Jess100 Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Hi, I have just got 3 ex-batts and they're housed in a Cube. So far I'm not sure if they know how to use the ladder. As I only got them yesterday I put them in the run and then had to pick them up and put them in the house at sundown. This moring I opened the door and left them but they did nothing so again I had to pick them up and transfer them. Tonight I thought they might make their own way and shone a torch into the eglu to encourage them but no joy. Is this usual? I'm not sure if I'm panicking when I could leave them out later to give them a chance! What time should I decide they need help? Please help! Jess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Hi there, if they're still out there now I'd give them a hand, it's pretty darned cold out there. Are they strong enough to do it, some can be pretty unsteady on their legs, maybe you could give them a ramp to start with. Mine manage fine now, didn't take them long to get the hang of it, I would reckon in a few days they should have got it, if they're still not doing it then maybe it is because they're too weak. Well done you for taking them on, they'll be living the life of Riley in a cube! BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Bex has covered it really, can't add anything to that really except to say ours got the hang of it after a few days but they were already fully recovered by the time we got the cube. Just lift them in and out until they get the hang of it, which they will eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 I was advised by the nice omlet man who set it up to use a box so they could get on the first rung. In the end I used some wire mesh - from a greenhouse shelf very like the mesh the run is made of - and that worked fine. After a few weeks they could do the jump fine. Some of them jump all the way in without using the ladder now! I had to either pick them up or coax them up the first week or so, even with the mesh in place - I gently herded them with bamboo canes towards the ladder, but some found it stressful so ended up picking them up anyway. It was much easier when my OH adapted the front of the run to open - I think ideas for doing this are in a sticky somewhere. Good luck with your girls and welcome to the rewarding world of ex bats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess100 Posted February 1, 2009 Author Share Posted February 1, 2009 They're all tucked up inside now. I gave them a helping hand when it started snowing! I've put a ramp up to the bottom rung of the ladder but they seem to just like going underneath it. I've got some old bits of rabbit run I might try tomorrow as a ramp. I thought tomorrow I would put a bowl of food in the eglu in case they didn't fancy braving the cold and just leave the door open. I'll come home on my lunch break to check on them. Its amazing how quickly they have perked up since collecting them yesterday! Thanks for your help. Jess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Ian said Fatima slid down the side of the ladder sideways one morning when she came out "like an extreme sportswoman"! That had me all day! we never gave ours boxes or additional ramps and they manage it fine now but whatever works best in your situation, some good suggestions here. It's always flummaxed me why the ladder doesn't go all the way down I s'pose it gives them a bit more floor space but it would make more sense to have it lower I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 sounds like a plan to me, some extra bedding would prob be a good idea for them in this cold too big space of air in the cube to keep warm . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess100 Posted February 1, 2009 Author Share Posted February 1, 2009 I did a load of shredding earlier and filled the nestbox with that and some straw. I hope thats enough! Do you put anything on the roosting bars or will it just stop the poo landing on the trays? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 I've got a cple of pvc backed picnic blankets over ours...they're now secured down with bungee cords because of the wind (cords not show in photo) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 When I picked my batties up yesterday I was told to put a thick layer of straw in the bottom of the eglu - not the cube, it hasn't arrived yet!! - so they could snuggle in to it to keep them a bit warmer. This morning it look like they had roosted on the edge of the nest box (judging by the poo positioning ) , so I'll put the roosting bars back tomorrow if it's the same in the morning & leave the thick layer of straw as insulation. As they had no trouble with perching on the edge of the food bowl during the day, a set of bars should be easy!! My Orpies who are all fit & healthy but obviously big girls, are extremely undignified about their entry & exit from their cube. DS said it looked like one just tipped herself out of the door rather than using the ladder - should we fit a ramp, would that be better for them? We only got them on Friday, so we're learning still Have learnt so far that they are quite vociferous, love kale and mash porridge with or without corn & sultanas and a standard cube run is too bally small for 4 Orpies!!!! Good luck with your new girls, have you any pics? I'm down/uploading (?) mine as I type! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess100 Posted February 1, 2009 Author Share Posted February 1, 2009 Ooh yes. Just uploaded them to Flikr Look forward to seeing yours! Jess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 awww, bless them, they look bewitched, bothered and bewildered ours were the same, stared at the sky for ages! may I gently suggest a little environmental enrichment, maybe a peck-a-bloc or some hanging treats and something to perch on in their run? early days I know and you may have all this in the pipeline but it's nice for them to have things to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess100 Posted February 1, 2009 Author Share Posted February 1, 2009 Yes I know I need to get on to that! I think I'm going to call in at the pet shop tomorrow and maybe get some corn-on-the-cobs as well! I've been trying to keep the floor clear for my crawling in and out but there's no reason why I can't hang things from the sides and ceiling! I will upload updated pics as I go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Congratulations on your ex batts - for a perch in our run we use a shoe rack from IKEA: It only costs £4.80 - we have ours along the left handside and they love it and always use it (though it collects lots of poo underneath it!). For corn on the cobs they will be fresher and cheaper from farm shop/supermarket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 thanks for the tip poachedegg, think I'll pop along to Ikea sometime this week and get one of those for our mob, I'm not far from the Warrington one and i can have some meatballs and dime bar cake at the same time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 (edited) When my ex-batts came they were so weak that they couldn't hop up a couple of shallow steps in the garden, let alone manage the ladder of the cube. They lived in an Eglu for a couple of months till rehabilitated. They tend to have very poor muscles and weak bones for a while, till they have got used to exercise and good nutrition, so I would advise caution about the cube ladder, as a fall could lead to a fracture. Edited for typo. Edited February 2, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 When my ex batts came they were so weak that they couldnt hop up a couple of shallow steps in the garden, let alone manage the ladder of the cub. They lived in an Eglu for a couple of months till rehabilitated. They tend to have very poor muscles and weak bones for a while, till they have got used to exercise and good nutrition, so I would advise caution about the cube ladder, as a fall could lead to a fracture. Mine too would not have coped! Def don't want a fracture we have one recovering on the forum just now.Mine squabbled over the nest box(read nice cosy snuggly place we all want) so I put bedding on top of bars for a while intill we did modifications! inevitable this meant under as well in any case lots of people put sheets of newspaper in the tray for easy removal of pooh! I hope you are ready for LURVE big time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Mine learned about the ladder very quickly over the first couple of days, all except Chance who couldn't balance on it as she didn't know she had wings . She knew where she wanted to be, just couldn't get there without help. On day 4 she discovered her left wing moved and got herself to bed, but it took 2 weeks for her to find out she had a right wing that moved as well. Her first full flap was a real cause for celebration Even now, Clover flies in rather than walks and they all tumble out in the morning with varying degrees of dignity (or lack of it ). Give them time and treat them gently and they will soon catch on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Congratulations on your ex batts - for a perch in our run we use a shoe rack from IKEA: It only costs £4.80 - we have ours along the left handside and they love it and always use it (though it collects lots of poo underneath it!). For corn on the cobs they will be fresher and cheaper from farm shop/supermarket. I got two of these on freecycle months ago which have my shoes on them!, why didn't I think to use them for the girls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess100 Posted February 9, 2009 Author Share Posted February 9, 2009 Hey I thought I would give an update. My biggest hen Ethel can now get to bed by herself and all three can get down in the morning. Maud and Mildred still need help getting to bed at night. I started off crawling into the run and lifting them through the front door to the cube but I was getting so messy that now I am taking them out the run door and putting them through the egg port. (Somehow still quite messy!) I had 6 eggs last week but broke 2! (I broke 1 and the hens broke the other). I hope Mildred and Maud will find their way to bed soon - or at least try! They probably think they've got it made and they can be ladies of leisure while I carry them around! I've put 2 little stools I found in the garage in as perches and hung a couple of CDs. I also bought a boredom breaker and filled it with kale which they have ignored and put in a fresh corn on the cob and again its been ignored. Also tried cooking up peelings but they tipped up the feeder and stamped them into the ground! The only things they are eating are mash and meal worms. I'll keep trying though - its still early days Jess (Hope this doesn't send you to sleep!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 thanks for the tip poachedegg, think I'll pop along to Ikea sometime this week and get one of those for our mob, I'm not far from the Warrington one and i can have some meatballs and dime bar cake at the same time! I popped in for another one last week, however there weren't any in stock - so may be worth checking first if you are going specially for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
