do the ramp- I've had chicks as young as a week not have any problem making it up our ramp, though as appps mentioned, making it less steep could help too. Here's our ramp and the week old chicks following mom (not the group that had the problem learning).

 

[MI55TR355]

Thank you both. I did adjust the ladder, and they went up 4 of 6 steps before jumping off.
At least progress is in motion.
I'll get a light this evening

 

[Shezadandy]

Thank you both. I did adjust the ladder, and they went up 4 of 6 steps before jumping off.
At least progress is in motion.
I'll get a light this evening

Almost there! The other thing I did when training them to their new coop (wasn't done with the main coop with the first group) and nighttime was throw a treat bonanza - mealworms, watermelon- whatever they really love to eat in the coop. I recommend having the treats on the floor or the roost because you want the "I got a yummy treat" association to be with entering the coop as opposed to coming from you - then as habit kicks in, wean off the treats.

 

[MI55TR355]

So I fix the ladder, and I added a light. But my chicks still won't go up at night.

Is it because I had since babies and they never learn from a bigger hen?

 

[MI55TR355]

Also, I have been adding treats night

 

[Shezadandy]

Also, I have been adding treats night

Can you send a picture of your set-up, i.e. the ladder/entrance to the coop?

 

[MI55TR355]

I will take one tomorrow in the daytime. I have to fix this problem. This is not the face of a Happy Chicken,

and they all gave me this look.

 

[Shezadandy]

I will take one tomorrow in the daytime. I have to fix this problem. This is not the face of a Happy Chicken, and they all gave me this look.

Oh, the poor baby!!!