The size of the ladder pieces on the coop ramps

[purslanegarden]

I recently had to build a ramp for the chicken coop. I saw pretty much many similar designs with the ramp and what looks like small pieces of wood (let's say it's about 1 or 2" wide) that would be added on top of the ramp, which I assume is for footing.

I did have small pieces of wood that I could use, but in the end, I used pieces of wood that were about 6" wide. (So imagine the ramp but with 6" wide pieces going up the ramp). Aesthetically, it looked better to me, but even as I stood by and admired that idea, I had a nagging feeling. What if the reason many ramps used small pieces of wood is because it is important for the chickens? As I imagine it, their sole of their feet would rest on the top and their feet would curl around the corner for a better footing while they walked up or down the ramp. Maybe one foot is on the step and one foot is on the ramp.

So I wanted to ask, did I make a mistake and I should revert back to the smaller pieces, or is that really just something for helping to climb but the size is not as important as having something there to help the bird? (As a side note, I see this similar kind of ramp even for bunny cages, etc).


Thanks!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Those wood pieces are called rungs, I think. To me the size doesn't matter much and it is about traction to stop sliding on the ramp. However on almost every factory one I see the rungs are too far apart for my birds so if I buy any pre-made ones I ALWAYS add an extra rung in the middle of every single one.

The word "wide" is throwing me a little... I make the rungs the same width as the ramp or rather going all the way across it. The thickness of the rungs themselves are pretty uniform at about 1 inch, sticking up enough to give traction but not making it so the bird has to stretch it's feet 6 inches apart or do the splits and sliding before reaching the next one by sliding and getting splinters. By that I mean the steps are the important part and the ramp just makes for more stability for clumsier birds. One of my coop/tractors... JUST has the steps and no ramp.. kinda like a ladder.

I also keep bantams and have chicks pretty often... I suspect your nagging feeling is accurate. But you can always watch and see then make adjustments if it isn't working the way you want.