Sarajane Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Hi, I'm still new to all this and would really appreciate some advice from more experienced hen / Eglu owners. 1) I've been washing out my Eglu each week and swapping over my sets of roosting bars while they dry (I picked up the idea of ordering a spare set on this site so thanks everyone). Do I need to get Mite Powder as well and if I do how often should I use it. 2) I'd like to use something in the droppings tray to make it easier to empty. It would be difficult to get / store aubiose or hemcore and it looks an awkward shape for lining with newspaper. Can I use the wood chippings you get in the pet shop for guinea pigs etc. or is that the wrong type of wood chips? 3) I've been topping up the Grub feeder before the hens finish all the feed,to make it easier to reach, and then emptying it completely once a week. Is this ok or am I risking contaminated feed? Also I notice a lot of dust accumulates at the bottom of the feeder - do I need to be concerned about this? 4) I've been moving the Eglu and run around the garden once or twice a week. I have 3 hens and have a converter on the run so it's quite long and tricky to move on my own! Two questions here really - Is there a knack to single handed round-the-garden Eglu moving? and, what's the best way to deal with the flattened areas of trodden in chicken poo left on the grass? Hope to hear from some of you soon ... Thanks, Sara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Hi, I'm still new to all this and would really appreciate some advice from more experienced hen / Eglu owners. 1) I've been washing out my Eglu each week and swapping over my sets of roosting bars while they dry (I picked up the idea of ordering a spare set on this site so thanks everyone). Do I need to get Mite Powder as well and if I do how often should I use it. I do have mite powder - Barrier red mite powder and i put a light preventative sprinkle around the nooks and crannies of the eglu on cleaning day after a clean. it smells lovely too! 2) I'd like to use something in the droppings tray to make it easier to empty. It would be difficult to get / store aubiose or hemcore and it looks an awkward shape for lining with newspaper. Can I use the wood chippings you get in the pet shop for guinea pigs etc. or is that the wrong type of wood chips? You could use newspaper (just fold it) 3) I've been topping up the Grub feeder before the hens finish all the feed,to make it easier to reach, and then emptying it completely once a week. Is this ok or am I risking contaminated feed? Also I notice a lot of dust accumulates at the bottom of the feeder - do I need to be concerned about this? I do the same as you - I top up the feeders during the week and any leftovers on cleanout day (saturday) are thrown away then the grub and glug are power washed out, and no problems here. 4) I've been moving the Eglu and run around the garden once or twice a week. I have 3 hens and have a converter on the run so it's quite long and tricky to move on my own! Two questions here really - Is there a knack to single handed round-the-garden Eglu moving? and, what's the best way to deal with the flattened areas of trodden in chicken poo left on the grass? I blast all the poos on my lawn with the hosepipe....they then wash into the lawn - i think it does the lawn some good! Hope to hear from some of you soon ... Thanks, Sara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I'd use red mite powder on the ends of the roosting bars, just to be on the safe side. I don't think it matters what you use in the droppings tray as (in theory!) the chickens shouldn't get access to it. I've used shredded paper, but it tends to poke up between the roosting bars - aubiose is good, but just folded newspaper will make it easier to clean out. I don't think wood shavings would do any harm though, and they would make it easy to tip the droppings out. I top up all week and then wash it out once in a while, and as far as I know have had no problems with contaminated feed. You do get dust but it doesn't seem to do any harm. Can't answer the one about the Eglu, I'm afraid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Hi 1. I have spare roosting bars. I put the wet, cleaned ones in the greenhouse to dry out. I don't use red mite powder as - touch wood - I've not had a problem yet. But may be worth getting some as Chelsea suggests. 2. I use 2 sheets of newspaper in the larger area of the tray and put a sprinkling (not too much) of Auboise on the top. It soaks up poos and the whole lot goes in the compost bin. Get Auboise (or Hemcore it's UK manufactured equivalent from horse supply shops). 3. You can do what you are doing at the moment. Or over time you will work out how much they eat each day. I started off putting out the recomended amount given on the size of the layers pellets bag and then adjusted it. They eat more when they start laying eggs. I just sort of know how much a day mine eat now and put that out. Unless I'm off on holiday, then I fill it to the top. 4. In the Summer I move my eglu frequently and you can blast the flattened pooey areas with a hosepipe it just disintegrates into the ground and the grass bounces back after a week. But in the Winter or colder weather as at the moment, the grass doesn't grow. So I put a layer of Auboise straight onto the grass. I have a run + converter too. I move it sideways as a 1 person job. I pick up the run end and swivel it sideways. I then take the poo tray out of the eglu. You can then lift the eglu using the hole left where the tray goes - DO use rubber gloves though as it can be a bit messy - and then I move that end along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Hi, I'm still new to all this and would really appreciate some advice from more experienced hen / Eglu owners. 1) I've been washing out my Eglu each week and swapping over my sets of roosting bars while they dry (I picked up the idea of ordering a spare set on this site so thanks everyone). Do I need to get Mite Powder as well and if I do how often should I use it. I do have mite powder - Barrier red mite powder and i put a light preventative sprinkle around the nooks and crannies of the eglu on cleaning day after a clean. it smells lovely too! 2) I'd like to use something in the droppings tray to make it easier to empty. It would be difficult to get / store aubiose or hemcore and it looks an awkward shape for lining with newspaper. Can I use the wood chippings you get in the pet shop for guinea pigs etc. or is that the wrong type of wood chips? You could use newspaper (just fold it) 3) I've been topping up the Grub feeder before the hens finish all the feed,to make it easier to reach, and then emptying it completely once a week. Is this ok or am I risking contaminated feed? Also I notice a lot of dust accumulates at the bottom of the feeder - do I need to be concerned about this? I do the same as you - I top up the feeders during the week and any leftovers on cleanout day (saturday) are thrown away then the grub and glug are power washed out, and no problems here. 4) I've been moving the Eglu and run around the garden once or twice a week. I have 3 hens and have a converter on the run so it's quite long and tricky to move on my own! Two questions here really - Is there a knack to single handed round-the-garden Eglu moving? and, what's the best way to deal with the flattened areas of trodden in chicken poo left on the grass? I blast all the poos on my lawn with the hosepipe....they then wash into the lawn - i think it does the lawn some good! Hope to hear from some of you soon ... Thanks, Sara We have exactly the same set up as you and do exactly the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 thanks everyone, I too had similar questions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I don't put anything in the poo tray...I just empty it, give it a quick swoosh with a hosepipe, an old kitchen brush and some ecover. A light spray of vegetable oil stops the poo sticking too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Yep...folded newspaper in the droppings tray...I change it daily...no probs...takes few minutes...then staight into the compost bin Shredded paper in the nesting box...alas no eggs yet...but hoping for some soon Only one set roosting bars at the moment...scrub them every 3rd day approx...letting them dry in the sun today...then a lovely dusting of red mite powder...gorg smell Will be buying another set ready for the colder weather...unless DH makes a set I also top up food as and when...and clean out grub weekly...I wash out glug daily and refill...adding a little apple cider vinegar Good luck from one newbie to another Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckov Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I put Easibed in the droppings tray, the poo then clumps up on it and the whole lot slides off easily into the green bin. Easibed is like little tiny wood chippings. As for the Grub, I have to confess I haven't yet cleaned it out, it's a big old mix of pellets, diatomaceous earth and poultry spice A job for the weekend then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...