does anyone have a raised coop?

[webs66]

Does anyone have a coop that is raised up high? I'm talking 7 feet. We have an old playhouse we converted into a coop. The only problem we are having is teaching the chickens how to go up the ramp to the door which is approx 7 feet off the ground. They come down it fine, but don't seem to get how to go up. If we put them halfway up they will go up the rest of the way but a good half of them will not start going up from the ground. They are still babies, they are only 4 weeks old. Will they get it as they get older? Any ideas??

 

[angels4]

How about a bale of straw at the bottom of the ramp?

 

[Daycare Mom]

I had to "help" mine into the coop for the first week or so too. My coop is only a few feet up, but they still seemed to need a little help to figure out how to get up the ramp. Just help them out a few more times and I bet they will start to go in by themselves.

 

[coffeelady3]

I'm with Angels4. Maybe some sort of platform to get them started...

 

[whatchickens?]

Thats funny, I had a tree house for years in our yard. I dismanted the tree house and put it bach together about 2 feet off the ground, Its all set up now, I'm just waiting to find some barred plymouth rock hens. I think I have a contact so hopefully it will be occupied soon!

 

[Omran]

Hello,the only concerne I ill have how easy to clean it if it was 7' high?

 

[HaleMoa]

mine are four weeks old too, and their coop is about 3 feet off the ground. i just finished the ramp today and i waited until it got dark, but they all stayed outside crying cause it was getting cold. so i decided to put half of them in the coop and the other half could hear them calling and hopefully follow. they didn't. eventually i had to help the other half, one by one, walk up the ramp and into the coop. once they saw their buddies snuggled up inside and getting for bed, they rushed in too and found a spot. i plan on having to help them up the ramp for a little while more until they get the hang of it. hopefully it works. let me know how your little chicklings go on their 7 foot high ramp gauntlet!

 

[kinnip]

As Omran pointed out, you have to get up there too, with a bucket and cleaning tools. Mine is only 3 ft. off the ground and I hate it!! I have to climb onto a ladder to squeeze in there and clean. It makes what should be a quick easy chore into a back breaking struggle. Next time, I design the coop and it will have a real door!

 

[fopzuu]

Amen Kinnip!

 

[scooter147]

First, In time they will learn, they are still young.

Second, Make sure it is not too steep

Third, I think the bale of hay on each side of the ramp is an excellent idea to get them to learn how to navigate getting in.

In all the years I have had chickens I have had pop holes from 5 feet to 2 feet off the ground. The majority of the chickens never start at the bottom to go up the ramp they always seem to hop up on the ramp about 1/4 to 1/2 way up. Hence why I think the hay will help