Roosts and ramps - help!!

[Shaela]

New chicken mama here! I just moved my 5-to-7-weeks-old chicks out to their coop/run a couple days ago and so far, so good. But I've noticed a couple things that I wanted some input on.

1. I'm noticing that they have a hard time getting up/down the ramp from the coop to the run, even with pegs in place. Is there something you would recommend to attach to the smooth part to make it easier for them to go up and down?

2. I made their roost out of leftover 1x2 boards and so far they seem fine with it, but would it be better to pull it out and use 2x4s instead, since they will get bigger?

 

[PapaChaz]

not sure what you mean by 'pegs'.....most of the time to help them up a ramp, 'steps' can be nailed across it. I used some pieces of scrap 1x4, just cut about an inch wide, which will give you a piece that's 3/4"x1" x width of the ramp. Nail or screw one on about every 6 or 8 inches.

here's a pic of a couple of mine that the chickens seemed to use easy enough..... a close up shot to maybe show what I was trying to explain



a previous coop:

 

[Shaela]

Yes, that's what we have on our ramp. I said pegs but I meant steps like that. It's a steeper ramp though, because it comes up through the floor of the coop. I'll take a picture tomorrow and post it.

 

[PapaChaz]

oh ok, it could just be that it's too steep for them. You could raise the bottom of it by setting it up on something, odds are they don't often start at the bottom anyway, LOL

but if it comes through the floor from underneath you have to give them head room to get in, you may have to cut the hole bigger