Training birds to use the ramp into elevated hen house

[centrarchid]

I'm still waiting for mine. I do have a light, but I've decided I'm just gonna make them stay out and freeze until they work it out. I've been stuffing them in for like 2 weeks now.

My method would have had them all in by now. Put them in and keep them in for a few days. The release late in day after they have opportunity to fill crops.

 

[1muttsfan]

Try sprinkling scratch grain along the ramp, and put their food at the end opposite where they are. Nothing speaks like home cooking.

 

[Marty1876]

I've left them in for 5 days. It didn't help. I've put them in for days and days. Also not helping. All food and water are up and inside, so if they don't go in, they starve and are thirsty. Right now they are all hanging out under the light (thats on a timer and on every night) at the bottem of the ramp.

I guess Javas just aren't very smart.

 

[Marty1876]

I've been trying to teach my Silkies to go up for bed for weeks. None of them will. They bed down under the ramp, and I send kids in to grab them and push them up the ramp every night. There are a couple of them that don't understand coming down either and won't follow the rest down for breakfast even. They just don't get it. I'm about to build them a coop with no ramp and use the one they are in for a breeding coop for the Cochins or something. Silly birds.

I so totally understand how you feel.

 

[centrarchid]

I've left them in for 5 days. It didn't help. I've put them in for days and days. Also not helping. All food and water are up and inside, so if they don't go in, they starve and are thirsty. Right now they are all hanging out under the light (thats on a timer and on every night) at the bottem of the ramp.

I guess Javas just aren't very smart.

Please show a picture of setup. Comment of birds hanging out under lights of particulat interest but also what does ramp look like. My bird sometimes have to fly 6 feet vertically just to get into coop / roost which can be tough but what looks like to us an easier access may not be.

 

[Marty1876]

I have a pic somewhere. Its up 36", and is 6 or 8" wide with slats accross for traction every 6 inches. Ramp is about 5 feet long. Door is 12 x 16 inches.

 

[centrarchid]

They can climb such easy but they may have trouble with concept of proper proper place to roost is at end of climb. Where is the light located? Wrong location can be counter productive.

 

[liz9910]

I had a few chickens who didn't get it, but as soon as it got cold outside and raining they figured it out quick, lol, even my two Silkies!

 

[Marty1876]

Lights up at in the "eaves" of their house.

 

[kacklinkelly]

Well, ours have learned to use the ladder. They have an A Frame tractor that is approx 5 ft by 8 ft and 4.5 ft tall. With all this space, a roost, and nesting box, once they get up the ladder, that's where they stay all huddled together on a small 6 inch floor space where the ladder/door opens. I have put food at the opposite end of the upper level to coax them over closer to the roost to no avail. I have sprinkled treats in the same area hoping they would get fat and happy and just hop up to roost. As of tonight which is about 3 weeks into their new home, they still are cuddling together in a small corner above the ladder door. Silly chickens indeed:>