Re: Up the Ladder.

From: Jay (j_green156_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 07/27/04 

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2004 13:06:11 +0100

"Martyn" <bill@Microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:10gch02pooc6o8c@corp.supernews.com...
> My chicken shed has got a ladder/ramp up to the perch. But when the first
> chicken goes up the ladder she won't shuffle along to make room for the
next
> one.
> So the next one has to sleep at the top of the ladder; and the third one
can
> only get half-way up the ladder.
> The fourth one has to sleep on the floor with the two ducks.

Mine are similar with the ramp that goes up the the pop-hole. Occaisionally
we have to open the side door and gently move the blockers out of the way.
But we do find that as it gets darker they tend to move in a bit more. We
also noticed that those who got left out tended to start going up earlier.
But they will also simply barge past if they really want to go up.

Maybe the perches are the wrong shape or size? Or maybe they don't like them
that high.
>
> I also made a lovely pair of nest boxes for them to lay in, but they won't
> listen when I try to explain what they're for.
> I don't think any of them have ever been in them.
> I don't think they've even seen them; they certainly won't jump up to have
a
> look in them.
> They don't seem to have any concept of 'UP'.

Have you tried putting the nest boxes lower? You could also leave a couple
of china eggs or golf ball in the nest boxes. I assume you made them nice
and dark. Where are they laying? Try and assess what makes their choice of
nest different and see if you can learn anything there.
>
> I've now removed the nest boxes (even though they looked lovely) and
> replaced them with another perch, but they still won't jump 'up' to it, or
> shuffle farther along the main perch to get to it.

I'm not sure how high you want your hens to go but I wonder if it's too
high. I know they are decended from jungle fowl but your ex-battery hens
have never experienced anything like up - or down.

How about posting some pics of the set up. Someone might be able to off
better advice.
>
> Martyn (Devon)
>
>
Jay (also Devon)

Relevant Pages

  • Up the Ladder.
    ... My chicken shed has got a ladder/ramp up to the perch. ... So the next one has to sleep at the top of the ladder; ... I don't think they've even seen them; they certainly won't jump up to have a ... shuffle farther along the main perch to get to it. ...
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  • Re: Up the Ladder.
    ... from the floor, but only 1 figured it out. ... > My chicken shed has got a ladder/ramp up to the perch. ... > So the next one has to sleep at the top of the ladder; ... > I don't think they've even seen them; they certainly won't jump up to have ...
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