How to get month old chicks to go in at night?

[Kim62]

hi-
I have 16 one month old Silkie chicks that I recently put outside in a chicken tractor. It is plenty warm for them during the day and I have a light for nighttime but I cannot get them to go up the ladder at night and they are impossible to catch. I have tried turning on the light and putting the food and water up the ladder, a little food on the ladder to encourage them but no success. I can't leave them outside in the bottom it wouldn't be warm enough and there are no other chickens in the tractor. I even gave walking the ladder lessons to some of them Any ideas? Thanks

 

[BYCforlife]

For my chickens at least, they need to be locked in the coop for a day or so, to get them used to being inside. After that, they will most likely like the coop better.

 

[sawilliams]

What is the over night low temps? There isn't realy an answer for this one. If they don't have hens to follow they have to learn on their own and repeatedly moving them to the coop is perhaps the best way to teach them. But it could be that the coop is to warm in the early evening with the light, or the light is bothering thier sleep. I would try to decide with the number of pullets you have and if the night time temps might actually be safe for then to do with out the light. And perhaps just keep working with them untill they do learn where to go at night.

 

[Kim62]

What is the over night low temps? There isn't realy an answer for this one. If they don't have hens to follow they have to learn on their own and repeatedly moving them to the coop is perhaps the best way to teach them. But it could be that the coop is to warm in the early evening with the light, or the light is bothering thier sleep. I would try to decide with the number of pullets you have and if the night time temps might actually be safe for then to do with out the light. And perhaps just keep working with them untill they do learn where to go at night.

We have had cool nights 55-60 degrees lately and they seem to like the light because they gather under it. I have an adult Silkie hen that is a total sweetheart and I tried her in with them for an hour or so but she seemed really anxious and stressed so I put her back with her flock. Maybe I should leave her in longer and she if behavior relaxes?

 

[sawilliams]

We have had cool nights 55-60 degrees lately and they seem to like the light because they gather under it. I have an adult Silkie hen that is a total sweetheart and I tried her in with them for an hour or so but she seemed really anxious and stressed so I put her back with her flock. Maybe I should leave her in longer and she if behavior relaxes?

Unfortunately if she's stressing, you could try bu l putting her in at night and see if she's clamer with then the next day. But don't push it if she's not adjusting. My new rooster stressed out to the point of starting to get dehydrated.

Could you place the tractor by your chicken run so they can watch what the others do? At 1m they should be more then able to climb that ladder heck my 2 week old did it last night, but they might not be understanding how too or with so many they might just be having a difficult time with it.

I would deffinatly put the food up in the coop part if there is enough room, it would encourage them to climb. But i firmly believe water should be outside or in both locations (where they spend the most time) so they can get to it quickly if needed. Other wise it really is just a matter of time. If your coop portion is big enough I would deffinatly lock them in for a day or 2 to let them adjust to that area as home also. It sounds like they might not feel the coop is safe enough to sleep in and locking then in is the best way to show them it's safe

 

[Kim62]

I

For my chickens at least, they need to be locked in the coop for a day or so, to get them used to being inside. After that, they will most likely like the coop better.

 

[Kim62]

I

Thanks

 

[member 373180]

My ramp is kinda weird so I have this problem with every new batch of juveniles. I keep a light on on the coop until about 9pm (you could just put a flashlight or battery lamp in there for a while if you don't have power). Then, after its dark outside, they will all just be piled up somewhere in the run and you can pick them up and place them as far as you can reach up the ramp. They will follow the light up into the coop. You can wear a dim red headlamp to help you see them. I usually only have to do this two or three nights before they have it all figured out. Once they do, I'm sure you could get rid of the lamp in the coop and they'll still go in.