How do I get them up the ramp?

steptoe and son · « **on:** October 12, 2009, 20:03 »

Hello all. I'm new to this and have just one little problem so far.
My hen house is built over the run with a ramp going to a hole in the floor of the house.
My birds will neither go up or down the ramp. I've only had them a few days but is there anyway I can get them to use it?
Thanks,
Neil

poultrygeist · « **Reply #1 on:** October 12, 2009, 20:09 »

Hi neil. If you can hold them and pass them up the ramp and through the hole, they may get used to it. Maybe a few treats (malworms?) along the length with a pile at the top (or bottom) would tempt them to use it.

Is it very narrow and can they grip on it ? It may be that they just feel unsafe although they will get used to it evenually.
Food is usually the key to it

Rob

ps. welcome to the forums by the way

Vember · « **Reply #2 on:** October 12, 2009, 20:09 »

Hi Neil

Welcome to the Hen House

Personally I'd open the pop hole and pop their food at the bottom of the ramp, their tummies will take over once they see the food

Another trick is dried mealworms, not too many but scatter some down the ramp once they taste them they'll go up and down ramps and in & out of hoops

Sarah

LittleRedHen · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2009, 20:32 »

Meal worms, my friend, meal worms.

steptoe and son · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2009, 20:39 »

So food is the key eh? I can't really comment on that. The lengths i'm going to for good eggs!

Mealworms? Live ones!? Where on earth do I get mealworms?

Thanks all,
Neil

poultrygeist · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2009, 20:50 »

Dried mealworms are fine Neil

The sort you can buy at most supermarkets or pet shops, etc

ROb

lucylou · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2009, 20:57 »

hi there! i had this problem too so i raised the end of the ramp by putting a large block under it to make the slope shallower then once they got used to it after a few weeks i took the block away - might help, good luck

Foxy · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2009, 21:07 »

You could pop a torch inside, and when it starts getting dark they should be attracted to the light and will go to bed on their own

steptoe and son · « **Reply #8 on:** October 13, 2009, 18:48 »

The meal worms worked a treat. Thanks for the advice.
Neil.

8doubles · « **Reply #9 on:** October 13, 2009, 18:53 »

Quote from: Foxy on October 12, 2009, 21:07

You could pop a torch inside, and when it starts getting dark they should be attracted to the light and will go to bed on their own

Thats moths Foxy................. moths

beulah59 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 14, 2009, 08:46 »

Sometimes the rungs are too far apart ... can you add some extra wooden slats to the ramp?

Are your hens ex-batts? They do seem to find it hard to start with ... I put a brick under the end for a while so the slope wasn't so great. One of them still finds it hard to come down and prefers to jump!

How do I get them up the ramp?

steptoe and son

How do I get them up the ramp?

poultrygeist

Re: How do I get them up the ramp?

Vember

Re: How do I get them up the ramp?

LittleRedHen

Re: How do I get them up the ramp?

steptoe and son

Re: How do I get them up the ramp?

poultrygeist

Re: How do I get them up the ramp?

lucylou

Re: How do I get them up the ramp?

Foxy

Re: How do I get them up the ramp?

steptoe and son

Re: How do I get them up the ramp?

8doubles

Re: How do I get them up the ramp?

beulah59

Re: How do I get them up the ramp?

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