Ramp Challenged!

[mommywisey]

Hello all

Last night was my chicks first night in their new coop. I have 8 chicks that are 4 weeks old. And I opened the door this morning over an hour ago and they will not come out. Should I take them out or just let them sit there all day??

Thanks!! Michelle in Crossville Tennessee

 

[ARose4Heaven]

Give em time. It took my 10 week olds a couple of days to brave the big world.

 

[theoldchick]

The older chicks I purchased had not seen the outdoors and were very wary. Took them over a week to go outside. I finally showed them how to go up the ramp using scratch feed as a reward. Teaching them to go down was a bit more difficult as they were afraid of falling. I used scratch feed to encourage them and they eventually figured out how to use their feet and not fall over those big toes! They like their coop though and spend much of the day inside.

My younger chicks are already running up and own a wire ramp/door. They were very cautious, too, about going down and I let them take their time. Now they have races to see who is the fastest.

Now they have no problem at all.

 

[maclady]

Took my four a little while to figure it out. The flew in and out for awhile until I figured out they didn't like sliding on the ramp. I added more foot holds and now they run up and down unless they are in a rush to get outside then they still launch themselves. Your little ones will figure out eventually that the outdoors is the place to be. You will then worry cause they won't want to go back into the coop.

 

[mommywisey]

Thanks for all your posts! At least I know there is nothing wrong with them. The only reason I was concerned is because over the past week I took them out and let them run in our fenced yard all day long - they loved it!! But now they are not coming out to play. One or two came down the ramp on their own but then went back in!

Really I want them out so they will poop outside too. Should there be water inside and outside their coop? Or will they run in and out to get some?

I love the pics!! How do I do that??

 

[maclady]

I have my chicks food handing inside the coop. They go in and out all day to get it with no issues. I have a large waterer hanging outside for them and them I still keep their little chick waterer inside for when I close them in at night. I don't think they really drink out of it though since when I change it out each day it never seems to have a lower water level. I think you can keep the food where you want it but not sure if water is necessary inside the coop or not. I'm a newbie with this myself.