Very weird chicken behavior

[ChksontheRun]

I am new to chickens, so really don't have much experience. My 5 week olds have been outside in their pen/coop for 2 days. So far they have not learned how to walk up the plank to get into the coop so yesterday we put them in the coop without complaint, closed it up for the night and all was well. Tonight, we went out as it was getting dark to do the same thing. All 15 chickens were standing by the run door peeping and squalking. Very noisy. We put them in the coop with much complaint and noise, then shut them in. Slowly but surely they settled down and went to sleep. In 5 weeks I have never seen them so upset. I thought maybe a snake, or another bad animal was around upsetting them, but no sign of anything.

What do you experienced chicken keepers think about these very upset little chickens?

 

[chicmom]

This is pretty normal behavior. Soon, they'll establish their bedtime routine, and they will go up the ramp themselves. Sometimes you do have to put them in for the first few days or so, but if you wait until dusk....when is almost dark, you might be surprised.....you may see them go into the coop on their own. (I tend to "mother hen" a bit too much, and I jumped the gun....but the next day I waited a bit longer, and they all marched in themselves.

It's funny to watch them.....silly chicks! They peep and run around and snuggle together.....perfectly normal. Another tip is, if you wait until it's a bit dark, they're easier to catch.

 

[Imp]

I have a two story coop. A couple years ago they would not come down to the first floor to eat. I thought they were just being weird. A couple weeks later I was cleaning the coop and there were baby rats in the space behind the feeder/watererer. Now whenever there is any disturbance or food left uneaten I check the coop out thoroughly.

Imp- The outside cats took care of the evicted rat.