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chickenwhisperer

help please. silkie bantams will not sleep in the cube

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I am new to keeping chickens. I have 2 silkie bantam hens, 6 months old, and a new cube. Got them about 5 weeks ago.

 

They are happy, feeding & drinking well, healthy, active, free-ranging regularly, like treats, Let me and my daughter handle them. All is well.

 

At dusk though, they pace up and down the run for 20 to 30 mins , push against the run fence and eventally settle together in a corner.

 

We have been taking them in by hand into the cube nightly, especially as it has been cold and raining.

 

I have tried a lot of things so far:

 

1- gave them a step to make going up the ladder easier.

2- built a wooden plank under the ladder so they do not fall through.

3- left a torch in the cube at dusk time to attract their attention

4- tempted them with a line of corn & grapes.

5- tried putting them on the first step of the ladder and helped them along

 

All to no avail.

 

I know they are capable of jumping as I have seen them jump onto a window ledge in the garden about a meter high.

 

I would appreciate any help or tips.

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i'm no expert but what bedding are you using in the eglu? I read that birds will be reluctant to go into theirroost/nest/coop if there are red mite present and I believe wood shaving can harbour red mite.

 

I wonder if that's why they seem a little stressed before bed time as they know you're going to be putting them in there where the mite are?

 

Like I say, I'm not an expert, just something that sprang to mind.

 

I do hope you get an answer soon.

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thanks all for your words of encouragement.

 

In the cube, there are the usual wooden slats & there is straw in the eqg box.

 

All new, cleaned very regularly, straw replaced very regularly, although the presence of mites or anything else is always a possible as I have no experience of detecting that.

 

what I have observed is that the two chickens are never more than 2 feet apart. Always looking out for each other and do not like to separate. If they do not have constant sight of each other, they start calling out for one another.

I wonder if this has any impact. It maybe just my lack of understanding.

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My silkie doesn't sleep in the cube at all I'm afraid. But she seemed to get the hang of it when I put her to bed at nights by hand, she then slept a couple of nights in when it was wet. But now she stays out with the hen with a poorly leg, so I let her get on with it.

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