Gallina Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Can anyone recommend anything I could stick on the rungs of the Cube ladder to give a better grip? I have a young Cochin with very short legs who can't seem to fly at all, and when she comes out in the morning she jumps down one step at a time and looks very awkward. Obviously I want something that will look nice, stick perfectly to plastic, and not peel off. (It probably doesn't exist.) Alternatively, do you think something like string wound around the rungs would make things betterrse? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I have modified my ladder (well OH really not me ) He made a ramp that fits over the ladder with picture rail rungs so the girls can walk up and down My cochin struggled and so did a couple of the others who used to try to flap up and down I did wonder about pipe lagging but thought they would peck at it I'll take a photo of his creation later on. Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 String sounds like a good idea to me Gallina, I'd be tempted to give that a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 This is what I did, and it worked very well http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=23183 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I have modified my ladder (well OH really not me ) He made a ramp that fits over the ladder with picture rail rungs so the girls can walk up and down My cochin struggled and so did a couple of the others who used to try to flap up and down Andy did the same for ours, mainly because Ruby, our pigeon-toed chook was really having problems. Coming down wasn't so bad (flap flap bump) but going up was a nightmare for her - normally also resulting in 'flap flap bump, start again, flap flap bump' and so on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 My OH cut a piece of wood the size of the ladder - which goes behind the ladder, held on with cable ties which go around the rungs and through holes drilled in the wood. We didn't know why the ladder started in mid air, which is why we kept it the same size. It seems to work well for ours. You can just see it in the background of this picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 We have a ramp on the front of the ladder as poor dear Flo used to struggle to get up and down. LSH put rungs on it so that they could grip to climb up and down and they're much happier. They were all having trouble getting down the ladder and seemed to fall through it rather than climb down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted June 12, 2008 Author Share Posted June 12, 2008 I think I am going to have to do something to fill in the gaps on the ladder: thanks for your suggestions. I thought the ladder was all right because my little Cochin was getting herself to bed and getting up all right. This was the first morning I stood and watched her come out, and it was obvious she found it very difficult. She is an odd little thing: very small for a Cochin, and no eggs yet. And last week I had a Bluebelle with a sprained leg. The accident happened while she was in the run, and I wonder if she fell from the ladder -- it's impossible to tell. Thankfully she is nearly recovered, but it has taken two weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Oh bless her. I hope that the adaptation helps them get up and down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 all our hens have struggled with the ladder since day one. So to avoid breaking of bones/accidents hubby made a proper ladder with rungs and a little platform. So we have the big ladder from the run floor to a wooden platform and then a little ladder resting on top of the existing cube ladder. All works fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I've heard that lots of people have redesignd their ladders, especially for their birds with smaller feet. Have you seen that non-slip thing you get in a roll for putting under ornaments? It's like a rubberised mesh; that would be great around the rungs. Most hardware stores sell it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted June 13, 2008 Author Share Posted June 13, 2008 My little Cochin has quite big feet, but I watched her again today, and she goes bump bump bump flop to get down the ladder -- she doesn't use her feet or her wings. I haven't seen how she gets up the ladder, as I never seem to be out at their bed-time. I need to get it sorted before she starts laying. (Do Cochins lay? My first one never did, and this one is worryingly slow..... If not, where do baby Cochins come from?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 I need to get it sorted before she starts laying. (Do Cochins lay? My first one never did, and this one is worryingly slow..... If not, where do baby Cochins come from?) Good question, my cochin looks big and feathery but when you pick her up she just a ball of feathers, and lays tiny eggs for a 'big' hen and those are only laid when she is in the mood Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 and those are only laid when she is in the mood and thats not very often is it Karen! my star is still broody. I've given up hope of her being normal again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 where do baby Cochins come from? my 2 floated in on little white fluffy clouds... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
