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Chicken ramp help!

post #1 of 8
4/8/12 at 6:07pm
Thread Starter 

My family and I have finally finished building the coop for the chickens (due to arrive in about a week now!  The brooder's ready to go too-!  We're all so excited!).  However, upon seeing how narrow and steep the incline was of the ramp from the coop (above) to the run (below) I'm sort of starting to worry.  We're due to get a few silkies along with EE's and I thought remembered reading somewhere that silkies have some difficulty navigating ramps (due to their limited vision).  Is this true?  I have this horrible mental image of chickens tumbling down the ramp or just repeatedly falling off of it... eek! D.gif

 

 

Any insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

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post #2 of 8
4/8/12 at 6:32pm

Not a silkie owner, so I cannot comment on that.

 

Your ramp doesn't need to be any wider than your poop door (the chicken door).  If it's too wide, I'd think the silkies would bash into the wall and miss the hole!  (Not sure about that though)

 

As for steepness, I've seen photos on here of some pretty steep slopes.  Make sure you give them something to grip as they go up (slats to help steady them).  Our slats are left-over trim pieces (1/2" pieces set about 10" apart).  They learn.  Watching them learn is part of the fun!  Remember, chickens are better than tv!

-- Blessed are the flexible, for they will not break --

Beloved spouse of wonderful husband, Mom to two men-in-training, 4 Eastern 3-toed box turtles, 1 spoiled parrotlet, 1 pompous feline and a jealous dog.  20 Black Java laying flock.  Love our Java's!  Meaties growin' in the barn.

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-- Blessed are the flexible, for they will not break --

Beloved spouse of wonderful husband, Mom to two men-in-training, 4 Eastern 3-toed box turtles, 1 spoiled parrotlet, 1 pompous feline and a jealous dog.  20 Black Java laying flock.  Love our Java's!  Meaties growin' in the barn.

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post #3 of 8
4/9/12 at 8:40am
Thread Starter 

Thanks!  I've got slats on the ramp, I hope it's enough!  I guess I'll find out soon enough if they can navigate it...!

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post #4 of 8
4/9/12 at 8:50am

I bet they'll be ok. Silkies are wily beasts that will navigate the ramp by sheer force of will. Mine have had no problems with obstacles or steep ramps.

Country mouse stuck in the city with 10 chickens (3 Silkies, 1 Buff Orp, 1 Blue Rock, 1 Easter Egger, 1 Black Australorps, 1 Speckled Sussex, 1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Barnevelder) 4 obnoxious cats, and one new mixed breed puppy!

RIP Echo - the best dog ever and a friend who is dearly missed every day (my avatar). 

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Country mouse stuck in the city with 10 chickens (3 Silkies, 1 Buff Orp, 1 Blue Rock, 1 Easter Egger, 1 Black Australorps, 1 Speckled Sussex, 1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Barnevelder) 4 obnoxious cats, and one new mixed breed puppy!

RIP Echo - the best dog ever and a friend who is dearly missed every day (my avatar). 

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post #5 of 8
4/9/12 at 6:02pm
Thread Starter 

Oh good, that's encouraging- thanks!

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post #6 of 8
4/15/12 at 8:38pm

im having trouble getting my chickens to go up the ramp, any sugestions!

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post #7 of 8
4/16/12 at 7:09am

My ladies' ramp has speed bumps 3 inches apart, and a slope of about 50 degrees or so. To help them learn how to get up, we put meal worms on each stair, and they would walk up, eating a treat with each step. Eventually, I would just stick my head in the coop and call the chickies in, rewarding them with a treat. Teaching chickens is a lot like training a dog. Positive reinforcement! :)

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post #8 of 8
4/16/12 at 7:46am

IMG_1125.JPG

Here is my 5 week olds negotiating the ramp just fine. 7 and a half inches wide. 8 ft. long, and about 2 and a half feet high.

7 Australorps, 6 Buff Orpingtons, 1 production red, 1 young bared rock roo, 1 pair of Old English Game Bantams, 4 bantam hens, 4 Freakin' cats,  (RIP Cookie) best dog ever, 1 dog sky(smartsmartsmart), and a variety of new chicks.

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7 Australorps, 6 Buff Orpingtons, 1 production red, 1 young bared rock roo, 1 pair of Old English Game Bantams, 4 bantam hens, 4 Freakin' cats,  (RIP Cookie) best dog ever, 1 dog sky(smartsmartsmart), and a variety of new chicks.

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