Duck house ramp

[rosehillfarm]

I have a duck house that has a ramp going into it. The ducks and geese always next under the house and never go into the house. This past week we got about 4 feet of snow and they still didnt go inside. Do ducks not like going up ramps

 

[gofasterstripe]

I built a ramp for when my babies were little but they slid down it and hated going up it, so in the end I took it away..They have 3 steps they need to go up and I thaught I was doing them a favour by building it for them.
here is the stairs they need to go up to get to bed. Most of the bigger ducks just flap their wings and hop up there now.

 

[rainplace]

I had to train my ducks and geese to go up the ramp. I did that by using plywood along the sides of the ramp, and covering the underside of the duck house so they couldn't get under there while I was "training" them. It took a few weeks of herding them in at night, but now they put themselves to bed when the sun starts setting. It was a pain in the butt at first.

 

[TLWR]

Mine refused to use the ramp into the little pool when they were smaller.
But used little steps (pavers) to get in and out instead.

And they have mastered running up the steps of our deck and one has mastered down and the other 2 usually just fly down or use their wings to help them stumble down.
Maybe try some steps?


These are the deck stairs - their night house is up on the deck, so they are up and down at least once a day and usually many other times a day as well...

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Mine use steps instead of the ramp. They act like the ramp was too scary so concrete blocks for steps it is and they waddle right up and into the coop with that.

 

[beardiemom]

We followed the suggestions on the list when we first got the ducks but it did take a little while for them to get trained. First we physically moved them. Then we put each one partway up the ramp and encouraged them. Finally we started using a flashlight to guide them up. Sometimes we encouraged them by asking one of the dogs to help. Now that it is cold they put themselves to bed when the sun goes down. But they certainly don't use the house during the daytime.

 

[Where The Wild Things Are]

. Pretty pretty babies!

 

[jessylee]

Life expirience probably has alot to do with it, My ducks were the youngsters in the flock and naturally did everthing the chickens did including load up in the coop at night,

Here are some pics

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xq_KI535mTejii4sTZGb1Q?feat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KVaNJWoMSgkbdTMSGAbkqA?feat=directlink

 

[tomingreeneco]

Mine never liked using a ramp. I finally built some steps with cinder blocks and pavers. No more problems, they go up and down them all day.

 

[dumb_cluck]

Ducks are built so low to the ground, it is possible that a ramp is too difficult to walk up it with a steady pace. If you watch a duck nomally walking, they are stooped over leaning into the ground.

Chickens however have longer legs and walk "taller", so it doesn't bother them at all.