[Maddie]

My chickens have been with me for two weeks (12 weeks old), and are great, but they don't seem to know how to go to to bed.... They go up and down the ramp during the day but just sit docile at the bottom at night until I lift them in... Any ideas would be grateful   

[Mammyshaz]

I'm no expert at all. Our only acquired hens were 16weeks old at purchase and we ushered them in at night for several nights. It didn't take them long to go in themselves but not until dusk. We run our bedtime to theirs., ie sunny late nights or showery and they happily go to bed earlier.

[aaronsundin]

My chickens have been with me for two weeks (12 weeks old), and are great, but they don't seem to know how to go to to bed.... They go up and down the ramp during the day but just sit docile at the bottom at night until I lift them in... Any ideas would be grateful   

We had the same thing happen with 4 young orpington bantams . Each night at bed time they would sit huddled in the corner under the ramp . Instead of lifting them directly in to the sleeping quarters , I took them one at a time and gently pushed them from the bottom of the ramp to the top - trying to show them how to go upstairs so to speak . Within about  4 days they worked it out and went up by themselves .

[kegs]

Hang a torch in the coop for a few nights.  Once it gets dark they will investigate the light in the coop.