Sarah B Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 This is prob a really stupid q again..... The Eglu nestbox hole? I'm guessing it is there for easier cleaning but my aubiose drops out of it. When my hens get to laying on the aubiose I'll be lucky if they have something to nest on by the time I get home. Am I missing something here? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PennyTikkaNoodles Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 We are just using shredded paper in the nesting box but even bits of that are falling through the hole although just tiny pieces. Not sure why it is there - could you put some paper underneath and then auboise on the top? Interesting to see that before our Pepperpot started to lay eggs, she would throw out all the shredded paper until there was nothing left and then to add insult to injury they would poo in the empty nest box. Bit of a pain to have to clean out the nesting box every day of poo and then fill it up with more shredded paper. The first egg I collected was in an empty nesting box! I am really happy to report that since she has started laying they have been leaving the paper in the nesting box and not soiling it either. Marvellous!! Hopefully she has turned a corner. They really are very clever..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 18, 2008 Author Share Posted March 18, 2008 (edited) We are just using shredded paper in the nesting box but even bits of that are falling through the hole although just tiny pieces. Not sure why it is there - could you put some paper underneath and then auboise on the top? Interesting to see that before our Pepperpot started to lay eggs, she would throw out all the shredded paper until there was nothing left and then to add insult to injury they would poo in the empty nest box. Bit of a pain to have to clean out the nesting box every day of poo and then fill it up with more shredded paper. The first egg I collected was in an empty nesting box! I am really happy to report that since she has started laying they have been leaving the paper in the nesting box and not soiling it either. Marvellous!! Hopefully she has turned a corner. They really are very clever..... PTK, thanks for this, so do you reckon to leave the aubiose or give it a go with shredded paper? I really don't understand chickens Edited March 18, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabergé Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 I use shredded paper in my nest box but line the bottom with a couple of whole sheets first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 You could try putting a sheet of kitchen paper under the aubiose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 18, 2008 Author Share Posted March 18, 2008 I'm so dim I honestly thought the hole was there for a reason apart from cleaning like for airiation so I didn't consider it was ok to block it up. I'll pop some kitchen towel in on the next change at the weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PennyTikkaNoodles Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 As we are new to chicken keeping (and it shows!) we just started out with shredded paper and they seem to be quite happy with it. I've just left the bits of paper in the whole as it is preventing more from falling through. I check the shredded paper every day to see if it is damp and replace if necessary but thankfully this is getting less. I did think about getting some auboise but as the run is on wood chippings and hasn't gone soggy so far, figured there was no need (have the run covered with some of that corrugated plastic from B&Q). They kick the chippings around which covers the poos every day and still manage to expose the mud underneath to have a dust bath in one corner. Last weekend we raked up the old chippings and put on the shrub borders in the garden and then replaced with some new chippings. The old shredded paper goes straight into the compost bin along with the contents of the eglu tray. It is great because everything is getting recycled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsy Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Would the nest box maybe get slightly sweaty with a warm chicken bum sat in it if it was just a plastic bowl? I imagine there is a reason... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Ranger Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I always assumed the hole was there for cleaning rather than ventilation - i.e. if an egg gets trodden on etc. Can't see any reason why blocking it with paper would be a problem, as thats all that would happen with the bedding after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 There is a similar hole in the Cube nest box. Following advice on here, I simply put a piece of gaffa tape over it. I use Aubiose in the nest box, which is easy to use, easy to clean and a winner all round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I taped up the middle of the cube hole but left a small hole at either end for ventilation - my chooks were pulling all the straw through from underneath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwichick Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I'm using some sticky mesh tape to cover the nestbox hole, the kind that plasterers use when taping plasterboard. Ventiliation and containment at the same time! Now if only I could figure out why I only find squitty poo's in the nest box I'll be happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I recall a thread about this in the past- it said the hole was there to help stop a hen getting too warm & being prone to going broody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I put a piece of kitchen paper over the hole then fill with aubiose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...