Can She Survive?

[Sass]

if you have a wooden step ladder that is small, it might work until you can get a ramp, or look on craigslist in your area, there are dog/pet ramps you can get for dogs to get in and out of cars, smack in a block of wood on the wall and you have a ramp, or call your homedepot and ask them to cut the size that you need after measureing the distance /spot you want the ramp, around my area, they will cut the peice of wood and even put the slabs on it if you want.. theres a zillion ways to do it.. ask them for help, they like stuff like that.. just measure what you need and take it to them

 

[ClareScifi]

But one of the hens might still fall (get pushed) off the shelf, even with the ramp? After these recent falls, I'm thinking maybe I should just take down that high shelf and build one 18" off the ground, to be on the safe side?

But I appreciate the tips.

 

[sharol]

Hey, if you are more comfortable with them lower, just take out the upper roost. I am afraid I would have an uprising if I did that though ;-) The girls really like being up off the floor. I think they feel safer up there.

Do what makes you comfortable.

 

[ClareScifi]

The upper shelf helps support the roof, so I can't totally take it out. I've racked my brain trying to think of how to keep them off it. My newest plan is to take heavy duct tape and wrap around it. I could cut out the shelf flooring, but the beams would remain, and I know they'd try to roost on those. But if I wrapped and wrapped duct tape around the whole thing, that might work? And then built a lower shelf. But like you say, I fear they are going to be might unhappy. But I see no other solution. The fat girl was all poised to jump off when I went out at 6 a.m. this morning. She hasn't laid an egg today. All the other girls have. I don't know whether I should worry...

I'm kind of glad her gynecological system is resting today, if she was abrazed in any way by yesterday's freakish occurrence. I hope this is not a sign of infection or trouble. She is eating well and has good energy today, is running around, etc. I think she was about due for a rest from laying. She's over 2 years old.

 

[Mskayladog]

I put a ramp up from a lower level so that my younger chickens could get to the second roost.  The upper roosts are at about 4' from the floor less about a foot of shavings.  As you can see I have a BO on that roost.  ON the original one (to the right at right angles to the second roost) are 2 Delawares and a Welsumer.  The new girls were having a problem getting from the lower roost (at about 1.5 feet from the shavings) up to the higher one past the older girls, so I put a narrow ramp along the wall of the coop. and they can go up that  and avoid the disruption of the older chickens on the original roost. 

Does any of that make an ounce of sense?  I didn't realize how messy the wall was.  Guess I'll have to get out the scrubbies.

My 10 week olds fly from the highest roost to the support board above it would be the brown board in your pic. They shuffle and fall down to the poo board about 3 ft below should I some how stop them from getting up on the board. They can fly from the board to the ground in fact they can fly from the support board right out the gate.
Looking at your picture I see now the board is a hunter green not brown.

 

[sharol]

Honestly, all the duct tape will do is give them something to peck apart and eat. (and get stuck to feathers). Can you post a picture so I can get a handle on your setup?

 

[sharol]

My 10 week olds fly from the highest roost to the support board above it would be the brown board in your pic. They shuffle and fall down to the poo board about 3 ft below should I some how stop them from getting up on the board. They can fly from the board to the ground in fact they can fly from the support board right out the gate.
Looking at your picture I see now the board is a hunter green not brown.

The dark green board is flush with the end wall of the coop, so when they tried to get up there, there was no place to "sit" and they gave up on it. I had a Sweeter Heater suspended over the upper roosts last winter, and right after I put them up, they tried to get up there too. They really like high.

 

[ClareScifi]

Well I chatted with my handyman a bit ago. He's broken down in Salina, Kansas, but says he should be here sometime Tuesday.

He says he can screw in boards to bar the chicks from the shelf and even make me a little door so I can store stuff in there if I want. I'm thinking it might be good to stuff with insulation in the winter.

He's now talking about building a 10" wide perch 18" off the ground, in the center of the coop. He thinks this would keep them warmer in the winter. I have read that roosters with big combs, like my boy, tend to get frostbite the higher their perch is, so that will also help alleviate that problem.

I asked him to take out the step, and he said he can. This way, when they try to fly up to the shelf that is no longer accessible, they won't fall hard on that step and hurt themselves.

He has the camera with him, so when he gets back I'll post a picture of the set-up in case you guys might have other good ideas to share regarding the design.

I think my fat girl might be laying an egg right now. It's beastly hot here today. At least 90 F. She's always been such a fine layer, even in the heat. How I love her.

 

[Mskayladog]

Oh good she is feeling better.

 

[ClareScifi]

Yep, she laid a beautiful brown egg. I hope she is going to make it. She's sure enjoying watermelon on this hot day.