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

[Raina]

Hi all,

 

I got my first Girls on Monday, Lady Lay & Orakiah!

 

But they have no idea on how use the perches inside the Eglu

 

I was out the back at 6am cutting some ply-board to put on top of the perches, but have left a small square of perch, can get pics if needed.

 

Lady Lay has hurt her leg on the perches, She's slipped a couple of times and is now limping a little bit, she's still walking on both feet, we are taking her to the vets tomorrow.

 

Have i done the right think by putting some ply-board on top of the perches?

 

Lady Lay seems a lot happier since I've done this!

[meezers]

I haven't got an eglu, but did try eglu style perches with my new girls - they were using their high ones ok, but the little silkie was sitting inderneath and getting covered in you know what My experiment lasted all of 2 nights. The girls flatly refused to recognise the new perches and squashed themselves into all the non perch areas.

If your girls have been in a coop with high perches it may take them a while to get used to the eglu perches, or maybe they aren't old enough to want to perch anyway ? either way, I should think the plywood will be fine for a week or two, maybe remove it every so often to see if they've got the idea ?

[Falkor]

Why not just remove the back roosting bars from your ? That way they have the option of perching on the little ones or laying in the poop tray (put some bedding in!).

 

I am sure they will get used the the perches though! I was a big softie when i first got my girls and took out the bars of the but then i had a word with myself, popped them back in and they are fine.

 

Now they are in the cube and they have the option of bars or a big bedding filled nest box they choose the bars!

[Raina]

Thanks,

 

They are Between 14 - 19 weeks old

 

I have seen Orakiah (younger of the 2) trying to perch but gives up after a while (Thats why i left a small area of perch)

 

and Lady Lay just wont use them

 

So she sleeps in the nest box

 

Could it be that the perches are too thin?

 

I used some long/wide wood (pics in sig)

 

They didn't seem to mind that?

[Raina]

Hi all,

 

Quick Update!

 

Got back from the vets around 12 ish

 

The vet said that Lady Lay has slightly sprained her foot, and should be OK within a few days,and said to keep her off the perches until she's better

 

but she didn't give me anything for her, should she have given me something?

 

 

Lady Lay seems a lot happier today and isn't limping as much and leaves both feet on the ground while eating

 

i did catch Orakiah on the small area of perch that i left but is still sleeping in the nest box

[Mazzarina]

Glad to hear that Lady Lay is better. I'm sure the vet has advised the right thing, and it sounds like she's already recuperating.

All of my lot periodically roost in the nest-box. Some people put things like a flowerpot or small football in at night to stop this habit, but it's usually just a temporary thing and nothing to worry about - I think I'd leave her be for the time being. The idea of leaving one set of bars seems like a good one, so that they can use them if/when they decide to do so.