My hens won't use their ramp or go back into the coop without assistance.

[FlosRdChicks]

Our hens are about 11 weeks old. They have a coop with a large run including lots of trees for cover. There is a ramp in the coop that goes down below. They won't go back into the coop at the end of the day (at dusk). They would stay out all night if we let them, I am pretty certain. We have to go out at dark and lift them into the coop each and every time.

I'm wondering if this is is normal? Or is it because we started with bad habits in the beginning, letting them stay out too late? Or is there something wrong with our ramp?

I think if we can get one to use the ramp, the rest would follow?

We have 3 egg-layers and 3 meat birds.

 

[aoxa]

Is there a light in the coop - or a way to install one? I find if there is light inside - they are more apt to go in. Once they are all in, turn off light.

They should not be staying outside. They should want to go to the highest roosting point. They are still young. For now, continue to boost them up in the coop.

I highly suggest the light though.

 

[devora]

There might be an issue w/ your ramp (angled too steeply, too slippery, e.g.).

I walked them up the ramp (which is a gentle slope and has cross-bars for them to put their feet on for leverage) to teach them initially. It takes one or three lessons and they get it.

I don't use a light. I suppose if I could train them to turn off the light I might consider it, but actually have never needed it.

 

[aoxa]

There might be an issue w/ your ramp (angled too steeply, too slippery, e.g.).

I walked them up the ramp (which is a gentle slope and has cross-bars for them to put their feet on for leverage) to teach them initially. It takes one or three lessons and they get it. 

I don't use a light. I suppose if I could train them to turn off the light I might consider it, but actually have never needed it. 

I guess I just close up the door anyway, so flicking a light switch is easy

Plus there are timers.

Some breeds are just ramp stupid. Silkies and polish are the first that come to mind. I found my girls huddled under the ramp fast asleep many times

 

[devora]

Some breeds are just ramp stupid. Silkies and polish are the first that come to mind. I found my girls huddled under the ramp fast asleep many times

X2, my poor Polish were so sweet and sooooo clueless.

 

[aoxa]

X2, my poor Polish were so sweet and sooooo clueless. 

That's why we love them, right? lol

I love their quirky attitudes.

 

[FlosRdChicks]

The girls eventually figured out to hop-up into the coop unassisted (instead of huddling in the corner of their run against the gate, waiting for us to put them in). I think they wanted to stay together, and one of them couldn't hop-up into the coop easily (chubby meat bird).

Year 2: No meat birds, no problem. The 2 new blackies just followed along, let the 1-yr-olds go in first and then followed along behind them. We use a light on a timer in the coop, from Oct to Apr, but not in the summer when the day is long. We have to shut their door. It's not self-closing.

A friend brought us two 1-yr-old Helmeted Guinea Fowl, the new "Tick Patrol", after I was bitten by a tick on our property and got sick w/ LYME DISEASE. What a couple of characters! We weren't set up for Guineas, and being inexperienced, we couldn't train them to go into the coop with the hens. They slept every night on a perch high in this giant tree instead. In October, it was fairly easy to trick them into a covered pen though. We moved 2 chickens into the barn with the Guinea, where they had a decent enclosure. Sadly, not decent enough. Last night a raccoon broke into the barn and chewed through... Horrible! Murdered.

TICK PATROL: Let me just say that with the 2 Guineas and the 4 Chickens, we didn't see any ticks this summer. The Guineas roamed far and wide, whereas the chickens forage for insects closer to the house. However the Guinea male led the hens into the woods across from the coop once, so the girls started hanging out along the edge more. Ticks tend to stick to the edge of the bush too, so having the chickens roaming there is much appreciated. If you're looking for tick-eaters, the Guineas are the way to go! The Guinea male also alerted all of the hens when there was a bird of prey, so they would take cover immediately.

Photo: Guinea Tree | Where they would perch every night...