Luvachicken Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 The first is my cube ladder - the new little wyandottes seem quite good at flying up the edge of the ladder to go to bed but not so good at getting down in the morning. A few times now I have heard their feet clonk as they come down where their feet sort of fall through the gaps - they usually kind of fly down but almost crash into the end of the run - having had a chicken with a serious limp before I don't want any injuries again. Should I make them a ladder with the rungs closer together ? The second thing bothering me is whether chickens can eat wet grit ? My little pot of grit has filled a bit with rain this afternoon and then the girlies were really tucking in to it, I don't think they were just drinking water out of the pot. Is this ok ? And my eggshell grinds got wet too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 wet grit not a prob - it will dry in due course anyway. as for the ladder, not sure, but I reckon someone will be along later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzannejoy Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I use a small tree stump at the bottom of my ladder which helps them with getting up and down . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I have cable tied a makeshift ladder of sturdy trellis to the cube ladder as I had the same problem, girls not so bad going up but just sort of flapped down and it works a treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucknette Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Hi The wet grit will be fine. They would pick up wet grit after the rain anyway so no problem there. As to my cube ladder, I got my OH to board in the back of the ladder down to the ground and add another couple of wooden steps. I too was worried when I heard them land in the mornings and thought a sprain or a break might be inevitable. I have LF orpies and they landed heavey. They now all walk up the ladder instead of the balancing act they had to do before and walk down sedately in the mornings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 21, 2011 Author Share Posted June 21, 2011 I got my OH to board in the back of the ladder down to the ground and add another couple of wooden steps. Hi Chucknette, This sounds like a good idea, I must admit I was beginning to think the same thing. How did you fix it to the ladder ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucknette Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Hi He used tie wraps, the ones that are near impossible to undo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 22, 2011 Author Share Posted June 22, 2011 Thanks chucknette, I'll see what my oh can do for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimmyCustard Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Mine looked horrified when they saw the Cube ladder, it takes them some practice but they learn eventually to take it slowly and walk up and down it. Saying that, they still have a s"Ooops, word censored!" at the door in the morning to see who can race down the ladder fastest. They've also now worked out that if they stand on the ladder, they can lean over and reach the lettuce hanging down from the WIR roof! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
