pre built coop with ramp

[shirley1244]

We have a small coop with a built in ramp. Only six chickens roughly 6 to 7 weeks old. We have tried to.put them.up top but they just walk down the ramp. WILL they eventually go.up.on their own to roost?

 

[Chick Charm]

Yes. But you will help them and yourself by putting them on the roosts at night to teach them. Chickens naturally like to roost. The exception would be some meat breads.

Wish ya the best.

 

[SobbaChickens]

Is this a pre-built coop? Can you lock them in the coop?

I had given up on my carpenter and bought one of those expensive pre-built coops from my farm store. The "roost" was a little piece of wood that sat on the bottom of the coop That is not a real roost and my girls, who LOVE to roost, did not use them at all. Needless to say that was sent back to the store and after getting a little testy I got the coop finished. The pre built coop also did not have a door for the pop door so we had to make our own to keep the girls in the coop. And I'd have to put one in the coop, lock the door, catch another chicken, put it in the coop , lock the door, and repeat lol By the time the real coop was done a few days later the girls went in for bedtime with absolutely no isses

 

[along121]

I got my chicks at 12 weeks. The first day we brought them in the coop they were scared, but curious. I stayed with them all evening. When it was time to roost they were clueless. I opened the little side door and put each chick in on the roosting bars. They were fine all night. The next night I watched them, again clueless. I did the same thing. The third night I just sat back and watched. They walked around looking up at the little door , trying to figure out how to get in the roost area. I finally got it! They would come down the ramp every morning, but had no clue how to go up the ramp each night. (I guess that's where the words " bird brain" comes from). I took each one and set it on the ramp in the up position. They slowly went up. The next night I watched and they went up alone. They are now 22 weeks and they go up the ramp every night. I'm in Texas so they roost about 8:45 each night.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

It can help if you put a little light one out there in the coop, even a flashlight, when it is time for them to go in the coop (until they learn).