Why won’t they use their ramp ?

[AntiqueB]

I agree. I brush it off every few days, but it's mainly pine shavings that get stuck on it. Is your ramp covered by a roof, or is it open to the elements?

 

[whatthechickens]

Chickens are just like that, they eschew the fancy stuff and prefer simple! As long as they get up and down it is probably fine, but what I found works best is just a ladder with rungs every 4" or so. It is made from two straight branches and 4"wide. I have two either side but they all use the same one.
The hens use it to get up and it doesn't get dirty like a ramp would so you never need to clean it.

 

[aart]

Anyone any ideas how to do that with grippy stuff on the ramp ?

I'd not waste time and money on that stuff.
Add the extra cleats, reduce the angle.

 

[Loving my girls]

Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for all your advice it has been invaluable.
I plan to add the extra steppy things and then put the camera back in. I have already increased the height at the lower end which doesn’t seem to help, the angle is now about 30 degrees.
If, after adding addition steppy things they still don’t use it I will try with the anti slip.
It’s a real pain teaching them to use it. But if it saves just one bumblefoot it will be worth it.
On an amusing note, hubby went into the loft yesterday and got out and old single camping airbed. Insisting that it wouldn’t break by their claws he genuinely felt it would help - bless

 

[Mrs. K]

My roosts are a bit higher than 4 feet, I do have a platform about 2 feet off the ground, some do use that. But I have never used a ramp, all of mine fly up to the roost from either the ground or platform. I have never had bumble foot. I do have deep hay as bedding underneath them.

You may not need it.

Mrs K

 

[Loving my girls]

My roosts are a bit higher than 4 feet, I do have a platform about 2 feet off the ground, some do use that. But I have never used a ramp, all of mine fly up to the roost from either the ground or platform. I have never had bumble foot. I do have deep hay as bedding underneath them.

You may not need it.

Mrs K

That is very tempting but the ground is vinyl as I clean it regularly. Perhaps a bench, 1m
x 50cm x 50cm might encourage them ? They have one to help them get into nesting boxes which are 40cm from the vinyl.

 

[Ridgerunner]

So your concern is them hurting themselves getting down, not an inability to get up. Aart's suggestion for photos so we can see what is going on could be helpful.

A few years back, I built some steps to help a turkey with a bad leg get up to my grow-out coop and left the steps installed after Thanksgiving. Some chickens would use those steps to go up, a very few used them to come down. Most preferred to fly each way, especially down. Instead of spending your energy trying to get them to all use the ramp (which I figure to be a lost cause anyway) consider how to change their landing spot so it is less likely to cause an injury.

It sounds like you have a strong desire to keep things extremely clean so you need a smooth surface for regular cleaning. Most of us don't do that. We use bedding in the coop to absorb the moisture which keeps the smell and mess down. That would be my solution to your concerns about injury. Pad the landing area.

 

[Loving my girls]

So your concern is them hurting themselves getting down, not an inability to get up. Aart's suggestion for photos so we can see what is going on could be helpful.

A few years back, I built some steps to help a turkey with a bad leg get up to my grow-out coop and left the steps installed after Thanksgiving. Some chickens would use those steps to go up, a very few used them to come down. Most preferred to fly each way, especially down. Instead of spending your energy trying to get them to all use the ramp (which I figure to be a lost cause anyway) consider how to change their landing spot so it is less likely to cause an injury.

It sounds like you have a strong desire to keep things extremely clean so you need a smooth surface for regular cleaning. Most of us don't do that. We use bedding in the coop to absorb the moisture which keeps the smell and mess down. That would be my solution to your concerns about injury. Pad the landing area.

It’s not really a desire to keep it clean it’s more like therapy. I find it so satisfying…within only a few minutes I can make it lovely and clean. It takes me that long to do the washing up. Also it’s calm, I love that.
I agree about the landing pad. I’ve seen some children’s play mats which would work perfectly, they’re a plastic covered shock absorbing rubber. Unfortunately they are expensive.
Hubbys idea of the air mattress is starting to sound less ridiculous.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It’s not really a desire to keep it clean it’s more like therapy ................
Hubbys idea of the air mattress is starting to sound less ridiculous.

Sounds like you and my wife have a couple of things in common. Opinions on cleaning and husbands.

Seriously, good luck with it.

 

[Tcline4]

Hi everyone,
I have a crazy question. After spending months designing a major upgrade and extension to my girls home and just as long doing it I have hit a problem that I am hoping you can help with.
They won’t use the ramp !
It has been carefully designed, it’s 40cm wide - plenty wide enough for my medium sized hens, at an angle of 40 degrees before it gets to the 80cm high shelf (60cm deep) which holds the perch. The ramp has steppers about every 20cm which are a 2cm high and 2cm deep.
Instead of using the ramp they jump/flutter up and down.

What do they want ? A lift ?

Go to Carolina Coops website and make or buy the stairs. My girls have no problem with steps. I think the ramps are slippery