How do you get chicks up ladder at night?

[outlawfarmer]

Just built the Mother of all chicken tractors (A Frame). The ladder is in the middle and they climb down into enclosed run. I waited tonight to see if they'd go up the ladder on there own at dusk, but only one did. I tried baiting them etc. Finaly they settled on the run floor buy a wall and grabbed them from below and put them in the top.

 

[stuck-on-red]

if you can add a light in the tractor. chickens are holy and will go to the light!!!

 

[BankerJohn]

I had the same problem for the first several nights. In the beginning, I would try to put them on the roost at dusk and they wouldn't stay. After about 5 or 6 days, I went out at about 10pm and picked them from the corner and placed them on the roost. It was too dark for them to move. The next day, 2 made it to the roost at dusk. The next day, all roosted.

It may be an age thing, it may be a fear of something new thing. Who knows. If your run is secure, I wouldn't worry much and just let them figure it out on their own.

 

[artsyrobin]

is it an open rung ladder or a ramp? the light is a good plan- i used yogurt to get mine used to the idea..keep us posted