How far up can a chicken jump?

[MiaS]

Nope, its not a joke, it's a serious question . @aart I've seen your post on coop interior heights which is very helpful. I see that some people offer up ramps to their poop board/roost combos and others don't and I'm curious if it is just a personal/chicken preference thing or if there are reasons. Also if there is a height at which one becomes necessary. I'm building (almost done) a 6 x 10' 'Woods' coop and plan on putting my roost(s?) at the back of the coop as per the design. I was originally not going to do a poop board and just try DLM but with the limited space I think I can see some good reasons for incorporating a poop board, not the least of which is that I could then place my nest boxes or food and water under there while keeping them clean. I'm just not sure if I need to add a ramp or not to get up to the roosts.

Please enlighten me

Actually my question may also apply to my pop door. I've installed a Pullet Shut door but it is not actually that far off of the ground. At what height do I need to add a ramp? It is maybe 10-12" from the ground and about 6-8" from the interior floor. Do I need ramps on either, both, or neither side?

Thanks in advance!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It all depends on the age, breed, and size of the chicken. An average heritage breed should be able to leap up three feet, but as it ages that height can lessen. My older birds will often develop arthritis.

A leghorn can get up higher and easier than a big fluffy standard Cochin, or a wee little bantam Cochin, so there's no one right answer.

It's always recommended to start roosts or ramps no higher than a foot up than step up from there.

 

[aart]

A chicken can fly about straight up, but on the way back down a 'landing strip' is needed to avoid crashes. Can also depend on depth of bedding for those who jump straight down some 'cushioning' is good. How high is your poop board?
IIRC it's not too high and you have plenty of landing room.

Pop door... mine hop up about 6-8" from inside.....but there's a porch and a ramp outside(24-30" above ground).
I'd suggest at least a 'porch' or step for them to fly up to before walking thru door.
Or just leave it, can always throw down a concrete block if a step up is needed.

 

[MiaS]

A chicken can fly about straight up, but on the way back down a 'landing strip' is needed to avoid crashes. Can also depend on depth of bedding for those who jump straight down some 'cushioning' is good. How high is your poop board?
IIRC it's not too high and you have plenty of landing room.

Pop door... mine hop up about 6-8" from inside.....but there's a porch and a ramp outside(24-30" above ground).
I'd suggest at least a 'porch' or step for them to fly up to before walking thru door.
Or just leave it, can always throw down a cinder block if a step up is needed.

Seems like cinder blocks are required equipment for chicken keeping

 

[aart]

Seems like cinder blocks are required equipment for chicken keeping

They are!! 2x8x16" pavers too!
I find them mighty handy, fulls and halves of both are stocked up here.

Oh and standard bricks too!

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I know people warn that to much jumping down from high distance can cause stress on joints etc.

 

[Bcolpetzer]

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Nope, its not a joke, it's a serious question . @aart I've seen your post on coop interior heights which is very helpful. I see that some people offer up ramps to their poop board/roost combos and others don't and I'm curious if it is just a personal/chicken preference thing or if there are reasons. Also if there is a height at which one becomes necessary. I'm building (almost done) a 6 x 10' 'Woods' coop and plan on putting my roost(s?) at the back of the coop as per the design. I was originally not going to do a poop board and just try DLM but with the limited space I think I can see some good reasons for incorporating a poop board, not the least of which is that I could then place my nest boxes or food and water under there while keeping them clean. I'm just not sure if I need to add a ramp or not to get up to the roosts.

Please enlighten me

Actually my question may also apply to my pop door. I've installed a Pullet Shut door but it is not actually that far off of the ground. At what height do I need to add a ramp? It is maybe 10-12" from the ground and about 6-8" from the interior floor. Do I need ramps on either, both, or neither side?

Thanks in advance!

Mine are 6-7 weeks old and I am finding they can get up higher than I thought. I went to check on them after they went in for the night to make sure all was well and found some on the 2x4 above the windows. Once I saw where they was at immediately got the heat lamp I had used previously on cold nights out.

 

[Trux]

They are!! 2x8x16" pavers too!
I find them mighty handy, fulls and halves of both are stocked up here.

Oh and standard bricks too!

My Father in law was a mason, and had his own business. we got all kinds of stuff here. Brick pavers blocks, you name it. Coop floor is red brick as well as apron outside of coop.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

A chicken can fly about straight up, but on the way back down a 'landing strip' is needed to avoid crashes.

This makes me laugh because my hens that like to lay on the front porch sometimes choose to fly off the porch railing when they're done rather than exit the way they entered, i.e., down the steps. The funny (and concerning) part is that the yard is sloped, so sometimes when they land after flying down about 10' they go head-over-heals when they land. I have no idea why they insist on doing this.

 

[Trux]

This makes me laugh because my hens that like to lay on the front porch sometimes choose to fly off the porch railing when they're done rather than exit the way they entered, i.e., down the steps. The funny (and concerning) part is that the yard is sloped, so sometimes when they land after flying down about 10' they go head-over-heals when they land. I have no idea why they insist on doing this.

Oh my that has to be a sight to watch