Chickens won't use ramp

[Sactown Chickens]

Well our coop is finally finished

However, no one seems to have told the girls that we gave them easy access to the raised coop via a ramp from ground level. So far they have been completely opposed to using it for either going up or down. I've ended up having to put them to bed at nighttime and back out again in the morning. I left them inside for quite awhile with the door opened and ramp available for use and they never came out. Will they get over this in time? Any suggestions?

 

[xtremevermonter]

I've heard that many people's chickens will completely bypass their ramp and hop, skip, or fly directly to/from the coop. Are they doing that or are they refusing to enter/exit completely? How wide/long is the ramp? How many toe boards are on it? How big is their chicken door? Do you have any pics?

 

[Opa]

I've had birds that wouldn't go into the coop and night and I took over a week of putting them in each night before they started going in on their own.

 

[Sactown Chickens]

Quote:
I can take some pics tonight. The chicken entry is on the floor of the coop. The entry hole is about 14" x 14" and is 4' above ground level. The ramp is the same width as the door and I think it's about 7' long. My husband designed the ramp with seven toe boards and also tacked down a surplus strip of hardware cloth under the toe boards to give them extra grip. So far they have steadfastly refused to exit or enter on their own. The way it is designed doesn't really allow for them to fly in or out as the ramp design doesn't give them a clear shot at the entrance.

 

[Zahboo]

I'd put them up and when they get bored, they'll come down. That's just me tho. That grass will start looking greener and greener

 

[xtremevermonter]

Opa is most likely correct that they need more time....

Have you tried luring them with treats/feed?

 

[NancyP]

This may sound silly ( I'm a newbie) . But maybe you could try a trail of feed up the ramp to entice them.
Nancy

 

[SushiLove]

Have you tried laying treats up the ramp at bedtime?
Perhaps it's the hardware cloth they object to?
My ramp is at quite the slant and at first the girls wouldn't use it.
I purchased some 'Oops Paint' from my Home Depot and added some of that no slip stuff. I forget the name of it....
Now the girls use the ramp w/o any problems.

Looks like a lot of us have food on their minds!!!

 

[Sactown Chickens]

The trail of treats was actually going to be my next move tonight to see if that helps. They seem to do anything for hard boiled eggs. I'm hoping to have my hubby set up a "chicken cam" so that I can keep an eye on them from work and maybe catch them going in or coming out of the coop.

 

[Opa]

Forget the treats, forget the paint, just put them in for a few nights, takes a lot less time then standing there trying to entice them. After a few times they will go in.