Kitchen Garden Forum

do hens need ramps to get in to nest boxes and perches?
with them being ex-battery's i thought it might help
if we do need them how steep and wide should they be?

thanks

oh and by the way the hens come out in the last week in august!

I was told when I bought my hens (from the Wernlas Collection) that perches should be no more than 18" from the floor. "Treat them as pregnant ladies" they said! Mine have no trouble hopping on and off at this level, but also have no problem flapping up to 3ft above ground to a place that they choose to perch on in the garden.

Generally speaking, the smaller the bird, the higher they can jump, has been my experience.

I have three large maran ladies and they definitely appreciate their ramp up to their henhouse. I think the ground would register a small earthquake if they tried to jump up, although it's not very high. They aren't fat btw - just a tad stately

Hi Richard,
I think that the one thing that will be weak with ex-battery hens is their leg muscles so they may need some assistance initially but as they become used to more and more exercise then they may not need the assistance. I feel that it would be a wonderful gesture to aid their recovery to the real world and think that in a few weeks you could try removing the aids.
I applaud your thoughtfulness.
JB.

Sometimes when I have an old hen that has trouble getting on to the perch I make a ladder from a piece of 6 inch board with a few horizontal bits of wood nailed across it for them to grip. Just measure how long you need the board for it not to be too steep.

I think the comments about ramps for battery birds with weak legs is very pertinent. My lot do have a ramp into the shed, although they don't use it much at all, but they are fit and healthy birds who haven't suffered in their lives as yours will have done. I agree, go for ramps and ladders.

If we know that our customers will be housing ex-bats, we will make the ladder to the House as a solid type with rungs and make the slope more gentle. We have seen plenty of ex-bats that are not very good at all on their legs to begin with.

I have a problem with one of my Amber Links-I have 3 Ambers and 3 red ISAs and they are all going in the coop and laying, however one of the Ambers wont go in and roost at night ,it sits on top of the coop even in the really bad weather-every night I go and put it in and it stays in, what can I do to encourage it to go in and roost of its own accord?
Thanks
BP

Dear Bottomleypots, could you put something round the top of the coop so she can't get on op of it.
She might go in if there is no high spot for her to roost.

Thaks OB,
I did try that I put wire on the top and she perched on that-the other problem is that I have to open the top to gather eggs and clean it out

I just wondered if one of the other hens was bullying her. My two Cream Legbars wouldn't go in at night when the Warren was trying to peck their feathers, but as soon as I put it in solitary confinement they went straight in. I've just let her back with them all, and they are hanging about outside again, but eventually go in.