Recent content by Ballerina Bird

Hi @ChickenLady2014 . You definitely may have a point here! I got so worried when I heard her weight was low that I have probably been giving her too much other stuff, mainly because when I hand feed those things I can control it and make sure Medora gets her fill. But you could very well be...

Would be grateful for ideas about how to place feeders so both my chickens will feel comfortable using them. I have two hens, Odile (pita pinta, lead hen) and Medora (light Brahma, timid). A couple of weeks ago, Medora starting acting lethargic. I took her to the vet, who gave her antibiotics...

@ronott1 this is the cutest thing ever!!! Thank you for tagging me!!

Thanks for the suggestions.

Yes, I see your point. Thanks again for the help -- will have to continue to puzzle this out.

Doubling the treads has unfortunately not worked so far. I am just not sure whether I need to do more to try to train her to walk up (or down) the ramp or whether I need to stop doing that, and that she'll feel more comfortable dealing with the ramp if she can do it on her own. I left her to to...

Yes, that's the roost. I guess it's maybe like 2 feet from the coop floor? Maybe a bit less. I know it should be a 2x4, but this was a pre bought coop with a dowel, and I had several people look at it before determining that the interior structure would make it difficult to switch to 2x4. Again...

I had to help with the ramp, but I'm going to try adding some treads. In the meantime, the perch is a good step -- I know it's no fun for her to try to balance with someone else plopping her up there. She is a smart girl -- she learned to use the horizontal spring-loaded waterers very easily...

Minor update: I took the advice here and brought a light out to the coop at dusk, and the new hen managed to fly up to the perch by herself once she was in the coop. So, a small bit of progress. Thanks again.

Thanks, @aart ; that's very kind of you. I totally agree about the hole in the floor. In many other ways this has been a great coop -- well-built of nice materials and watertight even in some very bad storms -- so I can't complain too much. But definitely if I ever have the chance to design and...

Thanks, @aart ; I will see if I can find someone to help me with that. I remember my other birds had trouble, too, when they were pullets, and I thought about adding treads then, but then they figured it out. But it might be harder for an adult hen. I am in California; weather OK but I...

Sorry, picture uploading was so demanding that I forgot to say thank to @aart et al. for help!

Here are some pics and further info. Interface is a little wonky, so am hoping descriptions correspond to pics. The first two are of the coop. First is coop door closed, but you can see the whole door is a window with double hardware cloth. Second pic is inside the coop with door open. There are...

Hi @aart ! Thanks so much for replying; it is nice to hear from you, and you always have such great advice. I will get some pics; it's a complicated setup. I like the light idea. I was also thinking about your comment upthread about forcing her to figure out how to get down. I haven't been doing...

Hi everyone. I am having a similar problem and am a bit at my wits' end. I would really appreciate some advice. I recently brought in a new adult hen, and she is very sweet and is integrating well, except for one thing. She seems totally flummoxed by the ramp up to the coop, and also by jumping...