clarissahen Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Why oh why aren't the roosting slats made of plastic? Ours are already coming loose and they would be soooo much easier to clean if they were not wooden! It's the biggest flaw in the eglu system...and we've got two eglus and an eggcube. And when I say loose...I mean the glue joining the slats to the base, if you get what I mean! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Join the club, we have all been moaning for ages! We ALL want plastic ones!!!! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 They are a pain aren't they. Add your voice to the poll in the survey forum asking for plastic ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I have to admit that I don't want plastic ones because I think that if they weren't solid plastic and were hollow in the middle I think they'd bend over the chickens weight. Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Wood is easier for chickens to grab hold of while roosting and this is likely why Omlet wont make plastic ones.Plastic maybe easier to clean,but it might also be too shiny for them to keep hold of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 My hens really struggle with the plastic Cube ladder to the point where we've had to make a wooden ramp to put over it as they keep sliding off it, bless them. I did wonder whether plastic roosting bars would have the same problem too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieMcHen Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Plastic ones with the same coating as the OXO 'cumfi grip' (sp?)kitchen tool handles would be fine. You often find the same coating on spanners and hammers etc to improve grip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGeorge Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 Would plastic roosting bars with wooden side bars be any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarissahen Posted April 20, 2008 Author Share Posted April 20, 2008 It must be possible to design grippy plastic slats...both for the cube ladders and the roosting perches. The wood is not good. Don't see much merit in mixing wood and plastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 20, 2008 Share Posted April 20, 2008 Why not send your thoughts to Omlet. They rarely have time to browse the forum, but if they thought there was enough customer interest, they might give it a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Am I the only person on this forum who loves the fact that the slats are made of wood, and wouldn't touch plastic ones? They don't have to be perfectly clean: mine have the natural look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGeorge Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I actually made myself a couple of spare rooster bar sets out of wood and am quite happy with them, but when I read about people wanting plastic ones I thought if would be quite quick and easy to make them with plastic roosting bars and wooden side bars but it seems mixing plastic with wood is a bit of a no no, never mind it seemed like a good idea at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 We have plastic bars Hubby is in the trade, & got some thick plastic stuff to make me a set of bars which I use in the bants Eglu. The poo just slides off them & into the tray, so they stay amazingly clean. If I am 100% honest,I do prefer the wooden ones as I worry about the plastic being slippery,so I am asking him to make me some textured plastic ones next to get around this problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsy Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Am I the only person on this forum who loves the fact that the slats are made of wood, and wouldn't touch plastic ones? They don't have to be perfectly clean: mine have the natural look. No you're not the only one I wouldn't change to plastic. I find it quite easy to get the wooden ones clean anyway at the moment, though I have only had my chooks 5 weeks, I guess my opinion could change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I like the wooden ones too. I have 4 sets and a quick blast with the pressure washer and they come up like new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonywig Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Surely the plastic bars could have a textured finish to make grip easier. I appreciate this wouldn't keep them as cleanas a shiny surface but they wouldn't fall apart like the wooden ones. I've only had mine about 7 weeks and they are already looking like they're not going to last much longer. How about a plastic "frame" that had wooden slats dropped into it which could be replaced using timber available from any DIY store (i.e. what my dad used to call "two by one" or similar). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsy Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 I just think wood would feel more natural and warm for their little feet after a hard day being a chicken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGeorge Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 How about making the bars from wooden dowel pushed down hosepipe cut to length. Hose pipe is fairly soft, but not soft enough for the hens feet to cut, it's plastic so it should clean easily, and the bars would have a core of wood so they should be strong enough. Just a thought, but like the majority I think I prefer the wooden bars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 My wooden bars are fine after a year - I'm worried this means I'm a slob who doesn't clean them often enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 hubs is making me another couple of sets so that I have spares (he's a carpenter) and very disgruntled that he couldn't make my hen house out of wood.. but he's come around since seeing my orange eglu.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 My wooden bars are fine after a year - I'm worried this means I'm a slob who doesn't clean them often enough Well, have your chickens complained? When they march up to the run door and demand a scrubbing-brush, you know you've left them too long! I don't do mine all that often, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safari chick Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I just ordered a spare set of roosting bars for my mark one. When they arrived the loose bars were very mouldy. I complained to omlet and said that I didnt want them goign anywhere near my chickens. They said all their sets for the mark one will be mouldy as they keep them in the warehouse. I told them I was very disapointed! Does anyone have any idea how I can stop the mould growth without using a nasty chemical? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 You could try vinegar to stop the mould. I really want plastic roosting bars. Mine have never come up like new even though i use a pressure washer on them, there's still a few stains Surely textured plastic would be okay for the girls. I use the pressure washer so much that they are starting to splinter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safari chick Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Thanks - I'll try that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Well I ordered a spare set and they arrived today - that way I can leave one set drying whilst the other is put in after cleaning the eglu. I like the wood and they clean up fine! Louise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...