"Door step" as opposed to a 'chicken ladder'?

[DIYNooB]

I'm planning a coop, and was wondering if a "doorstep" would be any more beneficial than a ladder/ramp. Think of it as just a small roost for them to hop down/up to when leaving/entering the coop. I'm planning on putting the coop a couple feet off the ground, and was wondering if this foot-tall roost would provide any added security from small predators....not a fox or a coon, Idk what tbh.

I intend for the entire coop/run to be predator proof to begin with, just thinking maybe they'd be a bit safer if there wasn't a ramp. I don't intend to open and close the coop door except for in the winter; so I suppose they'd sleep wherever they wanted in the run most of the time anyway.

See any problems with this? I've never had chickens and hoping to build a coop in the spring. Conceptualized it and doing my homework.


(I'll have full-sized, dual-purpose, cold-hardy breeds, so they'll be fat. I figure though a one foot jump isn't beyond even the fattest of hens--unless maybe they spread their wings....)

 

[chickens0087]

Explain a "doorstep" compared to a ladder i have a chicken coop we built ourself and ours is a two tier home. they use the bottom for during the day pecking and hanging out and go upstairs at night for sleeping. Our chicken coup is secured at the bottom with chicken wire and the top flips open on hinges with wooden doors . which we put a hole through the door for a string and tied down the wooden doors. theres a door on the front bottom of the chicken coop secured with chicken wire and could even put a hook lock to make sure it doesnt come open.We have a step ladder which is just a board with boards 1-2 inches apart for them to get from step to step. we put a door at the top that sat on top of the ladder which is screwed into the top floor very carefully. Which we shut at night via a string on an eye hook. just because it gets cold here and that draft was too much and didnt want them to be to cold at night.


Good luck, Hope this helps

 

[DIYNooB]

A "doorstep" would be a foot-wide roost pole one foot out and one foot down from a two foot high coop. It would just be something for them to hop up and down to instead of placing a ramp.

I fully intend to shut the door in the colder months, and make sure they're in. If they choose to sleep under the stars in the summer though, I won't bother. I also intend on having a chicken swing for them and other 'playground' equipment so they can roost wherever they want.....though there are foxes and raccoons in the area so they may get spooked, but no predators are getting in their run.

 

[chickens0087]

Personally i find the ramp to be a better idea but it's personal preference and you dont want to make it a pain for them to get up and down

I would just suggest being careful with predators i have lost my flock not being careful this time we have a rooster but i am still extra careful with them i wanted them to be more free roam but the place i live doesnt really prohibit me to let them free roam to much unless i am out watching them. you will notice there will be a pecking order and usually mine all follow each other up when it starts to get dark and they all sleep in the top part
Hope this is helpful,

Good luck on building your chicken coop hope to see some pictures in the future of your build

 

[DIYNooB]

Yeah, I don't intend to let them roam unless I'm out back on a Sunday. They'll have plenty of space in their coop and run and I'll be growing treats for them. There's also tons of crickets around.

I guess my question is if they'd be able to maneuver said doorstep and if it would be beneficial against mites and such....idk. Just curious if anyone had an opinion on the matter. No large predator is getting in and there's no real threat of snakes....squirrels may be my only real enemy.

 

[chickens0087]

I am not sure about mites and such my chickens dont have a problem with it but they sunbathe and stuff during the day expelling anything harmful to them like mites. Also cleaning themselfs to get rid of anything . The best way to keep your chickens happy " Fresh water, Fresh feed , cleaning there bedding and giving them treats they like".






on your second question. Probally not

 

[DIYNooB]

Yeah I have a lot of natural(?) sand and sandy soil once they pick away all the grass so they'll have plenty of bathing areas. I guess I'm just curious if anything that could get through hardware cloth and into the run (not being a large predator) would be deterred by having to jump a couple times instead of just walking up a ramp.....prolly not.....

 

[Winter]

Mine prefer to jump down to something rather than use a ramp/ladder. I still can't get mine to use a ramp of any kind.

 

[scooter147]

I really doesn't matter.

Honestly mine rarely use the ramp. My coop door is about 2 feet off the ground.

The generally go to the side of the ramp and basically jump right up to the door and bypass the ladder. Coming out they use it more but a lot of times especially in the morning they just jump/fly their way right past it.

This past summer I did some "rearranging" of the dirt in the run and took the ramp out and didn't replace it for about a month. Not a problem for the girls they told me that was why they had wings.