3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[KarenW]

My little silkie is having problems with the cube ladder bless her, and really doesn't like sitting on the roosting bars...I've put some brick steps at the bottom of the ladder for now and I know I'm only a day in but I thought I'd have a quick search to see if anyone had made modifications to help silkies along with cubes...

 

...and found a thread that basically was saying you should keep silkies in at least 2's and that pekins can be bullies So am now worrying. My frizzle pekin does seem to be establishing herself as head hen (or at least 2nd in command), which is quite funny considering the size of her!

 

So does anyone have any advice please? I'm sure I can adapt the cube ladder if necessary, is this what everyone does? And should I ring my friend and plead for another silkie to keep my little Delilah company?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice, I thought I had chickens pretty much sussed, but never had pure breeds before so I guess there's always a whole lot more to learn

[mimi5]

Hi there,

 

I purchased a cube back in jan for my gang of pekins and was worried about the ladder before it even arrived!!!! But after a bit of research on google found a chap who had modified his ladder and was so impressed that I copied his idea and did the same!!!! Please feel free to do the same!

 

I have posted on here about this before (and spoken at length with peolple at omlet!!!!!!) You can find a picture with my cube ladder in the back ground. I just went to homebase and got some green stiff garden mesh and after wrapping it around the ladder I cable tied it and trimmed any excess away. It works a treat and the pekins just shuffle down and jump off the bottom!!I had a pot at the bottom (as advised) but they didn't use it so took it away! It helps them get purchase on the way up...what with all those feathers

 

Do a search on the forum, if you don't get any joy PM me and I'll get no1 son to help me post it again!!

[mimi5]

Had a quick search and try this

 

pics of Monty, Milly, Molly & Mandy pekins

 

You should see the ladder clearly!!!

 

Best wishes with your little gang...pekins can be fiesty!! some of mine are!!!

 

Don't know about silkies, but hear the're not the easiest to keep! But very docile.

[KarenW]

Thank you, that looks a great idea! Phew, I like to have a plan! It would make sense for Omlet to sell an alternative wouldn't it then, if this seems to be a common problem? It isn't a problem for the other girls, the wyandotte just flaps straight from the grass to the top rung

[mollyripkim]

I have silkies too and they have a log at the bottom of the ladder, I did have some wooden trellis over the ladder but changed to the green mesh as its easier to keep clean.

I have eight silkies and one Orpington bantam, personally I love the silkies, they are such little characters and chatter boxes but very docile so I imagine they could easily get bullied, I have heard they like to stick together but know lots of people on here have mixed flocks that work very well.