/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

chicken ramp question

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by Homestead Hamp, Dec 6, 2014.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Dec 6, 2014 #1
    Homestead Hamp

    Homestead Hamp Out Of The Brooder

    10
    0
    24
    Dec 6, 2014
    Ok so I have a question about chicken behavior...
    like a cow will walk up a ramp but won't walk down a ramp do chickens have theses type of quirks?
    i built a coop with a ramp but my coops access hole isn't on the side of the coop but on the bottom so my ramp goes from the ground to the bottom of the coop and at first i thought the hole was just too small now I'm wondering if i make a rookie mistake or just stumbled onto one of those chicken quirks.....
     
  3. Dec 6, 2014 #2
    Toddrick

    Toddrick Chillin' With My Peeps

    1,251
    89
    138
    Sep 28, 2014
    Indiana
    So they will go in, but not out? Interesting. I can see how it would be confusing to them to have to both go down the ramp, and through the opening at the same time (head above opening while feet are down ramp). Your ramp may just be too steep, in which case the opening may actually need widened if you slant it more.

    That is actually a good idea though I think. You shouldn't need to worry about closing the coop door to block the wind if the entrance is on the bottom.
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2014
  5. Dec 6, 2014 #3
    aart

    aart Chicken Juggler! Premium Member

    32,703
    5,450
    556
    Nov 27, 2012
    SW Michigan
    My Coop
    Going down a ramp feels like less stable footing than going up does.

    Agrees it might be too steep....can you post some pics?
    How old are birds and how long have they been in coop with this ramp?

    Also might be a line of vision thing because it's in the floor instead of a wall and they can't see what's out there before going down it.
     
  7. Dec 6, 2014 #4
    Homestead Hamp

    Homestead Hamp Out Of The Brooder

    10
    0
    24
    Dec 6, 2014
    i lengthened the opening so they had a little more "runway" it seems to be helping and its only been one day with with the new hens and coop... im sure they will "Learn" how to get in and out better as time goes on.
    thanks for the tips and info.
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by