4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[cocktail_chick]

Despite their new ramp over the purple palace steps, the girls will not use it and have to be lifted to bed. They all zoom out in the morning, mostly projecting themselves at speed straight forward and floating to the ground. I've put treats on the steps and run out of ideas now .....

[Chicken Shirl]

They will go up the ramp, just give them time. I would leave them to it. What do they do if you don't lift them in

[cocktail_chick]

I've been too worried to leave them out all night, it seems to cold? Probably being pathetic, but I check on them before going to bed and lift them into theirs!!!! Should I just leave them out, don't they have poor night vision? Feeling very silly asking these questions as I'm sure I should know!! Amber

[jimnpaula]

Do they use the ramp during the day? They either haven't figured out the ramp, or haven't figured out they need to go to bed.

 

What happens if you put them halfway up the ramp?

 

P

[cocktail_chick]

I've not seen them use the ramp ever and when I put them on it at any level they jump off it!! Will they just get the hang of it in time? They're only 3 months old? A

[jimnpaula]

Hmm, may just have to let them teach themselves that if the want to go to bed in the warm and dry they have to go up the ramp

 

P

[lisaroo2]

Would putting a torch in the nestbox help. That's what we did to get ours to go to bed on their first night.

[Lewis]

12 weeks is still young so they may need a bit of help, maybe put a step at the bottom so its less of a jump up, others have put pipe insulation or carpet on the rungs so its easier to grip onto

[jimnpaula]

The OP is using a ramp over the ladder, not the ladder itself.

 

How close together are the rungs on your ramp? Maybe they don't use it if they're too far apart, or maybe too steep?

We thought we'd put enough rungs on for our girls but they were still having problems, they greatly appreciated more.

 

P

[cocktail_chick]

Ramp over ladder and lessons this afternoon in marching up have been undertaken by my 10 year old, I think he's watched Chicken Run too often! They all fluttered to the challenge and now we'll have to wait and see if they attempt the step at bedtime. I think maybe you're right jimnpaula (P), the ladder's just too steep, I'll need to get additional run ......

[cluckingmad]

 

Don't worry, they'll catch on, they are only babies really (and thusly very very adorable little balls of fluff)... we also usede the torch in the cube trick to get our girls in at night, it worked a charm.

 

 

Carolyn x

[cocktail_chick]

torch it is tonight Carolyn and additional run ordered for delivery Friday and then ladder will be a more gentle slope, we hope!! Thank you All. A x

[Chook n Boo Mum]

We have also used the torch trick, did they sort it out for themselves this evening after their lessons?

 

As they are so young, do they use the roosting bars or snuggle up in the nestbox? How long have they been in the cube? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm wondering at what stage I reasonably try & get my 14ish wk Pekins who live in the Nursery to integrate with Blossom & Jasmine & therefore go & live in the

 

Sha x

[cocktail_chick]

Wild Mum, please see the ladder lesson thread, we have success and are now several bottles of champagne later !!!!!!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I have, I noticed it and posted there after I'd posted this

 

Congratulations again anyway

 

I think I'll start my own thread on "best age to put baby Pekins into Cube" so it doesn't hijack yours...............

 

Sha x