Solving Omlet Smart Auto Door Timing Issues with Alexa Routines

[tomdeane]

Hi there,

 

I am getting my 2 chickens on Wednesday and I am trying to sort everything out before they come. I have a wooden hutch and run, (decided to buy one in the end as I found one that was fairly cheap).

 

1. I have read everywhere that it is good to hang the feeder up in the run, how high should it be hung off the ground so they can get at it easily?

 

2. I have to build a nest for them as the house is completely empty at the moment. What size does the nest have to be so that they will lay comfortably in it?

 

3. I want to build some perches for them to sleep on, how high should they be from the floor and how big should the perches be, and how far spaced?

 

Thanks for any hints or advice you can give me.

 

Tom

[AnnieP]

 

1. I have read everywhere that it is good to hang the feeder up in the run, how high should it be hung off the ground so they can get at it easily?

 

 

2. I have to build a nest for them as the house is completely empty at the moment. What size does the nest have to be so that they will lay comfortably in it?

 

3. I want to build some perches for them to sleep on, how high should they be from the floor and how big should the perches be, and how far spaced?

 

Thanks for any hints or advice you can give me.

 

Tom

1:

Mine was about 4 inches from the ground. I hung mine on string so that it wasn't stable enough for them to climb on and get their muddy little feet all in it.

2:

I guess the Eglu nest box is about the size and depth of half a football?

3:

My girls can easily jump onto the lowest bars of the Cube ladder, which is probably 8 inches from the ground. I think the idea is it doesn't really matter how close to the ground it is, they just like to perch....

Hope that's helpful.

Good luck with your new girls.

[tomdeane]

thanks for the tips. I will try and use these ideas when im putting everything together.

 

With the perches, its only a small house, so I cant make many, how far apart are the slats in the eglu positioned? as there seems to be a lots of them in that, does this act as a perch or is it better to make an actual perch or 2?

 

Tom

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I saved this thread in my favourites in case I ever needed it - it might help?

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7877&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

 

With perches, I think I read that it needs to be flat with rounded edges rather than totally round - easier for them to grip & stay on. I've got thin branches in my run which they manage fine on though.

[Carol U]

I made a spare set of perches from 1" x1" wood with the sharp corners rasped off. Doesn't matter how many, how high or how far apart - they'll get used to whatever they have. My 5 all try to pile into the nest box!