Helping a heavy old hen safely roost

[cate1124]

I have a sweet light brahma, a big girl about to be six. She's still enjoying life, occasionally laying, but getting around more slowly and stiffly. She still wants to roost. I've given her a step up to the lowest roost (10 inches), though she fidgets a long time before making the (usually successful) attempt. Then I see her eyeing the next roost, at 24 inches, which she definitely cannot safely jump/fly onto. (She will not use the ladder I provided from the 10-inch roost to the 24-inch).

I'm concerned she'll hurt herself trying to get to the second roost, though I want to keep my higher roosts in place for the rest of my flock. And, I don't want to pen her at night, as roosting seems important to her and she wants to be near her buddies. Anyone have good ideas about making roosts safe for older or weaker hens?

 

[onesweetflock]

I have a sweet light brahma, a big girl about to be six. She's still enjoying life, occasionally laying, but getting around more slowly and stiffly. She still wants to roost. I've given her a step up to the lowest roost (10 inches), though she fidgets a long time before making the (usually successful) attempt. Then I see her eyeing the next roost, at 24 inches, which she definitely cannot safely jump/fly onto. (She will not use the ladder I provided from the 10-inch roost to the 24-inch).

I'm concerned she'll hurt herself trying to get to the second roost, though I want to keep my higher roosts in place for the rest of my flock. And, I don't want to pen her at night, as roosting seems important to her and she wants to be near her buddies. Anyone have good ideas about making roosts safe for older or weaker hens?

I have a similar situation with one of my girls! She's a black sexlink who's rather portly and the same age as yours and has a hard time making it to the coop (it's elevated from the ground). I've given her a ramp and a few other tools to help her get up there safely herself, but she's stubborn! She has instead resorted to waiting for me to show up and fussing at me until I help heave her up to the coop, lol. That's about the only success I've had, continuously helping her up to where she needs to go. Thankfully, I don't mind doin' it!
As for the roost, if you have a light or anything in the coop, perhaps turn it off quickly once she's where she's supposed to be to help discourage her from trying to go up any further. Maybe you could also adjust where the perches sit on the roost a bit? Make them a bit more accessible for her, but also let the others be where they'd like to be. Best of luck!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

That's an interesting question.
Maybe a ramp from the floor to the 24" roost - might not work though.
Do you have photos of your roosting area?

Your girl may eventually decide that the lowest roost is where she'll have to stay, but yes...it does seem very important for them to get on the highest with everyone else.


I've had a couple of hens on separate occasions that were able to finally make it to the top roost (with a LOT of fidgeting), but they couldn't jump back down. They would wait for me to come get them each morning. I didn't mind, gave me a chance to give them a cuddle every morning

 

[cottontail farm]

Poor thing. Yay to the ramp idea if you have the room for it. It's sweet she's still around at that age.

 

[cate1124]

Thanks for responding! It's good to know I'm not alone in this. I've been lifting her down from the roost in the morning for some time, to forestall injury in that direction. The other is tougher; they are stubborn, and creatures of habit! Today, I'm going to further gradate the platform she's using to get to the lower roost (see image, platform with poo indicates where she roosted last night). I measured, and the lowest roost is at 10 inches, the second at 23 and the top -- still occupied by my old Buff Orpington, queen of the flock -- at 33. Funny, it's easier for me to accept with my humans than my hens that getting injured attempting what you can no longer do is one way embodied creatures move toward death, and perhaps kinder than others. Always hard to see that coming, but it will, one day, for us all.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for responding! It's good to know I'm not alone in this. I've been lifting her down from the roost in the morning for some time, to forestall injury in that direction. The other is tougher; they are stubborn, and creatures of habit! Today, I'm going to further gradate the platform she's using to get to the lower roost (see image, platform with poo indicates where she roosted last night). I measured, and the lowest roost is at 10 inches, the second at 23 and the top -- still occupied by my old Buff Orpington, queen of the flock -- at 33. Funny, it's easier for me to accept with my humans than my hens that getting injured attempting what you can no longer do is one way embodied creatures move toward death, and perhaps kinder than others. Always hard to see that coming, but it will, one day, for us all.

I like the roosts.
If you have room, yes, I would try extending the ramp all the way to the floor and make it less steep. She still may not be able to navigate it, but you never know unless you try.

Keep us posted and I would love to see what you come up with. Of course photos of the Old Gal plus her flockmates would be a bonus

 

[cate1124]

Thanks! I'll consider that, though I wonder if not using the ladder is a kind of wisdom. It might be best to encourage her to just stay on that low roost. She's had raised scales on her (feathered) feet since a mite infestation some years ago, has since then walked slowly and methodically, and now has claws I need to trim -- long winter, less outdoor time, and she has become a less vigorous scratcher -- which may be decreasing her confidence in her balance. In the winter, she often beds down in the shavings next to the roost, perhaps to keep compromised feet warm. Anyway, I'll noodle it, and also try to attach hen photos next time. They are beautiful birds, I must say.

 

[cate1124]

Thanks! I'll consider that, though I wonder if not using the ladder is a kind of wisdom. It might be best to encourage her to just stay on that low roost. She's had raised scales on her (feathered) feet since a mite infestation some years ago, has since then walked slowly and methodically, and now has claws I need to trim -- long winter, less outdoor time, and she has become a less vigorous scratcher -- which may be decreasing her confidence in her balance. In the winter, she often beds down in the shavings next to the roost, perhaps to keep compromised feet warm. Anyway, I'll noodle it, and also try to attach hen photos next time. They are beautiful birds, I must say.

This seemed to work well for the old girl. She still occasionally tries for the second, too-high roost, but most nights is content to use these two steps up to reach the lowest one. Thanks to all who responded!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This seemed to work well for the old girl. She still occasionally tries for the second, too-high roost, but most nights is content to use these two steps up to reach the lowest one. Thanks to all who responded!

Nice!

 

[cate1124]

Nice!

Why, thank you! I'm finding that little stand-alone roosts (like the intermediate step in the photo) are handy for my current chicks, too, where there are no handy anchor points for the ends. Improvise, improvise.