Ramp too steep?

[Kristen08hope]

Wondering if my ramp is ok. I have the roost above the lay boxes with a sandbox for easy cleaning. I plan to convert the entire coop to sand soon. I have a ramp going up to the roost. We have had to put them up there and bring them down. It's only day 2 of having it... is it ok? Do they just need time to get use to it?

 

[azygous]

The photo best depicting the angle of the ramp is the first one, and it barely has it in the frame. But I would say, it's just under the wire of being acceptable and not too steep to be functional.

If it's being used for young chicks, I recommend stapling some fabric such as terry cloth onto the board for traction. After the chicks develop stronger wing action, you can remove it.

 

[Perris]

the treads seem quite far apart given the size of the birds, and the ply will give little if any traction. They'll be put off by slipping, and it's quite long, so there's plenty of opportunity for that. I would follow azygous' recommendation and staple on something their feet won't slip on.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I, personally, would lessen the angle. Simply elevating the bottom end may be sufficient, and birds will hop up/down at that end

 

[Chickassan]

X2 Just put some blocks or boxes under the floor end.

I, personally, would lessen the angle. Simply elevating the bottom end may be sufficient, and birds will hop up/down at that end

 

[Barbs Girls]

Ours is about the same.. took them a few days and they got it.

 

[wyoDreamer]

I think the ramp needs more treads also.
Our ramps are a little steeper than that, but they made of plastic deck boards that have a rough, grooved surface and are placed so the grooves are going across the ramp so they have traction. They do slip a little on them, and have problems in winter when the ramps get icy - so they really don't like to use them much. They prefer to jump/flap up to the roost.

 

[Chickassan]

Not trying to jinx you, but the way your roost is set up "close to the wall and round, skinny and super smooth your ladies are going to end up sleeping on the poop board.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Not trying to jinx you, but the way your roost is set up "close to the wall and round, skinny and super smooth your ladies are going to end up sleeping on the poop board.

I didn't even notice that. Interesting.
I have one chicken that insists on sleeping on the handle of my tray feeder - which has a piece of closet rod as the handle. So yes, they can and will sleep on a round, smooth, small diameter roost ... She poops in the feed tray every morning too. Luckily it is a 4' long piece of plastic gutter and I don't need to put any feed in that end. It cleans out fairly easily

 

[DobieLover]

Not trying to jinx you, but the way your roost is set up "close to the wall and round, skinny and super smooth your ladies are going to end up sleeping on the poop board.

With those dowels open ended like that, you will also find that the girls on the end will get shouldered off. I had to install "guard rails" on the ends of my roosts. The end hen bears against it when the pile up starts.