Hen dealing with backwards chicks

[feliciadawn]

I had a broody bantam chochin, and I don't have a rooster (township ordinance), so I got her 7 fertilized silkie eggs. She was a very good mama and now we have 5 silkie chicks that follow her around. The issue is that the chicks, as silkies, are rather delayed and of course will never fly. Now that they are almost 3 weeks old, the mama keeps trying to get them to fly and to go up the ramp into the main coop. She spends hours showing them how to walk up the ramp and clucking at them. However, the silkies just look at her like she is crazy and will not even attempt the ramp. Our coop also has a 2nd level and the mama hen tries to get them to fly up there. Of course, they don't. I feel bad for the mama hen. Was it cruel of me to give her all silkie chicks? I just imagine her wondering where she went wrong as a mother.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Is it possible to make a ramp that’s easy for them to climb?
you could also try putting treats on the top of the ramp and see if that gets them to go up.
good luck!

 

[SilverBirds]

Don't feel bad. They're still really small to learn how to make big jumps and baby chicks aren't always the brightest. Just help the ramp until they figure it out. You can put them a little over halfway on the ramp and see if they'll finish climbing themselves. How steep is your ramp?

 

[feliciadawn]

What has happened is the chicks refuse to go up the ramp and the mama just sleeps at the bottom of the coop to keep them warm.

 

[SilverBirds]

That's pretty normal. If mamma can't get them to go up, you may have to give them some extra help until they figure it out.

 

[Chicken poppy]

Shes so sweet! Other people have given really great advice. Beautiful mama, and chicks.

 

[Chicken poppy]

Currently driving, so i cant text. See you in 20 minutes!

 

[feliciadawn]

The ramp is a tad steep but my one silkie hen can navigate it fine. She is trying to help with the babies and she will demonstrate the ramp to them, to no avail. Unfortunately owing to the spacing and layout the ramp can't be made longer.

 

[SilverBirds]

I don't think watching other hens use it will be enough. You need to physically set them on the ramp so they can figure out how to either go up or down. Offer them treats on the ramp so the associate it with something positive.

 

[feliciadawn]

@SilverBirds One thing to understand is that I don't have what we call in the field "instructional control" over the chicks. They follow their mother. If I give treats the mother takes them and gives it to them.