4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Cuckoos Nest]

We've just got our chickens today and need a bit of advice. We spent quite a bit of time trying to get our girls to climb the ladder to get into the cube. Finally with the use of a torch we managed to get 3 of them in, but the other girl tried getting up the ladder and chickened out after the second rung. The result is she is spending her first night in her new environment underneath the cube on her own.

 

We have checked her several times and she seems to be ok, but we are all very worried about her. Has anyone experienced similar problems? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Donna

[smanners]

Mine were a bit reluctant too but did finally get up there.

Sometimes I think others have picked them up and posted them in initially. Once they have got themselves down in the morning they seem more able to find their way to bed the next night.

 

If your girl is a bit drousy now you might be able to lift her in more easily.

The hard bit is getting into the cube in the first place.

I had to post my 10 year old through the run door!!

 

I guess she will be safe if the run door is locked but it would be nicer for her to spend the night with her friends.

Good luck

[Bephlam]

Most chickens need to be shown a few times. But, if at first she fails...simply try and try again. I would pick her up and pop her in to the coop with the others. It's not ideal for her to be sleeping outside on her own - it's cold, windy...and I know mine snuggle up together to keep themselves nice and warm!

 

If she's been 'roosting' for some time now you should be able to pop out and put her in with the others.

 

In saying all of that - I don't have an eglu, so I don't know how hard it is to put them in if they decide they're not going!

 

Good luck!!

[quickcluck]

I agree with the others, tonight if she doesn't make it pop her in before you close the door, then they will all snuggle together!

 

Some people I know have put a little wooden ramp up as well to make it easier for them

[Cuckoos Nest]

Thanks for that guys.

 

Well she stayed out all night, we left the cube door open just in case she plucked up the courage. Checked her every few hours (just like having babies again ), It was a cold wet blowy night but she looks to have come to no harm.

Will see if she goes up tonight otherwise will entice her with a treat, and probably post her through the nesting box hole.

The cube and extended run access door is so small it would be difficult to get in and assist her up the steps, so will think about adding a wooden one if it remains a problem.

 

One of the girls left a nice egg for us during the night

 

Steve

[chelsea]

we have built a wooden platform outside our cube as we have an old girl who wont do ladders, so we have a wooden platform outside the cube door with a wooden ladder leading down to the floor. (I think the rungs on the cube ladder are too far apart)

[Cuckoos Nest]

Hi all

 

Tonights update. All four snuggled up in the cube .

Took your advice and rigged up a temporary wooden ladder which helped no end, a little torch action and a small amount of corn and up they all went. She seems to be a bit of a loner and kept herself to herself all day, except at treat time when she joins in with a gusto, hopefully a night with the other girls will help her social skills. Her in doors now has a smile on her face . We have shut the cube door to stop her getting out again.

Steve

[quickcluck]

there you go! Worry no more...... well done you!

[chelsea]

phew, its always a relief when they are all tucked up for the night...together!

[Egluntyne]

I put a log at the bottom of the ladder as the ex-batts couldn't manage it at first, and it seemed to make a difference.

[moomin]

My two don't do ladders either! Mine is a wooden one, not the cube ladder. I am trying to train them up there each evening by putting a tasty morsel on each step, but in the morning they just jump down from the table!!

 

I miss my chooks already, they have been out all afternoon but went to bed so early