I need to vent...

[Ila88]

I have 2 mini schnauzers and no matter what I do, they treat the chickens like fun-to-chase prey. So they don't get to go to that part of the yard until after chicken bed time.

 

[FunkyChickenButt]

Not sure if anyone already said this but I put a little battery operated lamp in the coop (up through the ramp) for a half hour or hour the first couple days when it would start to get dark. That really helped them see that they were supposed to go up there.

Also I just keep my dog totally separate from my chickens Can’t trust my sweet girl’s prey drive.

 

[CNJ]

Not sure if anyone already said this but I put a little battery operated lamp in the coop (up through the ramp) for a half hour or hour the first couple days when it would start to get dark. That really helped them see that they were supposed to go up there.

Also I just keep my dog totally separate from my chickens Can’t trust my sweet girl’s prey drive.

Thanks for the tip, I will try to find a tiny battery light. I tried to put my 2 month old chicks on the perch last night and they kept jumping down. I trained 12 chicks to perch before in the same coop, but this one does not want to sleep on the perch. They seem to be attracted to the neighbors light that they leave on at night. They sleep on the ground where they can see the light.

I found an old camping light that has an adjustable dimmer switch. I'll try it tonight.

 

[David61]

yes, a night light for a few days worked well for me. i use raisins for anything new. the fear of another chicken getting a raisin is greater than anything else. put raisins on the ramp a few times and then throw a handful in the coop. you better get out of the way.

 

[Shahnaz13]

We have 5 pet chickens and 4 aviaries with golden and Lady Amherst pheasants. The pheasant chicks have chicken moms who show them the ropes - or the ramps .
Clutch one had two moms - one went up the ramp at night to the upper nest the other one stayed longer down and ALL the chicks with her :-(. When mom no 2 went up we had a bunch of very upset babies and had to put them up by hand. Of course in time they got the hang of it but we had to cancel visits to fiestas (we live in Spain) to bring the kids to bed lol.

New aviary, new clutch of eggs and a very special mom (who was around the 1st time too) but things had changed - namely the chicks. Fluffy took the babies out for an "outing" inside the aviary when they were not even 24 hours old and they became very independent from an early age. They were really really tiny when the first chick jumped onto the ramp (pheasants are much better jumpers than chickens I must given them that) and others followed.

Give them time and encourage them by putting some treats on the ramp - usually food is a great "incentive" )).

Good luck

 

[Onyxflock]

So I really just need to get this out because I think many of you will understand this feeling of ultimate frustration I am having right now. Maybe in the process some of you can offer me some sound advice.

Today was the first day my 5.5 week Wyandotte pullets moved into their new coop. They were happy and exploring all day. They did not seem the least bit stressed out by the new sites and sounds of the yard. The thing I did notice is that they had ZERO concept of what the ramp was to get into the part of the coop that has the nesting boxes and closes up. I thought for SURE they would want to explore but they made no attempt to go up there. Half way through the day I put them in the "upstairs" and they seemed to enjoy their time. They actually took a little nap up there and seemed super cozy. I then noticed that they were not LEAVING that part so I moved then back downstairs where their food and water is. At 5:30pm it was dark and not only were they still hanging out but they were wide awake and eating and scratching and such.

At this point I needed to let me two corgis out to go potty and thought it would be good to introduce them and set some boundaries. The corgis were HORRIBLE. The chickens nearly killed themselves flapping all over and COMPELTELY IGNORING the ramp to which they could escape to a more safe feeling area. Long story short I now realize that I will probably not be able to let the dogs into the yard anytime soon without having them INSTANTY be glued to the coop an terrorizing the chickens. I will try to work with them but they are 12 and have a psycho prey drive...not sure how well that will go. Plus I do not want to torture the "girls" in the process. However, silver lining, the girls actually figured out that the dogs could not get in there and they quickly grew some confidence and were willing to stand by the wire and be fairly near the intense sniffing and circling of the devil-dogs, aka, corgis.

I put the dogs inside and decided that I needed to put the girls in the upstairs and close the door since they were making ZERO attempts at it themselves. They were really upset with me and when I finally got them in there and closed the door BOY o BOY did they have a lot to say to me and each other. They were doing their chirp that they do when they are calling for each other and their little trill when they hear crows or danger. The most distressed one actually WANTED me to hold her which is completely out of her nature. I put her in one of the nesting compartments and then moved the other two in with her. They instantly hunkered down with each other but they were just FULL of peeps and chirps and frustration. I LITERALLY had to stroke their backs and sing to them to get them to calm down. I went back out a little after to listen and they are still peeping but more normal peeps, not frantic chirps.

Please tell me what just happened.

I feel like I went from pure joy and happiness to see them in the coop to now I suddenly want to either have them live in my guest room for the rest of their lives OR find them a home with dogs that are less jerks. I am also at a loss as to why they could fly and jump alllllll over the guest room but not get on the ramp to go to a safe, cozy space. What am I doing wrong? Are they too young? Am I too green? Does this just work itself out?

Also, idk why I did not think about this when I got the chickens...but am I going to have to wake up with the sun to let them out of the upstairs part every day so that they will lay eggs eventually or will the sunlight that comes in through the little window they have be enough? I really do not think I can commit to letting them out at that time every day....more like 8 or 9 to be honest.

Ugh. Sorry for the rant and the questions...just feeling deflated and defeated today.

Advice I got was to put small dish food and water in the house, and put the pullets in and keep them in for a couple of days. Then open the door and let them come and go on their own. Treats are not a bad idea, but having a few days in trains them that's their bedroom. They'll figure out the ramp as they go out. If not, change it to be easier up and down angle or add a piece of artificial turf for grip. My lazies like the stacked bricks better than the ramp.
For lighting we found a small solar light, used for lighting steps. It's bright until middle of the night. Thanks to advice from this forum, that worked to get the in the new house we installed.
Good luck, you're going to be happy with them - this is the fun part.

 

[CNJ]

Thanks for the tip, I will try to find a tiny battery light. I tried to put my 2 month old chicks on the perch last night and they kept jumping down. I trained 12 chicks to perch before in the same coop, but this one does not want to sleep on the perch. They seem to be attracted to the neighbors light that they leave on at night. They sleep on the ground where they can see the light.

I found an old camping light that has an adjustable dimmer switch. I'll try it tonight.

They still slept on the ground, I'll let them do what they want. I will move them to join the main flock in about a month where they will learn to roost from the older chickens. I hope.........

 

[ackie]

They still slept on the ground, I'll let them do what they want. I will move them to join the main flock in about a month where they will learn to roost from the older chickens. I hope.........

have you tried giving them something to "roost" on that's low to the ground, just to foster the idea? I had a girl who wouldnt roost because... honestly she was a big bird with a limp, but I put a milk crate where she chose to sleep and she slept on that instead. since yours is young, it might start them on the idea that they should sleep off the ground.

 

[sabrfencer]

I have a ChickenGuard automatic pop door for my chickens that opens for them in the morning and closes at Sunset. Well worth the cost!

 

[ackie]

oh yeah I totally dont get up at sunrise to let mine out. they get some ambient light in their pen but it's very shaded. I'd love to let them out at sunrise every morning and then go back to sleep but I'm really hitting more like 10 or 11am. whoopsie.