4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Bramble]

My three chucks are due to move into their new Cube soon ... I put them in the actual Cube last night in the hope of showing them how the ladder works ... didn't quite go accordingly to plan, one by one, they all "flew" out (instead of using the ladder) and hit the end of Cube Run ! I'm therefore thinking of turning the ladder into more of a "ramp" - has anyone done anything similar, what did you use? Three new ex-batts will be moving in with them in a few weeks and they might struggle even more with a ladder?

[squiffs]

The first night with the cube we lifted the girls out of the eglu after bedtime and put them in the cube via the roof hatch, and then let them work out how to get to their food in the morning - (which meant much flapping). My OH then spent the morning coaxing them up the ladder using their corn and their designated treat bowl (they come running when they see it) and one got the hang of it but the other seemed to struggle.

 

He left them for a few hours and by the middle of the afternoon we had 2 eggs in the nest box!

 

They do get the hang of it. And Babs even stands on the first or second rung to get a boost over margot to eat in their favourite side of the grub. Margot tries to whack Babs' head out of the way - it's funny to watch them being so confident and bolshy in an environment they were so unsteady and confused about to begin with

[fluffy chick]

I must admit the ladder is the one problem with the cube in my opinion. People have had problems and yes I've seen some have put a wooden plank over the top with various anti slip ideas. Mine do seem to have got the hang of it now though. Although I still worry about my banty silkies as they can't see as well as the others. I think they all pile out flapping and falling in the morning though. I'll be honest I bought the omlet products because they look good (in addition to other factors) so don't want to make a 'make shift' ladder that won't match. Should omlet bring out a more solid ladder for the cube I'll be first in line!

[Bramble]

Thanks! Part of me thinks "just leave them to it, they'll get the hang of it", but on the other hand, that seems a bit harsh (I know, I'm too soft ) I thought I might get some of that log roll stuff to make the ladder into a ramp, but I'm already worried they might get their toes stuck in the gaps ... Maybe I should just put a cushion at the bottom and hope for the best!!!!?

[squiffs]

Thanks! Part of me thinks "just leave them to it, they'll get the hang of it", but on the other hand, that seems a bit harsh (I know, I'm too soft ) I thought I might get some of that log roll stuff to make the ladder into a ramp, but I'm already worried they might get their toes stuck in the gaps ... Maybe I should just put a cushion at the bottom and hope for the best!!!!?

 

 

They'll be fiiiine, chickens bounce anyway

[fluffy chick]

Maybe do a ramp as a temp measure? I'm not sure if it's true but there is someone on the web that complained a chicken fell and broke it's leg on the cube ladder. I don't want to worry you and I 'm sure they'll be fine (mine have been ok) and most people don't have a problem with it. It's just that there are so many little bones in their legs they don't always bounce. Sorry squif.

[squiffs]

I was joking about the bouncing thing...

 

 

But at the same time I wouldn't want to spook people with a rumour about a serious injury from a product that lots and lots of people have used with no complaints. In the wild, chickens climb up trees to roost, so a plastic ladder shouldn't be beyond them at all.

[fluffy chick]

True but lots have had trouble too you only need to read the reviews on the cube. I think for big hybrids like yours the ladder is fine. But little bantams and other breeds are so far removed from the original jungle foul that you can't really compare them anymore. For example I know my silkies would never be able to get up into a tree to roost, whereas my old bluebelles could (and one did one night actually )

[squiffs]

True but lots have had trouble too you only need to read the reviews on the cube. I think for big hybrids like yours the ladder is fine. But little bantams and other breeds are so far removed from the original jungle foul that you can't really compare them anymore. For example I know my silkies would never be able to get up into a tree to roost, whereas my old bluebelles could (and one did one night actually )

 

 

Indeed - which is why I'm going to keep my silkies in their eglu (not least because my hybrids like to eat their feathers).

 

I do think exbatts will be fine with the ladder though, if their legs have been given enough time to strengthen up out of the cage, as they are 'big girl' hybrids, too.

[Bramble]

Thanks guys! Funny you should mention bouncing, last night one of mine sort of "ricocheted" off the end of the run having "flown" out of the Cube! It's not funny really but that's just what happened.

The new ex-batts are going to have at least a couple of weeks in an Eglu by themselves to get their strength up before they go in to the Cube so hopefully by then the current residents will have mastered the ladder and be able to show the new girls how it's done!

My worry is that in adapting it, I will actually make the ladder more dangerous, so perhaps it's best left well alone and I should only adapt it if the girls really can't cope? I'm more bothered about how they'll work out that they go up the ladder to the nestbox/bed?

 

(I can well imagine that little bantams would just fall through the gaps in the rungs though?)

[squiffs]

Thanks guys! Funny you should mention bouncing, last night one of mine sort of "ricocheted" off the end of the run having "flown" out of the Cube!

 

 

I'm not sure about bantams, what I did notice with my (the fatty of the two hybrids) is that she took some time to get to grips with balancing as her centre of gravity was different, with her being heavier and taller than my , who uses the ladder as a climbing frame now, so perhaps being slightly lighter works to their advantage - though yes, the gap between the steps could be too large for the teeny tinies.

 

My silkies definitely bounce! If I pick them up, they scream blue murder and sometimes wriggle away, and the things they bump into when they're in mad-dash-mode... Doris was chasing her sister Elsie, and Elsie went to run away and skidded round a corner after slipping on a chicken poo that one of the big girls had done earlier. I couldn't help but laugh, it was like something out of looney tunes (with poo instead of a banana skin)

[poppy ben grace]

Hi all, i just wanted to add that my pekins seem to find the ladder of the cube easier than my big girls do. Its strange as i thought with them being smaller they would struggle, but no they seem to find it easy. I think with your new exbatts Bramble it might be an idea to put a temp ramp or something for them when they first arrive. I guess it depends on how strong they are and what conditions they have come from. My exbatts have no problem with the ladder but they came from a farm that had perches so were a bit stronger than most. I know its a bit of a worry for you but i am sure they will soon get the hang of things, hope you enjoy them and the intros go well!

[squiffs]

I'm more bothered about how they'll work out that they go up the ladder to the nestbox/bed?

 

 

 

Like I said before, we put them to bed the first night, and coaxed them using corn during the day, if just ONE gets the hang of it, the others will follow suit

[Luvachicken]

 

(I can well imagine that little bantams would just fall through the gaps in the rungs though?)

 

My little bantam Wyandottes did seem to struggle both up and down the ladder, and having had a limping girly before, didn't want to risk their little legs.

Hubby fixed a piece of wood over the top with some rungs and they manage much better now.

[Bramble]

Well, today was moving day!!! The girls are now in their Cube I put them in to the Cube so they'd hopefully realise what the ladder is for ... Noodle sussed it straight away and demonstrated the ladder perfectly, Little sort of plopped out shortly afterwards but Nugget hadn't got a clue I've put some of that log on a roll stuff on the ladder in the hope that helps at bedtime, but I'll probably pick them up and put them in tonight

[squiffs]

I put some new chicks in the cube today and they've been clambering up and down the ladder, standing on top of one another and the like, put themselves to bed nicely (except for the squabbling amongst themselves!) they seem very young still - combs practically non-existant!

 

 

Which reminds me, I should probably post some pictures, off I pop!

[Bramble]

Well, I picked up the two girls who couldn't work the ladder out and put them to bed last night. I opened the Cube this morning and, somewhat gingerly it must be said, they tiptoed down the "log on a roll" I've put on the ladder (followed by Noodle, who charged down it like she's been doing it for years ) Got in from work and there's two eggs in the nest box So now Noodle and Little have sussed out how to get back into the Cube (Nugget doesn't lay anymore, but hopefully she'll catch on from the others ) I'm so proud ...

[fluffy chick]

great stuff. Hopefully you'll be able to take the log roll away soon once they've got it.

[Tutti Frutti]

aww, bless'em My ex-barnies got the hang fairly quickly, but I put a tall stool and an upside-down flowerpot next to the ladder as an alternative route up and as resting platforms

[Bramble]

Hooray, they did it, all three put themselves to bed last night, up the purple hill to bed!