Silkies ladder and sandbox laying

[Mummak]

Hello Everyone,
Based in UK here always read your posts as new chicken mumma to 3 silkies.( as off a month ago)

only one is laying so far, but she lays in theyre sandbox!! How can i fix this!!?!

major problem is that they had a egu coop before, no problems went in by them selves at dusk and she was laying in the right place.
Now ive upgraded to a wooden coop off the ground with a ladder walk. They will come down the ladder in the morning... but wont go up it at night!
i always find them huddled in the corner under the coop every night.
Ive tried the light in a coop ( but maybe i need a stronger one?) ... ive tried picking them up and putting them on the bottom of the ladder ( they will walk up it) but no joy still find them under the coop everynight.
They dont roost, which i know isnt uncommon for silkies, but they do have the option to in the coop. They lay in the nesting boxes and sleep.

any ideas would be greatly appreciated
Thankyou

 

[sourland]

Lengthening the ladder (to decrease the angle) and widening it sometimes help.

 

[aart]

They will come down the ladder in the morning... but wont go up it at night!

Post pics?

 

[Mummak]

 

[aart]

It's bit steep.
Put a block under the low end to reduce the angle.

 

[Mummak]

It's bit steep.
Put a block under the low end to reduce the angle.

Done. We will see tonight. Bought a brighter light to! Fingers crossed

 

[Mummak]

Lol 3 birds huddled under the coop... with a bright lit up coop above them.
had to hand put them in... for the 20th time.

earlier i put treats up the ladder.... 2 went up, ate all the treats.... came back down

could it be ( and it may sound silly) , they dont like the coop? Its quite big for 3 silkies!

 

[aart]

could it be ( and it may sound silly) , they dont like the coop? Its quite big for 3 silkies!

It's new to them, that can take time.
How long has the new coop been in play?
Did you confine them to the coop for a few days and nights to 'home' them?

 

[Mummak]

It's new to them, that can take time.
How long has the new coop been in play?
Did you confine them to the coop for a few days and nights to 'home' them?

No i didnt, but i only didnt because with the Eglu coop, they sussed it after 2 days of light in coop n went in by themselves so i figured they’d figure this one out too! ( i was clearly wrong)
I did keep them in the run and not roaming around the garden for a week. The new wooden coop has been in there for just over 3 weeks.

update is- ive added a block to the ladder and its slightly less steep now.
But again they didnt go in last night, i had to manually put them in.

 

[Mummak]