ramps

[kristip]

We are finishing up our coop in the next few weeks in hopes of getting some chickens in before winter sets in.

For the ramp, what material do you use for the cross-bars up the ramp? We are using regular plywood for the ramp, but dont know what to use for the grip bars?

Thanks

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I wish you great success with your coop & your chickens.

You could just use some strips of lathe or 1X2 fastened across, or even tree branches for a funky natural look. If the pitch isn't too steep and the plywood not too slick they may not even need cross bars. But they can be handy on rainy days to encourage them to go in & out.

I have a section of wood fencing set at an angle against my tallest coop, there are no cross bars & the birds can use it easily. Except on rainy days, sometimes they slide down as they come out of the coop. It's funny to watch, but for their sake I should add some cross grips.

 

[gryeyes]

Another material for the cross or grip bars can be "quarter round" - that stuff used at the bottom or tops of walls at the floor or ceiling, or wherever you have wall end and projection comes out, to finish the 90% angle. My coffee hasn't kicked in yet, or I'd remember what that stuff is called....

 

[crazeetxn]

Quote:
Makes it simple...just cut them to the width of the board and you're ready to go. No rounding edges or anything. It's already done

 

[rrgrassi]

I used asphalt shingles for the ramp.

 

[gryeyes]

Oh, and for one of my short ramps, I just wrapped it with hardware cloth and stapled it on the back side.

 

[woodenart]

We make ladders for our coops, except for ex-battery hens, the ladders we make from 1 1/2 " square timber with the corners rounded. See the pics on our website for the sort of thing I mean.

Mark.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I also use hardware cloth on all of my ramps.