Teach them to use the ramp?

[MommaChickRN]

Hi! I'm new here.

I'm also new to this chicken raisin' thing!

I have 4 little pullets that I've just put out into the big coop outside. They are doing well and spend the day in their little yard. We have been locking them up in the coop at night for a little added protection and because it's still a little cool.

When we open the door in the morning, they fly right out. However, they are not able to go back up the ramp to get back into the coop.

I know this seems silly, but how will they learn? Will they figure it out? Surely I won't have to carry them around forever, right??

Thanks!

 

[ghillie]

My chicks had to be shown the way in for a few nights. It may help to have a light on in the henhouse so they know where to go at dark.....

 

[farmin'chick]

It took mine several days and a few still forget...but I made a trail of chick feed and rolled oats up the ramp...they will often follow bigger chicks that have already got it figured out.

 

[m2wandc]

I'm read you should leave them in the coop for 48 hours straight so they know it's home before letting them back out...is this true?

Very curious about the lessons on ramps, coops, etc...that's my next step, so hopefully there will be some handy helpful hints on this thread

 

[Sam The Yam]

What I did was to put some swiss chard from the garden at the top of the ramp just inside the door so that they could see it. Since they love the chard they would go right up and start eating it. As they all got it I would shut the door behind them. I would have the light on as well. The last two nights after leaving them out all day when we have went out to check on them after it was dark and the light had been off during the day, they were all up in the hutch inside the door just where they were supposed to be. A little bribing them at bedtime really helped.