They tucked themselves in!!

[Rebekah]

After one week of going out in the dark every night and shoving a heap of chicks up the ladder into their coop [after they fall asleep, I can only describe the action as "shoving" balls of warm clay up a ladder... they become completely immobile], I came home last night at midnight and found that all six of them had put themselves to bed ALL BY THEMSELVES!!

I am a very proud chick mama today

I am hopeful that this trend continues, and only wish my three children could put themselves to bed at night

My three Speckled Sussex were 4 weeks old yesterday, and my three Cochin are about 7 weeks old.

 

[gritsar]

Yippee! Chickens can be slow to learn, but they eventually figure it out.

 

[HenMamma]

It's like watching your kids grow up... every time they hit a milestone you jump up and down and do a little dance!

 

[write2caroline]

I guess mine need remedial ladder climbing 101. They have to be carried up and they fly down. My girls try to bed down in the tractor part of the coop.

I am using a solar light at night for them.

I guess it will take some time!

Caroline
Jax FL

 

[insiderart]

So cute when they learn that. I bet the sussex figured it out first. Ours was so smart!

 

[Rebekah]

@insiderart: You're right! The Sussex were going up and down the ladder at 2 weeks, but not the Cochin. I just think they're too big and heavy and lazy to worry about ladders and the like.

Tonight, I checked in on them and they were all up by 8:30!! However, they're not sleeping on their roosts... they're still huddled in a heap on the floor in the corner. I know it's not a heat thing, it's still nearly 80 degrees in the coop. Whatever! I'm just glad I don't have to climb in the run anymore and push them up the ladder

Victory!!

 

[b.hromada]

Oh, happy day!! Its great when they finally learn to "put themselves to bed"! Congrats you good chicken mommy!

 

[ParrotsNPullets]

I must be lucky, or maybe because their food is in the coop, but our girls put themselves to bed on day 2 (just discovered this 1/2 hour ago when I got home!) of being left in the run. I shut them in the coop for their first two nights to give them an idea of where to sleep and then I let them in the run.

They don't use the roost yet either, still a pile of warm fluffiness in the corner.

 

[cmom]

I shut my birds in their coop for a few days. I used treats in the evenings in the coop. Eventually they figured it out and started going in at night at first for their treats. Now no more treats and it's to bed before dark.