Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[Blue44]

Hi All

 

Just some advice (as usual!) please. I have an eglu cube (5 slikies in residence although it can hold 10), one recently was poorly she had a virus which the vet said may have affected her brain (she tilts her head quite a lot) but she is much improved now and doing all the chicken things she should...but when she tilts her head this slightly affects her balance and she was refusing to enter the cube at bedtime as she had to walk across the plastic slats (perches) so I had to catch her and place her in (did this for about 3 weeks) and she then wouldn't come out in the morning.

 

I've since taken the slats out and she comes and goes quite happily along with the rest. I placed the nice smelling hemp bedding in the bottom of the cube probably about 4 inches deep (I can't remember the exact name) but its the one my breeder recommended super absorbent, discourages flies etc...each morning I pull out the poo trays and remove the droppings so they kept nice and clean and dry.

 

My question - I know chickens prefer to perch i.e on the plastic slats but they all seem happy to sleep on the bedding which I clean every day, with the design of the cube they also appear to have plenty of ventilation along the bottom - is this ok for them if they all seem content and clean? As I couldn't think of another way of helping her back to bed.

 

Thanks in advance for your comments / advice.

[jackian]

I have not got a cube but 2 wooden coups and like many chicken owners my girls all sleep in the nest box on the hemp all huddled up together in one coup .So I reckon it is no different ,I think you will be surprised how many chickens don't roost .

I am glad your poorly chick is better.

[merlina]

My hens have zero interest in roosting!

They're warrens and sleep in the nest box.

I tried for awhile to encourage them to perch and they just got indignant and flappy

My bluebell (rip) only liked perching high in trees!

Edna and Ena are 18 months old now and healthy so I guess it's not done them any harm

[dance in the dark]

In my experience breeds that are heavier or more prone to broodiness prefer not to perch. I spend my life stopping my naked necks, orpingtons and one of my bluebells, sleeping in the nestbox, they love it. But my white stars, cream legbars, araucanas and other hybrids always choose to perch.

 

Of course they are designed to perch, and there can be increased hazzards with letting them sleep in bedding. More chance of lice, mites, droppings getting caked into their feathers, but as long as you are vigilant, I see no real problem. Perhaps your other girls miss perching though? You could put the back half of the roosting bars back in the cube and see if the others have a preference?

 

Also, I have never had silkies and have no experience with Marek's disease, but it sounds to me like she may have had that. Well done her for getting herself together!