When do they learn/how to teach chicks to go up the ramp ?

[Andi59]

I am the proud new owner of 4 (hopefully) pullets. I purchased them from a hobby breeder who supposedly knows his chickens. The oldest of the 4 is a 7 week old Austalorp, then a 6 week Buff Orphrington, a 6 week Amuricana, and a 5 week Barred Rock.

I live in So. California, highs during the day right now anywhere from 60 to 80; and the lows in the 40's. The pullets were all still in brooders. But the guy who sold them to me said they would be fine outside. I am letting them hang out in the run of my coop and run, during the days, but scooping them up and putting them in the enclosed coop, with a ceramic heater at the top to bump the temperature at night. During the day, I put in a small dog house with pine shavings so they can have shelter if they get cold. They ignore the ramp up to the coop area.

with no older chickens to follow up the ramp, will they just figure it out themselves, or do I need to teach them how to go up the ramp, and if so, when does one teach that, and .....um..... how ?

So far in the few days they have been here, they got "lost" behind a tree stump that I placed in the run, as a fun thing for them to climb on, but they went to the "far side" of the stump and couldn't figure out how to get back to their food, water and shelter...so I took out the stump, and replaced it with a small piece of fruit tree bark that they can see over, and problem solved.

So, when do they learn how to get up the ramp, or do I show them ? and how would a human do this trick ? I have trained dogs, and even have trained my parrot; but frankly, I am not seeing much going on in the learning department with these chicks !

 

[Chick Charm]

Welcome to BYC.

They will learn on their own even without an older chicken to show them the ropes.

You can help them by putting them in their coop full time. They are ready. By leaving them in the coop for 3 days they will hone in on their home beacon and figure things out from there. Part of their confusion is going back to the brooder each night and honing in on it instead of the coop.

As for the ladder they will use it when they want. Or they may just fly up instead.

Wish ha the best.

 

[PapaChaz]

Welcome to BYC.

They will learn on their own even without an older chicken to show them the ropes.

You can help them by putting them in their coop full time. They are ready. By leaving them in the coop for 3 days they will hone in on their home beacon and figure things out from there. Part of their confusion is going back to the brooder each night and honing in on it instead of the coop.

As for the ladder they will use it when they want. Or they may just fly up instead.

Wish ha the best.

yep, what she said. Their natural curiosity will eventually take them up that ramp, but move them out there as suggested, leave them in for a few days then they'll just go in at night. Although I have one stubborn 5 week old who wants to spend the night out in the run every night. Even when the others go in she stays out.....maybe she's just anti social, LOL

 

[GuppyTJ]

Yup, what those 2 said. I'd add that locking them in the coop for a few days, then letting them figure out how to get DOWN the ramp is all it will take for them to figure out how to get back up. Once one of them solves the ramp puzzle, the others will figure it out. And if say, the first night after letting them out of the coop for the day, they DON'T figure out how to get up the ramp and back into the coop... just lift them up into the coop. Do this each night until they learn to use the ramp to get up into the coop themselves.

It takes them a little time sometimes to learn new things but once they get it, they don't forget.

Guppy