Finally have my chickens.. Now i have lots of questions

[3peasinapod]

We got our chickens at the week end. We have them in a coop at the end of the garden. We let them out as we cornered of a section for them to free range.
There bed is raised but they have not found there way up there yet.. Any ideas how to get them to start using there bedding?? or will they do that in there own time? I am afraid of this frosty weather and them not going into there bed IYKWIM

we always put new birds into their bed on the first night they arrive (ie/ I collect them from breeder 5pm so they go straight into roost) they always put themselves away in the right place next night, funny things they are!
perhaps tonight when they are dopey (dusk time) lift them into their beds so that tomorrow they will wake up in there and hopefully know tomorrow where to go?

The first night we got them we did that, but its like they dont know how to go up the ramp but i will give that a go this evening.

Cleaned out the coop today my god they do poop alot. Even my daughter who is 4 commented on it.

oh yes!! lots and lots!! always grateful gardeners that will take pooey straw off your hands though

bribe them up the ramp with some corn? mine would jump through hoops for some corn lol

I seen 2 up there just now think they jumped up as one enterance has no ramp other has. I think i have one still in there sleeping.
Will have to sort myself out with poop scoop and bins tommorw..

you'll have to put them to bed every night until they get the message.
it's harder to train them in the winter, because they just want to go to sleep! (and they'll sleep anywhere they can!)
when we get new ones, we put them into their house by carrying them up the ramp and through the pop hole.
they do get the message eventually, i promise!