Help, chickens going up stairs

[KikiRoo]

Hey guys. Was hoping maybe someone has had a similar experience and maybe found a solution. My chickens discovered the stairs to our deck. They leave them alone most of the day but at night they insist on coming up the stairs and sleeping at the top. I tried putting them in their coop every night for months but no luck. Thinking of putting a baby gate at the bottom and putting up chicken wire on the back and sides of the stairs (they are not closed stairs). Was hoping to avoid this if we can as we have dogs and don't want to have to go down and open the gate every time they go in and out.

 

[rIrs roost]

You could maybe try leaving them in the coop a few days. But if your weathers like mine it's so hot I'd be scared to leave them cooped up.

 

[KikiRoo]

You could maybe try leaving them in the coop a few days. But if your weathers like mine it's so hot I'd be scared to leave them cooped up.

Yeah. I have done it for a couple days (with no luck afterward) but anything more than that feels just mean. They don't have the biggest run and they get all loud and worked up if I don't let them out.

 

[rIrs roost]

Another idea would be get a fake owl and put it on the porch.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

It's instinct for them to want to roost up high at night, so I am wondering if they have a nice high roost in their coop that is roomy and easily accessible, preferably a 2 X 4 flat side up. Sometimes the crested breeds have trouble seeing, and it is possible the stairs are easier to negotiate than their coop.

If leaving them in the coop doesn't work, and there are no improvements that you can try, then you need to train them to go to the coop before dark. Treats are the best way to do it, shaking a can of grain and calling them at the same time. I would only give treats in the coop, no where else. I would also have their food in the coop so they have to return to eat. I found my birds learn pretty quickly what treat time means. If you can do it a couple time a day, where they don't always get locked in, they won't make the association. Pretty soon, they will be racing to get to the coop for treats and will forget all about the comfy stairs. Excellent idea to block the the stairs off toward evening, I think... nothing permanent.

Oh, and go easy on the treats, quality over quantity. Keep them wanting more!

 

[aart]

Excellent idea to block the the stairs off toward evening, I think... nothing permanent.

Excellent post above, especially this!

 

[KikiRoo]

Thanks guys. I will try the treat idea. Might also have to block the stairs at night.

 

[aart]

...or if you're lounging on the deck at the 'time'.....
..... garden hose (nozzle on jet setting) aversion therapy can be very effective.