SuburbanChick Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 I haven't been on the Forum very long but it's such a friendly place Chicken lovers are nice people! Anyway got another question if you can bear with me ...... have your chickens had problems using the steps on the Eglu Cube? I've seen that one Forumer has had to add a ramp for her chickens to access the cube and I wondered if this was something I should be thinking about? I did think that the steps on the Cube looked a bit strange but otherwise the Cube does look like a nice bit of Chicken KIt. Sooo expensive though so I want to get it right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisyisarobot Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Yes, our ex bats struggle. Well actually, they can all do it as they go up and lay in the morning but when it comes round to the evening 2 of them (the same 2!) always struggle. I know eventually they make it in but usually I give them a helping hand! Putting a box at the bottom helped me, once they realised it was a set NOT an obstacle! I'd buy a more appropriate ladder if Omlet created one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 I added plastic garden netting to the ladder at first (tip from here) and it worked well, but have a girl with curled outside toes who still struggles. Ended up adding a wooden ramp from FSF - very pleased. Have fitted it using the ladder bolts so no defacing of the cube and we can swap back if we want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 My big girls were always fine, but when I changed to tiny bantams the couldnt so ordered a lovely made to measure from Flght so Fancy.. £25.00 including delivery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 My hybrids get in and out ok but it is not elegant I have a large up turned flower pot at the base. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Mr W built our ex-batts a ramp that fits over the Cube ladder as there was a debate over their ability to use the ladder. Our previous chooks had managed the ladder including a Pekin bantam (she did make a real drama out of it though, lots of squeaking and wing flapping). The older chooks retired to the Eglu ( affectionately known as the retirement home) to save them tackling the ladder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angeluk69 Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 We cable tied the ramp from our old wooden coop to the ladder, they now all use it much more elegantly, they were a bit like airplanes trying to make a runway to run jump and fly into the cube, very funny to watch, and a few 'frank spencer' moments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Glad my girls are not the only ones, I think I was the one that caused this tread:) we have had to add a ramp as they struggled with the ladder and do they make a performance of exiting in the morning....a big queue, then a free for all with the associated noise and said flapping of wings and ego's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucklamp Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Hi, I made a wooden ladder that hooks onto the top step and has twice as many steps as the one on the cube. Our old comes all the way down at a gingerly (sorry) pace, whilst the rest jump off the ladder when they are confident. However, all of the girls use the ladder all the way up when going to bed. I know the ladder on the cube can't reach all the way to the ground (it would catch on the ground when moved) I certainly think that there would be a market to have a ladder extender for use inside a WIR. I will post a picture of the one I made if I can work out how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuburbanChick Posted September 11, 2013 Author Share Posted September 11, 2013 Thank you all for your replies. I wonder why Omlet haven't addressed this problem? You are right gavclojak it was you who set me thinking I think it's good to know what the drawbacks of the Cube are in advance. Good_egg .... Very interested that you got a ramp from FSF but as I haven't got my cube yet, I don't quite understand how you fixed it? Bucklamp ..... Look forward to seeing your photo! I think I just need to get on and order my Cube now and get my chooks otherwise I'll just keep thinking up more questions and before you know it it will be Christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 I agree I would have hougt Omlet would have come up with a way of resolving this issue. You will still have a million questions and when they have all been answered another one will pop up:) x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 It was a bit of a home made fix but works wonderfully! The ramp came with hooks but we decided we didn't want to use these so bolted a piece of wood into the ladder holes and then screwed the ramp onto this.... I'll try and get pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 The slightly more yellow piece of wood is the one we had and cut holes in then inserted the bolts from the existing ladder. We then screwed the FSF one down into this so we could unbolt to clean, if we wanted to change back etc. so the block screwed into the yellow piece came with the ramp. I think we also took a little bit off the end of the ramp to make it shorter but that might be due to the amount of woodchip we have!! Hope that helps, excuse the dust/muck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuburbanChick Posted September 11, 2013 Author Share Posted September 11, 2013 Oh that's ingenious Looks so much better than the original ladder! Thank you for the explanation and pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucklamp Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Ok, so my ladder isn't as good as good_egg's however, I am also trying to post an image on here for the first time It attaches using another piece of wood on the underside of the ladder, meaning that it can be removed in an instant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 I am sure your girls don't care what it looks like as long as they can get in and out of the cube with ease and without risk of injury then I am positive that's all they worry about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 I put pipe insulation over each rung for a few weeks until they got the hang of it. And a flower pot at the bottom for them to hop onto it. They soon get used to it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuburbanChick Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 Think your ladder is great Bucklamp! Thank you everyone for all your ideas and coping strategies. Definitely wouldn't want my chooks to injure themselves so I will be investigating adding a ramp for my Cube! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
