Non-skid surface for ramp

[newbyduckmom]

Thanks for all the good ideas folks! Hunter, for our hen coop we had to train them to go up and down the ramp. Put a cooler on each side to form a funnel type walk way and made them go in and out and in and out. Now they do fine with that one. Imagine I will have to do the same here. If I put them on the ramp about mid way up they go in the coop at this point - and then come immediately out again! Going down the ramp and outside in the cold is, of course, no problem! LOL Silly ducks. Can't blame them I guess.

 

[suzysducks]

I score the wooden ramps or ladders with a saw every couple inches or so which works for me. Also have used rungs, wooden strips as you mentioned. I place the ramps at an angle that's not so steep as to prevent them from climbing up easily.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I like the plastic poultry netting idea.

My ducks don't have a ramp, they've got steps. They manage the steps quite easily. Steps are surfaced with exterior signboard, which is a plywood with a smoother finish and no splinters. But ice isn't too much of an issue, because the steps are under cover.

There are safety rails on both sides because ducks tend to push and shove. I put their feeder at the top of the stairs and if they want to eat, they have to learn how to use the stairs.

You can paint the ramp and while the paint is wet, cover it with sand. The sand will stick to the paint and make a non-skid surface. A better idea, but more expensive, would be to cover the ramp with rubber stall mat. Another option is to paint the ramp with that Rhino truck bed liner. You can buy that in gallon cans. About $30 a gallon, the last time I looked.

 

[BallardDuck]

I have a short ramp from the pen to the coop. I just nailed on firring strips every few inches...seems to work fine.

 

[bigdawg]

roof shingles?

 

[teach1rusl]

I used scrap shingles to cover one of my ramps - very grippable

 

[Beekissed]

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