Silkies won't use my ramp to the coop... frustrating!

[todtrac]

I have four silkie chickens roughly 9 weeks old. They have been in the coop for the last three weeks but won't use the ramp to go in or out. they love being outside but I have to hand carry them in and out. I took advice this week and raised the ramp at the bottom 12" to lessen the angle and built an additional ramp off the bottom. I really enjoy these birds but I cannot keep putting them in at night. My coop is totally enclosed and they can go under the actual coop which is 32: off the ground...hence I have to crawl in to get them at night.. ugh!.. any suggestions on how to train these birds to use the ramp??.. beside not using the ramp, they don't roost at night either they sleep on the ground in the coop... what am I doing wrong?

Please help!

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
Is the food inside the coop? If so, I'd move it out into the run so they have to go out to eat. And at night, put some treats on the ramp up into the coop. It should work. Are you letting it get dark enough out before you tuck them into bed manually? If not, wait a little bit later and see what happens. You can try a little night light in the coop (on a timer maybe?) to entice them in.

Some birds just prefer to sleep on the floor. If it's not a problem for you, don't worry about it. At least they're not sleeping (and pooping) in the nesting boxes, right?

Good luck!

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Same with my silkies. Quite stupid birds.

Try putting a light in the coop that comes on a dusk and off an hour or two later. That did the trick with my youngsters.