The 11 Best Ladders and Ramps for Your Chicken Coop

A good chicken coop will be elevated off the ground slightly; this helps it stay dry, warmer, and also helps to deter predators. But even though your chickens are pretty adventurous and nimble, you don’t want them jumping up and down to get in and out of the coop. That can easily result in injury and, potentially, infection.

A much better bet is to fit a ladder or ramp onto the coop so your birds can enter and exit more easily and safely. There are lots of different styles out there, suitable for any coop and any breeds you might have.

Keep reading, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know to pick out the right ramp for your coop and also give you a list of 10 awesome choices you can buy today.

Picking the Right Ramp

There are tons of different ladder and ramp designs out there, and it’s up to you to choose wisely for your own flock. Consider the various factors below before making a purchase.

Coop Design and Run Size

If you’ve got lots of room, then a longer, larger ramp will always be appreciated by your birds and safer. If the coop is inside a narrow run for space reasons, you might need to install a shorter but steeper ramp or ladder, or else a “dog-leg” ramp that can make better use of existing space.

Likewise, some coops have a floor entrance or hatch that is better suited for a ladder rather than a ramp. Most coops with typical, side-access doors are better serviced by a ramp.

Length

The length of the ramp or ladder is an especially important consideration because this determines the pitch, or slope, of the surface when it is in place. Ideally, a chicken coop ramp should have no more than a 30° slope when installed.

This is roughly 6 in of rise for every foot of length. This slope is easy enough for chickens to climb under control, but a gentler slope is better for larger breeds or elderly birds.

Ladders, obviously, will be much steeper and allow chickens to hop or climb up into the coop when space is very limited or when you have a bottom-opening hatch in the coop.

Chicken Breed

Bigger birds need wider, sturdier ramps and ladders to support their weight. These chickens aren’t necessarily clumsier than smaller birds, but slips, trips, and falls are more serious for them; they will often injure their toes, feet, or legs if they fall from more than a few feet off the ground.

My go-to width for a ramp or ladder is 12 in / 30 cm, or a bit wider. This will go a long way towards preventing stumbles and falls, especially in slick conditions or if you have older birds in your flock.

Material

Wood is traditional and has a lot of good characteristics, namely the fact that it is easy to grip, can be painted or finished for weather resistance and traction, and is typically affordable. However, wood can rot and splinters can be an issue if you don’t keep it inspected and maintained.

Plastic is weatherproof, cheap, virtually indestructible, and very easy to clean, but if it doesn’t have molded-in cleats or other features, it tends to be quite slippery, necessitating the addition of traction-enhancing material.

Metal can be a good choice as it is very durable, but it can also be slippery, and if it gets damaged, it can be dangerous for your chickens.

Metal ramps and ladders usually benefit from a layer of carpet, rubber, or other material to improve grip and make it a bit easier on chickens’ feet.

Great Ramps and Ladders for Your Coop

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Bowen Cleated Plastic Ramp

• Pros: Great traction for plastic ramps, easy to adjust angle, can be lengthened or shortened as needed.
• Cons: Sturdy enough for chickens, but I have concerns about long-term durability.

If you want an affordable, adaptable option that’s perfect for nearly any door height, check out this option from Bowen. This ramp is designed to be modular in nature and consists of several interlocking panels.

Whether you need a shorter or longer ramp or just want to adjust the pitch to meet the changing needs of your flock, this one’s a great option.

It’s really easy to assemble, stake in the ground, and then secure to your coop. However, even though it is plenty sturdy enough for chickens to get up and down, it just doesn’t feel as rugged as some other options on our list. If you have other animals around, that could be a liability if they bang into it or step on it.

Bowen Extended Cleated Plastic Ramp

• Pros: Even longer and more adaptable than the classic model, ideal for keeping the slope very gentle.
• Cons: Same as the other one; sturdy enough for chickens to climb, but I worry about long-term durability.

If you like the modular plastic design of the classic Bowen coop ramp, but you just need a longer one or desire greater versatility, this is the model to get.

It’s everything that you like about the original model, only it includes an extra ramp section that you can attach if needed.

If you’ve got the room, this will allow you to keep the pitch of the ramp low, making it a breeze even for elderly or injured birds to get up and down. But just like the original, I do have concerns about its long-term durability.

Grid-Style Plastic Ramp

• Pros: Very light, inexpensive, customizable length, very easy to clean.
• Cons: Attachment system does not inspire confidence with heavier breeds, grid construction might cause entrapment injury of chicken toes.

If you want a light, fast, and flexible ramp option that can be adapted to nearly any coop or other enclosure, check out this plastic grid option. Made of multiple interlocking panels, it is a cinch to install and even easier to clean, and it’s also one of the most affordable options on our list.

Some drawbacks to be aware of include the fact that the interlocking tab assembly system could easily fail if any substantial weight is placed on the ramp. It’s enough to hold the weight of chickens, but if multiple large-breed birds get on it at once, there might be a problem.

Also, though I’ve never seen it happen myself, it’s conceivable that a chicken could sustain a toe injury if their toe goes through one of the small square openings in the ramp and they lose their balance.

Trixie Natura Weatherproof Ramp

• Pros: Classic design, great grip, easy to install, frame can be painted or finished.
• Cons: Ramp surface requires intensive cleaning to sanitize, hook attachment could be beefed up.

This coop ramp gets top marks from me for being generously wide, sturdy, and quite easy for chickens to navigate.

That’s thanks to the synthetic carpet-like material that lines the surface of each panel; it feels a little bit like synthetic golf green grass! It’s easy on chickens’ feet and will also protect them from splinters from the underlying pine frame.

You can finish the frame to match your coop if you want, something that will help keep it looking good for years to come, but cleaning that synthetic surface material requires some elbow grease to do a good job.

Also, the hook attachment points that secure it to the coop door frame seem a little flimsy to me; I would replace them with something sturdier or just permanently attach the ramp with screws.

NuoBesty Wooden Ladder

• Pros: Sturdy, secure option for narrow runs or bottom entrance coops.
• Cons: You’ll have to figure out how to attach it yourself.

Designed for small animals like guinea pigs, this wooden ladder is nonetheless perfect for chickens.

Really closer to a staircase than a proper ladder, the wide treads and wooden construction make it perfect for chicken coops that just don’t have enough room for a long ramp or for those that have a floor hatch entry and exit.

The only downside is that you’ll have to figure out how to attach it to your coop yourself, something that’s not too hard if you have even the least bit of DIY skill. Otherwise, this is a sturdy, secure option that is perfect if other ramps just won’t work for whatever reason.

Carolina Coops HenHouse Ramp

• Pros: Timeless, sturdy design. Can be finished in any number of ways.
• Cons: Length can’t be modified without cutting, a little narrow.

Ask someone to picture what a chicken coop ramp looks like in their head, and 9 out of 10 times, this is what they will imagine.

No frills, no nonsense, and totally effective, this pleated wooden ramp from Carolina Coops is made from premium Douglas fir. It can be stained or painted for weather resistance and to match your coop if desired.

The substantial cleats provide chickens with a great foothold when going up or down, and my only complaints are that the length can’t be modified like the modular units we’ve looked at so far.

Not unless you want to cut it down yourself! That, and the ramp is a tiny bit narrow for my preferences; just 10 inches instead of 12.

Carolina Coops Interior Ladder

• Pros: Super sturdy, perfect for low coops or high interior doors, can be painted or stained.
• Cons: Expensive for what it is, inadequate for taller applications.

Another high-quality, classy option from Carolina Coops, this stout interior coop ladder is just the thing if the door is a little higher than floor level on the inside; this will save your chickens from having to hop up and out onto the ramp or try to balance precariously on the door jamb.

This also works perfectly as an entrance ladder on the outside for any coops that are low to the ground.

I’ve got absolutely no complaints with the design, materials, or construction, and it’s made from premium Douglas fir, just like the previous model. However, it is a bit spendy for what you’re getting!

Trixie Portable Pet Ramp

• Pros: Great traction, very easy to clean, side rails help prevent accidents.
• Cons: Designed to lean or hook onto the surface or door jamb; you’ll need to improvise a permanent attachment.

This plastic, textured pet ramp can be an inspired choice for a chicken coop entrance. It’s super easy to clean, and the soft, textured surface will provide even the clumsiest birds with plenty of grip.

A feature I really like is the raised side rails that can help prevent accidents when your birds are going up or down.

Depending on the configuration of your coop, it might work out okay if you just lean it onto the door jamb, but you’ll have better peace of mind if you permanently attach it with screws or some other means.

Metal Coop Ladder with Platform

• Pros: Super durable metal construction, offset ramp can maximize small runs and enclosures, very easy to clean, ready to set in place.
• Cons: Has a tendency to sink into soft ground, mesh decking can be an entrapment hazard.

A good way to maximize a small run, this metal mesh ramp and platform can give your chickens an elevated place to hang out during the day and provide easy access when going in or out. In a way, it’s like a front porch for the coop!

The metal build is certainly sturdy enough to withstand the heaviest homestead traffic, but the thin feet do have a tendency to sink into soft ground, so consider that if the area around your coop stays muddy or gets lots of rain or groundwater.

Also, like the other mesh ramp we looked at, I worry about toes getting caught in the openings, though I’ve never seen it happen in life.

PawHut Ladder and Swing Set

• Pros: Good choice for taller coops in smaller runs, ladder can be accessed from underneath, has built-in swing.
• Cons: Fixed height, surprisingly challenging to assemble.

This handy, all-wood ladder has a small platform at the top so chickens can keep their balance when entering or exiting the coop, and the sloped ladder is easy to scale and accessible from below.

An included swing, dangling under the platform, is a nice bonus and provides fun and relaxation for your birds.

But this unit is only going to be a good fit for certain coops: it has a fixed height of 28 in (72 cm), so if the door is more than a few inches higher or lower than that, it’s just not going to work like it should. Also, be prepared for a challenging build: you’ll have to drill some of the holes yourself!