Solitary chicken - need advice

[beach chick]

my cube should come tomorrow, but we are not having the run because it will just stand inside the electric fence.

 

in preparation I've removed the glugs and grubs, and set up my new galvanised feeders and plastic drinker, and they've sussed these out, although they still keep going back to where the food used to be to have a look.

 

I'm worried about getting them in the cube the first night, and how they will manage with the ladder. if they dont find their own way in, they will be inside the electric fence, but it's a big area to try and find them in in the semi-dark. anyone got any ideas? I thought about putting a torch inside, but if they havent already sussed the ladder will they manage it? should I put something at the bottom of the ladder to make it easier for them to hop up?

 

help, I'm starting to panic!!

[moochoo]

How about leaving them in their eglus until it goes dark and then transferring them by hand into the cube to sleep? At least in the morning they'll know what's up the ladder because they'll have had to come down it.

I did this with my newest girls and they got the idea straight away.

[beach chick]

that's a good idea. I'm hoping to get the cube up in the morning so they can explore, but hadnt thought to leave the eglus there too as was hoping to get them out of the way, but I guess I can move the cube over once the eglus are gone...

[westleigh]

Hi,i put a torch in my cube the first night as i was told that they would be attracted to the light,and guess what it worked,they slipped on the ladder abit but soon got the hang of it,i must say that they seem to love thier cube(we call it thier caravan) and so do i.hope this helps you and your chooks j

[dancing cloud]

Don't worry too much, I had to put my ex-batts in their cube the first night, as they had no concept of "bed". I waited till they were drowsy enough to pick up and put in the pophole, and shut them in. In the morning, they found their way down the ladder and by night four they all took themselves to bed - they do catch on very quickly

[yelsel20]

I too worried about how my girls would manage the cube stairs when I introduce them to it earlier in the year. I transferred them from the Eglu to the Cube at dusk and stood and watched them descend at dawn the following day. It was quite amusing to observe them at the top trying to work out what to do next. However, they cottoned on very quickly. Edna jumps from top to bottom with a sort of flap in the middle, Olive steps down one step at a time (very ladylike), and Mabel sort of slips and jumps (let me at the food first). Going up at night is hilarious - who can push past who to make it to the top first.

 

I am sure for you they have sussed it by now - chickens are not as daft as people make out and they do adapt very quickly.

 

 

I plan to introduce my bantams to the cube in the next couple of weeks - more bodies - more heat in the colder nights. Their little legs may provide a different story of course. Bless them.

- Edna -

- Olive -

- Mabel -

- Grace - Golden birchen orpington -

- Belle - b/lace wyandotte -

- Clucky - b/lace wyandotte -

- Rosie - s/lace wyandotte

- Ruby - s/lace wyandotte

[Omletina Kyckling]

I did the same as Westleigh, put a lit torch in the Cube and left it and they all went to the light and put themselves to bed....hope it all goes ok!

[beach chick]

well, last night I let them go to bed in the eglus and transferred them once asleep. this morning they tumbled down the ladder, but 3 managed to lay in the right place (good total for us at the mo!)

 

at bedtime, 3 had got into the cube, 2 were roosting on top of eglu run, so transferred them to cube. Apricockerel and the 2 silkie girls were sitting right next to eglu door, so opened the egg port, shone a torch in and they have gone to bed in the eglu for tonight - rather grumpily, but they are tucked up now.

 

if I get time, the plan for tomorrow is to remove both eglus, so they will HAVE to find the cube... watch this space!!

[sandyhas3chucks]

how about a bale of straw to hop up onto. works a trat for my Eglu on a 2ft hifh table in the run! ladders no way for my girls still!!!

[beach chick]

well, I neednt have worried.... 3-4 days in they had it completely sussed!! coming out is so funny tho, the banties fly (and Apricockerel actually hit me on his exit the other day), and they are all generally so ungainly!!

[yelsel20]

That's great news, well done girls.

 

Am collect four new "ladies" tomorrow (late afternoon) who will be joining, Mabel, Edna and Olive in the Cube at dusk. I hope they get the hang of the steps the following morning. They are a silver sussex, light sussex, white leghorn and a white leghorn x rhode island red. Any interesting name suggestions?

[helenmb]

I made an extra step up to the ladder using an old shoe rack from Ikea. The found their own way in on their first night - I was worried like you particularly as on that particular evening I couldn't be at home to supervise. When I did get home they were all snuggled up. They don't like the ladder very much they just don't seem to get the hang of using alternate feet to climb up which is why I have the extra bit below it to help them. I think lots of other people have done this too using their own version of a step.