Training flock to go into coop

[MLE]

We have time but I’m trying to plan ahead. We’ve just started visits to their outdoor pen and nobody has yet shown an interest in going up the ramp into the house itself. My question is when they’re out full time what is the best way to train them to enter the house in the evenings?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Without grown hens to teach them, you become the hen. And that means physically putting them on the roost every night for as long as it takes. Usually a week or two.

 

[kattabelly]

You might need to physically put them inside at first but often, putting a light inside the coop a bit before dusk will often be all the encouragement they need. Something simple like a torch (flashlight) or a little camping lantern, a bicycle light, some battery powered Christmas tree type lights or even just the torch on your phone will work. Make sure whatever you use is easy to switch off without disturbing them once they're inside.

 

[Yardmom]

Actually putting them on the ramp and making them walk up it helps them learn what to do.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Chickens don't naturally use ramps so they'll likely need to be shown how to use them, either by you using treats to lure them up the ramp or by putting them inside the coop and them taking the ramp to get out.

Make sure the coop is either naturally lit well enough at dusk that they'd want to go in, or use artificial light at dusk to light the interior.

 

[LastHomelyHenhouse]

I'm going to be raising baby chicks for the second time, and this is the first time I ordered day old from a hatchery. I will get them in early April. So I also have time, but I'm wondering what is the best way to transition them to a window-free (Nestera Penthouse) coop when it is time. In the past, I kept new hens/pullets inside for a couple of days before offering run access, but that doesn't seem appropriate when there is no natural light in the coop.

I have the extended attached run, and will be building a large run that all of that goes inside. I will probably store the attached run once they are well settled outside. Is my best bet just to give them access to the coop and small run and put them inside until they get the idea?

Also, because it's the highest raised coop, it has a ladder and not a ramp. I'm planning to build a ramp for temporary use. What is the maximum slope on a ramp that young pullets can handle?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Without windows, what is the ventilation? Ventilation is critical.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Without windows, what is the ventilation? Ventilation is critical.

If I’m remembering right Nesteras have openings under the roofline for ventilation but they’re not windows. They’re adjustable vents.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm going to be raising baby chicks for the second time, and this is the first time I ordered day old from a hatchery. I will get them in early April. So I also have time, but I'm wondering what is the best way to transition them to a window-free (Nestera Penthouse) coop when it is time. In the past, I kept new hens/pullets inside for a couple of days before offering run access, but that doesn't seem appropriate when there is no natural light in the coop.

I have the extended attached run, and will be building a large run that all of that goes inside. I will probably store the attached run once they are well settled outside. Is my best bet just to give them access to the coop and small run and put them inside until they get the idea?

Also, because it's the highest raised coop, it has a ladder and not a ramp. I'm planning to build a ramp for temporary use. What is the maximum slope on a ramp that young pullets can handle?

Very curious about this coop, but without any natural light inside the coop you'd want to add artificial light then, or they just won't want to go in. And you'd need to manually put them in each night until they get the hint.

Honestly they'd probably like a ladder better than a ramp. And for a ramp you're looking at maybe 30 degrees or so - they probably could handle more but ramps already don't make sense to them.

 

[Ezana4CE]

We have time but I’m trying to plan ahead. We’ve just started visits to their outdoor pen and nobody has yet shown an interest in going up the ramp into the house itself. My question is when they’re out full time what is the best way to train them to enter the house in the evenings?

@MLE What has worked for me was the following process:

First I would acclimate the youngins to being outside by bringing the brooder outside and spending time with them, then taking them in during the evening. You may start on weekends if you can’t do this everyday. When I move the brooder I sing a specific song when I take them outside and another when I bring them inside. They are usually penned in a collapsible panel pen most of the time while outside.

After doing this for a few weeks, I’d let them out of the panel pen for short periods where they could run and flap their tiny wings. If members of the group begin to stray, I’d corral them back together. I would usually clap my hands with a consistent rhythm while doing this. Eventually they learn that clapping means something. I might also use a stick to goad them if one is particularly stubborn and insists upon running where it wants to go.

Finally when I place them in the hen house, I use clapping to coral them into the hen house towards sunset. This clap has a particular rhythm that is different than the rhythm used to coral them while saying “In, everybody in. In, everybody in.” Eventually they associate this rhythm with going into the coop and hen house. I have also found it effective to use a stick to tap the rhythm against coop fence posts or anything else solid.

After an about a month of consistently doing this, they should be going in on their own. I have found that consistency is key. I’m sure there are other ways to do this, but it has worked for me. I can even do this as a storm rolls in. They know what I’m trying to do, although it can be tougher to do in the daytime because my roosters don’t seem to mind getting wet most days. I have not used a ramp in years. It’s about a 1’ jump up (if that) to enter the hen house.

They jump from roosting post to roosting post. I may have put one or two on a low post once or twice, I can’t recall. They will jump up there if you have some low posts. I have posts at three different levels. I hope this helps.