Can't get my chickens to go down the ramp!!

[Pharm Girl]

Treats treats treats. I just moved my girls to a new coop and had the same problem. My new coop has a much steeper ramp that is an odd angle and they needed a LOT of coaxing to use it. Now the go up and down all day long, but it took a few days of treats and bribes.

 

[Qi Chicken]

Make sure they can get down/up without slipping. But remember that chickens are ...Chicken! Ours had a little ramp, like three feet long. It took them THREE DAYS to come outside. We all pulled up lawn chairs once we finished the run thinking they would just come toddling out. Nope! We sat and sat and sat and sat.

 

[brahmapapa]

You are all right about the treats and bribes. one thing to think about is the steepness of the ramp and if it gives enough traction. think about how we would feel at the top of a long stairs with no hand rails, even we would be hesitant. sometimes i have found that the steepness is the issue. just be patient, they will eventually learn.

 

[wingsofglory]

Mine too. My ramp looked like Qi Chickens - not that far off the ground! But they wouldn't go up or come down. Finally I made it level by placing a milk crate under the ground edge. Then they were fine coming out on it level and jumping down a foot to the ground and jumping up that foot to it to come in. Go figure. Later chicks out of the brooder figured it out that way too.

Hard to believe. But when it sloped, for a week at dusk I was catching all 25 and carrying them and pushing them into the pop hole. Was very tiring as half of them jumped back out without touching the ramp, just flying out to be recaught and pushed back in. No problem after I made it level.

 

[Richn7chicks]

Wow...I just realized how lazy I am!! I couldn't imagine catching 25 chickens every night!! I was wore out trying to coax 4 hens into the coop...I tried silver queen corn on the cob and everything...but they just weren't having it. Finally, my wife went out there and somehow talked them into getting into the coop for the night. This morning I worked with the chickens for another hour trying to get them to go down the ramp, but still no luck. After my wife got them into the coop for the night, they went up the ramp very easily with no slipping, so I'm guessing the ramp is okay, but the chickens might be the problem...Anyways, thanks for all your suggestions, and if you all have any other ideas about getting them to come down, please let me know...thx

 

[Fred's Hens]

There is a practical degree of descent. Too steep and it is difficult for them to manage. Place the rungs or cross strips much closer together than you might think. They don't like slipping or skiing downhill.

Agree about the food. It works!! A chicken is primarily motivated in most things by food.

 

[NevadaRon]

Wow, my ramp is steeper than any of yours and I've never had a problem.

The only problem I had was when I first moved them outside, just getting them used to going in the coop. Took about 3 days for them to get the hang of it. I never had any problem getting them out, though. But, I never put food or water in their coop - they have to go outside to get it. Also, I used small strips of wood on the ramp spaced about 6 inches apart - you can see them more clearly in the second pic.

 

[patman75]

Can you supply a close up picture of your ramp?

 

[Little_Rooster66]

Quote:
Yep thats about what ours took. First night we had to catch and haul them all in, by the next night it was only about half had to be put away and by the third night only 2 were left out and last night all of them were inside just had to close the pop door on them.

Our ramp seems to be steeper than others as well.

 

[Captain Carrot]

I had a similar problem with my 12 week Welsummer bantams.
First day they wouldn't go down the ramp the first day. So I put their food and water up in the top.

On the second day after spilling their water I pushed them out of the pop hole, then they wouldn't go back up on their own, so I had to catch them and lock them up.

On the third day, they went down themselves, but wouldn't come back up at dusk. I took my flashlight and shined it through the windows at the back, through the pop hole and to the bottom of the ramp, 20 seconds later they where back inside.

Try the treats and the light in the coop at dusk.