Height of chicken ramp.

[Huskeriowa]

Hi all.

I am almost done building my coop and run. One of the last things I need to figure out is how to configure the ramp from the coop to the floor of the run. The entry to to the coop from the run is 4 to 4.5 feet above the ground. I can build a ramp from the bottom of the coop door down to the run but the ramp would be about five feet long and it will be in the way. The ramp would be at a 45 degree pitch if I do that which maybe is fine I suppose.

The chickens are mainly heavy breeds. Would I be able to just build a ledge for the them to fly to or do I need to make the ramp? I am guessing that I do need to build the ramp because the perch would be too high for them? I am thinking that possibly I could build a ramp that goes down a couple of feet from the floor of the run and sort of 't' it up on some sort of pedestal so that it doesn't have to go all the way to the ground.

Hope this inst too confusing but any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[birdicus7]

Our ramp is 6' long to go 30 inches high. I have seen ramps that look like they are for mountain goats and they use them! I try to stay at 30-35 degrees if I can. Can you build a small landing and change directions with the ramp. There is no rule that says it has to be straight!

 

[Huskeriowa]

Thanks for responding! I was looking at it again tonight and I was trying to come up with some options. I think the biggest concern I have is the chickens jumping off the end of the ramp to the ground or not being able to fly up high enough to reach the bottom of the ramp. I would guess that if I left the bottom of the ramp elevated less than two feet off of the run and used a landing area even heavy birds would be fine using it. And again, thanks

 

[Garrison]

In the way of what? My birds like to hang out on the ramp as much as the floor. They are birds climbing and getting off the ground is natural, it is only in the way for you. Put treads close enough together that they can walk up and down it with out sliding too much.