Ramp for ducks in a chicken coop

[bydhatch]

Yeah, we could never eat our ducks because they're already spoiled

Ours are too! It was cold yesterday and mine got a hot bath and warm salad. Spoiled babes.

 

[Tevyes Dad]

Mine aren't so lucky. Snowing out...

 

[bydhatch]

Mine aren't so lucky.  Snowing out...

Montana? Snowing sounds right. I'm in the south east. It was 64 today! Haha!

 

[KrisCVT]

We had the same issue- our coop is about 24 inches off the ground...we thought that we could make a nice, wide ramp for our 2 fat pekins. Nope. They are too fat and clumsy. So instead, they live "under" the coop...it's enclosed also so that is their spot. During mild weather, they sleep under there. For the winter, I have it totally enclosed with 2 layers of heavy 6mm plastic, and I put straw underneath (and rake it out when the weather gets warm enough that stuff thaws). Has worked well...also keeps my coop clean and dry for my hens (ducks crap massive amounts). And it gives the hens a break from the ducks too...because they can be jerks. Maybe your ducks need to live on a "lower level"?

Here's what I mean....

 

[neetabeamie]

I have a set up like yours. I made a chicken coop about they feet off the ground when I had chickens.
Then we got ducks. After trial and error I found that a wide long board securely attached and covered in shelf liner works best for my ducks. I also trained them ( witch definitely took some effort in my part) to go up and in the co-op at night. So now all I have to do is wate till it gets dusk/dark and go shut and lock them up for the night. Also helps that I have a light that comes on at dusk ( to help with Egg production) I think they like it.

 

[3bird]

We've been reading many threads about a ducks and ramps. We have a relatively long ramp in our new duck house in order to keep the angle low (the house is elevated). The ducks (6 week old silver Appleyards) use the ramp to leave the house in the morning, but only one has used it to return under her own steam in the evening.

The ramp is wide enough (two can waddle down it side-by-side), but at least one almost always jumps from about the mid-point. We're a little worried about the possibility of injuring a leg from jumping. Has anyone added sides to their ramp? Necessary? Good idea? No need?

As for getting them to go in at night, we're just patiently working with them (with the help of treats, of course). Once we get our predator apron installed, we may let them make their own decision about staying out or going in. They do have a heat lamp inside the run, as we are in Maine, and as recently as last week, we had nighttime temps in the 40s.