Prolapsed vent - am I getting it right?

[GeorgieB]

My ex-batts all lie down to sleep rather than perch. They just lie on the perches of the cube which looks very uncomfortable so I have put straw on top to make it comfy for them. Even Matron (who'd been with us for over a year) still refuses to perch to sleep.

 

I'd be interested to hear from other ex-batt owners whether theirs are the same or not.

[*mummy_hen*]

My ex-batt girlies have a very low perch which they all slept on everynight - however they did sleep lying down in the nestbox when they felt a little under the weather or wanted to lay their egg around bedtime and they did used to lie down and sleep in their run as well so i voted sometimes!!

 

I wouldn't worry about it - they obviously weren't used to it and as long as they are happy and comfortable it won't matter how they sleep!

[peggotty]

My ex-batts have always preferred to snuggle into the nest box to sleep, which is fine, apart from one of my first batch, Ginny, who would sleep perched in the round doorway, with her head sticking into the nest box. I always thought she worked like a draught excluder for the others!

[FiggyPudding]

My rescued exbatt, Chloe, slept in the nesting box, with Noddy & Lola on the perches.

 

My 2 new exbatts (fresh from the farm) both try to get in the nesting box.

 

I was thinking of putting something in there, to stop them doing that & to encourage them to perch...would that be unkind ? (they poo in the straw, which gets on the eggs)

[Sarahsausage]

I removed the perch from our coop as none of the girls were using it and preferred/prefer to lie down to sleep. They always sleep in the same place aswell, Gladys (I reckon she's in charge) always sleeps in one of the nesting boxes (except Betty had squeezed in with her the other night!), Betty then sleeps in front of Gladys and Rita in front of Betty, all snuggly, bless them

[GeorgieB]

Hi FiggyPudding,

 

I usually change the straw early in the morning before they lay and then the eggs don't get poo on them then. It would be a shame to stop yours sleeping there if they won't perch while sleeping.

 

I'm thinking I may as well take the perches out (so have less to clean) as they all lie down to sleep. They can then just lie down on the trays (which have sawdust on and put the straw on top). As long as they don't slip around.

[FiggyPudding]

thanks, that's an idea - I don't want to be a meanie

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I've said never as they always snuggle into the nestbox & the question was lie down to sleep on the perch - or should I go to bed as I can't even read a poll right now?!

 

When I first had them I took the roosting bars out & stuffed the poo tray with straw as recommended by our local BHWT bods, they all tried to sleep in the nestbox in from day one & are now very happy in the much more spacious ! They rarely seem to poo in the nestbox either - if they do it's right on the edge so easy to remove & away from the eggs, even when the bigger featherbrains decide to go in & have a semi-broody 2 hours!!!

 

Sha x

[GeorgieB]

Hi Wild Mum,

 

I guess I should have put lie down (in general) to sleep, so my fault.

 

It's a shame all the coordinators don't recommend to people that they will most likely want to lie down, as I bet most people just assume they will perch on the perches! I'm going through a fair bit of straw as they are in a but they are worth every penny

 

On another note, has anyone had to make their own ladder for their ex-batts to use instead of the plastic one? None of them could get up or down it without slipping off and were then scared of attempting it again. They also found it hard to get onto the first rung (as it's quite high off the ground). So I got my neighbour to make one out of a plank of wood and screwed square wooden rungs on top. They are now much happier.