Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[samantha.murrell]

Hi

 

I have an eglu cube with 4 (one died yesterday but I have no idea why, she seemed absolutely fine)hens.

 

Since the death of our white star yesterday (she was OK on the evening and dead in the morning) I've become increasingly worried about our Rhode Island Red. She has for the past week refused to go up the ladder into the hen house and each night we lift her up. Every morning she sort of makes a suicide flip out of the house and lands in a ball on the floor where she squarks and eventually picks herself up and then pecks around like any other chicken. This morning she landed with her feet in the air and I had to help her up. Now, aside from this strange behavior she seems fine, eats and drinks well and pecks and scratches the floor.

 

We are new to chicken keeping and had our hens 4 weeks, they are all POL and about 20-22 weeks old.

 

Thank you for any help

[gavclojak]

i know its not likely but have you checked the cube for red mite/ticks/bugs? alternatively she may just not be happy using the ladder? i have a piece of wood with a non slip material over my ladder for the girls to walk down rather than using the ladder, it seems to be an Achilles heel for the otherwise perfect cube!!

[Alis girls]

Sorry not an expert but I have had my new girls about 4 weeks and if one of those died suddenly I would speak to place I got them from. Sorry your experience isnt a good one. Hope your other ladies fare better.