Chicken ramp help!

[Kit-Kat]

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!

Any insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Life is Good!]

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!

 

[Kit-Kat]

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...!

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

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.

 

[Kit-Kat]

Oh good, that's encouraging- thanks!

 

[chickencrazy888]

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

 

[acemario]

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!

 

[ButchGood]

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.