Unsecure chicken perches

[tallulah]

Anyone got any bright ideas on a safe way to improve the ladder on the Cube? Theres quite a gap between the floor and the ladder base on ours, not helped by the fact that just at the bottom is one of their favorite dusting spots.

 

We regularly rake the earth back, but even still the gap is quite large. 3 of our girls are hybrids and are getting 'old' at 3 years.....we have recently had a poorly Angel who couldn't stand (much improved now and back out with her friends as of today) and we think that while being ill and run-down, she may have also taken a fall while trying to get into the cube, cos it was at the bottom of the ladder that we found her, unable to stand. So we are keen to avoid this happening again. We are unable to move the Cube either within our setup.

 

I was thinking wood batons, rope and lashing it to the existing ladder, as I don't want to do anything to block the door. My husband thinks we could build some steps from some bricks we have, but don't they like to hold on as they climb up?

 

If anyone else has had this problem and come up with a workable solution, then I'd be pleased to hear them and see any photos if you have them! I'd rather only do it once!

 

thanks

[52fish]

Cross-section of a tree 6 inches thick would bridge the gap nicely and wouldn't look odd in the garden.

Just need a local wood where they've been felling trees or someone with a wood burning stove.

[Patricia W]

Up turned flower pot as the bottom step works for my neighbour.

 

We have an old garden bench in front of the cube (we don't have the run). The chooks jump on the seat then on the back where they perch for a while before hopping into the cube.

[Egluntyne]

I place a boulder at the bottom of the ladder to give them a leg up.

[bronze]

I had a log before but now just get on with it

[tallulah]

Sorted!!!

Found a pile of thick branches that hubby had cut down end of last year. I have now bound (with purple wool to mtach purple Cube), two branches to the sides of the ladder and then another two branches going across those to extend the steps up.

 

After the wood suggestion, I went out with the intention of stealing from his log store, but it was empty!

 

Will see how Angel fares, though I think we will be lifting her in and out for a few days yet while she builds up her leg strength.

[chicken bark]

Fingers crossed the extra steps help.

[pjagraham161]

Glad to hear that Angel is on the mend - I take it she is the same chook we had a post on a little while ago??

 

Maybe a wooden step (or small box) below the ladder is a long-term solution (as you mentioned your chooks aren't getting any younger!!) Whatever you decide on - good luck and fingers crossed for Angel!!

[TheFeatheredFiend]

After assembling our new Cube a few days ago we were surprised at how high from the ground the ladder is, so we added a couple of logs.

 

 

The girls got the hang of it pretty much straight away, but the ladder and especially the Cube's 'doorstep' seem very slippery when wet so tomorrow we're going to fix some rubber mats to the rungs and doorstep.

[Patricia W]

We find the " big girls" can cope with the steps and you might find the same, but for our banties, we put pipe insulation round the rungs. There is also a " mat" of it in the doorway. It's very easy to fix. Just cut to width of the step and then slit down the back and pop on.