Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Purplemaniacs]

We have moved our three girls into their new home today, at last the is in use They have had a lovely afternoon investigating their new WIR built by OH, he has done a great job

 

But the girls are now looking longingly at their old run and

 

Will they know that they need to climb the ladder to bed, will they manage the ladder?

 

Has anyone who has moved their girls from an eglu to a cube got any advice.

 

Chrissie

Edited April 13, 2010 by Guest

[Gelbel]

I've not moved mine from an eglu to a cube - but you'll probably find you have to help them as it's new and the chooks will be wary of change (I bet they have 'told' you that already).

 

One of mine needed putting to bed for 3 nights when we first got them before she got the message - silly really as she knew where the nest box was.

 

At least it still gets dark at a reasonable time so you won't be out too late.

[figarogir1]

I havent moved mine but they do live in a cube and the ladder took a bit of getting used to. I have a wooden perch near the bottom of the ladder to help them! They got the idea in a couple of days but it didnt come naturally to them. Good luck.

[Purplemaniacs]

Well I am happy to report that they are VERY clever girls. Ebony was first I guess she is the eldest and the orginal Omlet girl, a while before it was dark I had lost her and there she was sat in the nest box.

 

Ivory and Latte looked sorry for themselves they kept walking up and down having a drink and some food and looking at the eglu but just before dark Latte managed with a mixture of jumping and flapping to get herself in. I thought Ivory would follow but no she kept pacing up and down, I was beginning to panic as Ivory is the one I can not pick up she is not friendly like the other two, after a few minutes and with much flapping she launched herself at the cube and was in.

 

When I closed the cube door and had a peep (and said goodnight as you do ) Ebony and Latte were in the nestbox together but Ivory being late was on the bars

 

It will be interesting in the morning to see how they exit the cube

 

Chrissie

[Purplemaniacs]

Well I need not have worried, they are now in and out of the cube as if they have lived there for ever

 

It is not elegant, a mixture of jumping and flapping but it works, no elegant descent of the ladder here

 

Yesterday I had two eggs in the nest box, Ebony doesn't lay anymore so for me that is a full house and in the right place Last night the three of them were lined up asleep in the nest box.

 

Chrissie

[Couperwife]

horray

 

ours are funny coming down the ladder - its a mixture of sliding down the left hand bar and jumping

 

cathy

x

[chicken bark]

I'm glad they made it down ok. I was thinking of eventually getting a cube and was worrying that my chickens might not get the hang of it. Your example has helped put my mind at rest.

[Purplemaniacs]

I'm glad they made it down ok. I was thinking of eventually getting a cube and was worrying that my chickens might not get the hang of it. Your example has helped put my mind at rest.

 

When I moved them I put them in the cube rather than into the run to try and give them a clue, not sure if it helped or not. Ivory who I can't catch very easily went straight into the run bribed by food and she was the last one to get the idea of going up stairs.

 

Chrissie

[chickyhazel]

When we moved ours from the to the they didn't quite understand tyhe ladder at firts, and it was the newer girls not the original omlet ones that worked it out! They didn't much like the ladder but we put a stick running up the ladder and they happily used that. We have now removed the stick and they are fine. I'm glad yours got the idea quickly