My chickens are being stubborn!! Help!

[chickengonewild]

My chickens won't go up their stairs to get into their nesting boxes. They are about 15 weeks old. Does anyone know of a way to get them to go up it. Maybe it's to steep for them? I don't know

, but i will post pictures of it when I get home. We put them in their box at night, and when we open the door to let them out in the mornings they run and jump out of it. They won't even go down the ramp (or stairs). Let me know what you guys think i should do and i will post pictures later. THANKS!!!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

My chickens won't go up their stairs to get into their nesting boxes. They are about 15 weeks old. Does anyone know of a way to get them to go up it. Maybe it's to steep for them? I don't know

, but i will post pictures of it when I get home. We put them in their box at night, and when we open the door to let them out in the mornings they run and jump out of it. They won't even go down the ramp (or stairs). Let me know what you guys think i should do and i will post pictures later. THANKS!!!

For clarity's sake, are you referring to going into the coop (the "house" they live in) or actually referring to the nesting box(es) (where they are meant to lay their eggs once they come of age)?
How high up does the structure sit? Pictures will definitely be helpful.

 

[Judy]

They're a little young and will probably learn. Are you putting them in their nest boxes to sleep? You want them to learn to sleep on their roost, not in their nests, or you will have poopy eggs forever. But they may need some weeks to learn wher to sleep and where to lay. You can put them on their roost by hand at dusk for a week or so to see if it will help. Be sure the roost isn't too narrow to be comfortable; a fat btanch or the wide side of a 2x4 work well.

 

[chickengonewild]

the box where they sleep, sorry not the nesting boxes. we have a roost in their box but they wont sleep on it. they huddle up in the corner together. :/

 

[Judy]

They'll choose to sleep on a roost when they are a little older, I'll bet.

 

[JanetS]

A few pictures would be helpful. How long have they been sleeping in their coop(box)?

 

[Wol1]

Last year my 9 young ones would only sleep in a nest box. One nest box, all together. 9. Six boxes available.
We have some chicks this year being fostered by one of the those chickens. She instinctively makes a nest in the corner at night time and they all cram themselves under her (and on top of her), so cramming together in a corner is probably instinctive.

As above responder suggested, lifting them up onto the roost each night consistently should solve the problem of roosting. It did for us.... It was not fun untangling them and being pecked, but you do what you have to do. Wait until they are sleepy. Hold their wings down so they feel secure. Once you put them on the roost rest your hand on their backs and they may slowly settle down. Generally once one gets it, the others will follow over the next few days.

As far as the stairs/ramp in and out of the coop, ours refused. They hop in and out of the coop just fine without it. It's about a 1 1/2 foot drop. They do hop up an open ladder to the nesting boxes (about 3 feet up) and then sidle over to an open box...(Usually.. there are two BFFs who like to stay together. If one is laying an egg, the other one is there for moral support.) Their roost is about 3 1/2 feet up. I've heard that the roost should be higher than the nest boxes... they will go to the highest spot to sleep. Once they reached full size they were having trouble getting up there so we added a step about 1 foot up. They hop there first and then up to the roost.

Good luck.

 

[chickengonewild]

ok here is the ramp. there is a chicken underneath for scale.

 

[chiknhurder]

How long have they been in the coop? I lock mine in 24 hours a day for the first week and then let them out. They quickly learn where to go. As they get older they'll start using the ramp. Mine is higher and steeper than yours. Some use it and some don't. It doesn't really matter as long as they get in and out of the coop ok. Be sure your roost is higher than your nest boxes and if they start roosting in your nest boxes, block them off at night so they can't. They'll figure it all out.

 

[Wol1]

That's quite a jump. I don't know what to suggest to get them to use the ramp. Do they fly up to get inside? When they get heavier, they might decide the ramp is easier on their feet than jumping out. Maybe during the day you could scatter some scratch or cracked corn on the lower part of the ramp and see if you can entice them to try it out.

Are you able to reach the roost to put them up there at night? They are sleeping on the floor? Do they use the roost during the day? Can they see the roost when they go in at night? If you can reach the roost, I think teaching them what it's for ought to work. Had to teach mine