New Hens Not Using Ramp - help please!

[EHaag]

Hey all!

Long story short - I recently adopted a stray hen (Mabel), built her a 40sq ft coop and run - and its two levels. There is a ramp that leads to the second floor and she has no problems going up and down the ramp.

I adopted three other hens, around a year old (was trying to get ones around the same age I estimated Mabel to be) - and they have nicely integrated into a cute little flock together. There's only one problem.

My newbies do not know how to use the ramp. At night, they cry until I kind of shimmy them up the ramp and then they roost, no problem.
In the morning, Mabel will come down and the other three (Peso, Darla, and Goose) will just sit inside the coop.

Today, I was attempting to just let me stay in there and figure it out themselves, but I don't want them to sit up there all day when the sun is shining and they've got a lot of yard space to run around in. They've been up there for about 2 hours now.

I was planning on taking their ramp out (it's removable!) today while they are in the yard and wrapping it with some hemp yarn between the slats to give them some more grip.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get these silly hens to go up and down their new ramp? I'm guessing that they maybe didn't have one at their old home?

Thanks for the help!

Easter Egger - Mabel (top of the pecking order)

All the newbies have temp names until we know their personalities better!

Barred Rock - Goose
Salmon Faverolle - Tiny/Peso
Black Ameraucana - Darla

 

[nuthatched]

Maybe place feed on the ramp treads to Hansel and gretal them down?

 

[3KillerBs]

Put bits of their favorite treats on the ramps to lead them up.

 

[Percheron chick]

Pictures please.
Usually the reluctance is because it is too steep. Placing a block under the ramp will flatten out the angel and make it easier to walk up. The other potential is they are telling you that they don't like the coop.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My newbies do not know how to use the ramp. At night, they cry until I kind of shimmy them up the ramp and then they roost, no problem.
In the morning, Mabel will come down and the other three (Peso, Darla, and Goose) will just sit inside the coop.

Today, I was attempting to just let me stay in there and figure it out themselves, but I don't want them to sit up there all day when the sun is shining and they've got a lot of yard space to run around in. They've been up there for about 2 hours now.

It's not that they don't know how, they just don't want to. At that age and with those chickens if they wanted to go up or down they'd fly. Chickens generally don't like change but they can be adaptable given time.

I'd continue to put them in the coop at night, they will eventually get the message. In the morning open the door and walk away. Stay away if you can't stand to watch them. They will eventually come out.

 

[RojoMarz]

I taught my newbies the ramp by 'herding' them out of the coop, thru the pop-door. They either use the ramp or jump/fly outside. Their choice.

 

[EHaag]

Pictures please.
Usually the reluctance is because it is too steep. Placing a block under the ramp will flatten out the angel and make it easier to walk up. The other potential is they are telling you that they don't like the coop.

The block helped (and treats) - my first original chicken has no problems going up and down and figured it out quickly. The other three are learning! Thanks for the tip. We are also going to wrap some of the free spaces in natural rope to give them more grip on the ramp.

 

[Percheron chick]

That will help. I have used a skinny strip of snow fence to grip onto

 

[EHaag]

Pictures please.
Usually the reluctance is because it is too steep. Placing a block under the ramp will flatten out the angel and make it easier to walk up. The other potential is they are telling you that they don't like the coop.

We placed a block under the ramp and we also added some thick natural rope wrapped around the ramp to help give them more grip between the slats. This worked well and now everyone is using the ramp! Thanks for the tip. I will remember to add pictures next time I need some advice.