Unsecure chicken perches

[Black RockStar]

Hello all,

 

Sadly we lost the last of our original hens (Bodie) on Thursday morning. We just found her passed away in the nesting box with no previous signs of illness. She had been with us over 5 years so maybe it was just old age. She will be sadly missed

 

However, we are now taking 6 ex-bats from the BHWT on July 31st. My question is, has anyone with a cube had ex-bats, and if so, do they manage to get up and down the ladder ok or do they need to be placed/assisted into the cube for the first few days/weeks until there muscles develop? I have no other concerns other than this. Appreciate any advice. Thank you!

Edited July 19, 2010 by Guest

[Space Chick]

I have ex batts and a cube, but it took a couple of weeks before they were strong enough to use the ladder.

[Black RockStar]

Thanks Space Chick,

 

Did you just lift/help them in and out until they were strong enough?

[Space Chick]

I had them in a cat carrier for the first few days, then lifted them in to the cube

[Black RockStar]

OK thanks,

 

I dont have anything like that so do you think it will ok to leave them in the run and just put them away before it gets dark until they are strong enough to get up there themselves?

[alet_chicken]

That should be fine for the purposes of them going to sleep. They may however need to visit the nestbox during the day... My suggestion would be to either "extend" the ramp to the ground somehow, or to provide a laying area (cat carrier/cardboard box on its side) in the run, until they are able to get into the Cube themselves.

[jimnpaula]

From my experience they won't learn about nestboxes until they master the ladder. We made ours a ramp from old pallet wood to help them, it's made a comeback now that Topaz is looking tottery.

 

P

[mikk100]

After watching many disasterous flying attempts up to the cube and a few birds sliding off (and through) the rungs I taped some fabric onto each rung which gives them something to grip onto, once they were strong enough to get onto the bottom rung they were just slipping and sliding around so this really helped and they could walk up there (now they just fly straight in), a low plant pot or box on the ground nearby also helped the weaker ones onto the bottom rung.

 

I found if they get onto the ladders and struggle to get any further it helped to lift them to the door, at least they are going in the right direction and when they get stronger will be able to go all the way.