How to teach chicks to use the ramp/ladder?

[cva34]

If its the kind you can sprinkle feed on they will usually eat ther way up...cva34

 

[MarieNC]

I would be outside in the run and my husband would be inside in the coop. I would put one on the ramp and shoo it up gently until it went inside and my husband would put it on the low roost we had for them. We only had to do this for a couple of days and they got the hang of it themselves.

 

[Chickenuts]

My bantam frizzle cochin is also not using the ladder like her sisters. After a few days of "helping" her, she finally figured out the ramp I added, but I've got to build a different ladder that she will use to get up to the roost. It has to be rather steep as it's just a 4' square coop. I wonder how close the cleats need to be? I've been putting her up on the roost after they wander into their coop at night, or guiding her up the ladder, but I can tell she doesn't like it ~ all 6 of our girls are about 12 weeks old.

 

[SweetProvidence]

Im having the same problem but I have over 70 chicks (20 are around 6-7wks old and the rest are a wk younger)! My 3 sons help me, not by choice,and we start an assembly line up to the coop. The chicks all huddle in 2 corners under the coop. I know about half of them enjoy the ladder because I see them walking up into the coop during the day! Temps drop during the night so I NEED them inside at night. Why dont they get it!?

 

[sklewis5]

I have a theory that they are getting muscle tone post-brooder before tackling the ramp. Mine are in the coop and refuse to try the run. Day 3 and waiting.

 

[Inspektor]

I have one nine week old and two 7 week old chicks and I have 3 adults who all share the same hen house but at night my chicks will actually nest at the base of the ramp but they will go up and down the ramp all day long in and out from curiosity. but at night they would rather nest at the base of the ramp and everynight I do the same as everybody else I go in there and I pick them up one by one and put them inside is there a trick or were they eventually learn it on their own and how long? And my issue is in one week I will be going out of town for the holidays and I'm afraid they will not go up in the hen house at night when we're not here and it be too cold for them

 

[S5apiotrowski]

Ours learn very quickly. We've always had a stick/branch in their brooder and they start using it by 2 weeks of age. We have a couple "step-up" coops when we introduc them to the rest of the flock outdoors. One of them has a sleeping loft that requires training - but they fly right up after they know where to go. The chickens are so much smarter than guineas!

 

[Inspektor]

I don't have a perch in my hen house should I put one in there maybe that will that help them to go up in there at night?

 

[S5apiotrowski]

I don't have a perch in my hen house should I put one in there maybe that will that help them to go up in there at night?

It might. They do have the instinct to jump on perches - but if its cold, they may just want to huddle together in a nesting box

 

[Inspektor]

I do have a heat lamp in there. That's why I'm wondering why they are preferring the cold ground as to a nice warm cozy henhouse. Troubleshoot I guess is what I'll have to do....thanks all