Tricks on how to get Chicks up the Stairs?

[jBabychickn]

I have some 8wk old Silkies in their Omlet Coop. But they aren’t getting the trick of going up the stairs to Roost at night. So, there I am at Dusk/Dark crawling in there to wrangle them up the stairs to get them safe & warm for the Night. - There’s a little coop light in there to attract them. I even stuck Hand warmers in there to make to more Warm & Toasty for them… (over on the nesting side, away from them) … Do I just keep up with this nightly wrestle until it finally “clicks” for them?

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

Do they know how to get up there? Have they gone up there during the day? Perseverance is the way to go! It helps sometimes to go out there right when they start going to bed and prevent them from going in their favorite spot. It can be annoying, but it's for their own good. However, I still have one persistent chicken who doesn't sleep on the roost with the others.

 

[jBabychickn]

Do they know how to get up there? Have they gone up there during the day? Perseverance is the way to go! It helps sometimes to go out there right when they start going to bed and prevent them from going in their favorite spot. It can be annoying, but it's for their own good. However, I still have one persistent chicken who doesn't sleep on the roost with the others.

Yes, I see them during the day walk up and down the stairs. I haven’t seen anyone actually “go in” tho. They just like to walk up, look in and then, jump down, it seems…

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

Yes, I see them during the day walk up and down the stairs. I haven’t seen anyone actually “go in” tho. They just like to walk up, look in and then, jump down, it seems…

They could be scared of it. Where do they try to sleep instead?

 

[jBabychickn]

They could be scared of it. Where do they try to sleep instead?

They just run around and cry cold … Since they’re only 8wks I give them 10-15min after dark to get it but not much more since it’s in the 30’s here. Should I wait longer? It’s just so heart wrenching LOL!

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

They just run around and cry cold … Since they’re only 8wks I give them 10-15min after dark to get it but not much more since it’s in the 30’s here. Should I wait longer? It’s just so heart wrenching LOL!

Those poor little chicks! 30's is definitely very cold for them. I wouldn't wait any longer to put them in. Is there a roost in the house for them, or just bedding on the floor? Chickens instinctively want to get up off of the ground to go to bed.

 

[jBabychickn]

Those poor little chicks! 30's is definitely very cold for them. I wouldn't wait any longer to put them in. Is there a roost in the house for them, or just bedding on the floor? Chickens instinctively want to get up off of the ground to go to bed.

It’s an Omlet Coop. I just have the bedding in there now. They still like to snuggle in a pile. It has a roosting cage but I thought the warm bedding would be warmer.

 

[aart]

Put a small battery operated puck light inside a half hours before roosting time.
Are there any windows in the coop?

 

[BDutch]

A light inside around bedtime certainly will help. Natural light (a window) will do too and is easier if after have made it. If that’s possible in an Omlet.

Maybe a board behind the ladder is helpfull too?. Silkies are not the great roosting type of chickens.

 

[TKM]

If they're scared to go in, maybe a treat just inside will get them to go in. However If it's too cold I would move them back into a brooder set up and put them into the coop for an hour a day for about a week, then 3 hours, then half a day etc. to get them used to outside temps while also giving them the safety of their brooder. Its a bit of work though, moving them back and forth.