Brooding hen has chicks in nesting box

[alison]

Can I just ask, should they not sleep in the nesting box? All six of mine are cuddled up together in it.

 

It was really good to see chief bossy hen snuggled up to amber star that she has been beating up all day long!

[Steve.]

I've only had chooks for a few days ... but I though they were supposed to sleep on the bars as they simulated a branch ... and the easy change poo tray underneath. I don't fancy scrubbing out the nesting box each day.

[alison]

I have put shredded paper in the nesting box and just change it daily. They don't seem to do that many poos!

[The Dogmother]

The only real issue is the poo-y mess that they make in the nest box over night. In warm weather though (what's that?) they can get rather warm in the nest box all night and it might encourage broodiness... not that my little bantie madams need any encouragement!

 

Good news Steve; sounds like you're really enjoying them.

[Gallina]

I don't like cleaning poo-y mess up first thing in the morning, but I don't like eggs covered with poo later either.

 

So I have always lifted any new hen who fancied the nesting box as a bed on to the bars when I shut the Eglu/Cube up at night. They soon learned to stay there -- often from Day 1.

[Steve.]

I'm wary of opening the 'sunroof' too far in case they try and make a break for freedom. Some of my birds are young and bouncy.

 

Am I worrying too much?

[Yolky]

At night when it is dark they should be too sleepy to flap out. I open my eggport door every night and give them a smooth and a cuddle so they get used to me. I have had no escapees yet.

[Steve.]

Our run extension arrived today.

 

(Nightfreight drive their lorry like I drove my first car, a 2.0S Capri)

 

Charles Atlas then chucked the whole lot on his shoulder and carried it with one hand. Impressive for a run extension, extra arch, and some other bits.

 

Will post some pics once it's all sorted.

[Snowy]

Our run extension arrived today.

 

(Nightfreight drive their lorry like I drove my first car, a 2.0S Capri)

 

Charles Atlas then chucked the whole lot on his shoulder and carried it with one hand. Impressive for a run extension, extra arch, and some other bits.

 

Will post some pics once it's all sorted.

 

Pics of Charles Atlas?

[Lapinou]

Our run extension arrived today.

 

(Nightfreight drive their lorry like I drove my first car, a 2.0S Capri)

 

Charles Atlas then chucked the whole lot on his shoulder and carried it with one hand. Impressive for a run extension, extra arch, and some other bits.

 

Will post some pics once it's all sorted.

 

Pics of Charles Atlas?

 

I've got my fingers crossed too!

[little chickadee]

I like your style!

 

Never known a man who does the chicken cleaning... just don't tell me that you cook too A rare thing indeed.

 

 

My Steve does the chicken cleaning too Clare

[Steve.]

Apart from sore thumbs after all those clips .... here it is.

 

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/83/dsc3550hh8.jpg

[lisa33]

Looking lovely!

 

The is soooo

[Gallina]

That's looks really nice. I must be brave and make a bigger entrance myself.

 

That picture is really interesting, as it shows the Eglu's footprint quite clearly and proves that a Cube with standard run plus one extension takes up the same amount of space as an Eglu without an extension.

[quickcluck]

Hi steve,

 

Did you fix it to the curve in the roof with clips or velcro straps???

 

Well done looks brill, are your chooks looking more comfy now???

[Steve.]

Hi steve,

 

Did you fix it to the curve in the roof with clips or velcro straps???

 

Well done looks brill, are your chooks looking more comfy now???

 

Haven't got that far yet. Will take a look at what's on offer and see if there is anything else that'd do the job.

 

Chooks are a lot more comfortable - a cube without an extension is a bit snug.

[quickcluck]

Let us know how you get on! Ours are coming on friday, we can't believe how quickly it was come round..... Also have another extension on order as was worried about space as the wont be out that much.....

 

Keep the posts coming!

[Steve.]

Got some velcro - not really convinced that it is that secure and takes longer to take off than the Omlet plastic clips.

 

Might see if I can get some metal based clips --- haven't seen anything better than what's been discussed in the other threads.

 

A couple of online-chandlers sell some nice looking clips but not sure what size to get ....

[quickcluck]

Hmmmmmmmmm we have found zip ties that you can do up again!!!

[Steve.]

A couple of updates, all the chucks are happy to be stroked (and make nice noises) apart from Wilma, the head chook, who is petrified of me.

 

It is wrong to put human emotions onto Chickens ... but if Wilma was a human she'd be a bully who picked on those smaller than herself ... and ran off from those that were bigger.

 

My FIL 'found' a large metal tray

 

A bit of compost later, and the girls were having lots of fun,

 

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/6281/dsc3592ud1.jpg

[Chickvic]

What a lovely pic! They certainly look to be enjoying themselves

[The Dogmother]

They're loving that Steve

[Steve.]

They're loving that Steve

 

The little tarts were in there for hours showing off their knickers.

[The Dogmother]

Mine make me laugh - they have an ancient round enamelled bowl about 18" across, four of my bantams can get in there at the same time and they roll around, just loving it. They especially like wood ash from the stove.

 

I know that I shouldn't anthropomorphise them, but they have a look of sheer enjoyement on their tiny faces

[Sarah B]

Hi Steve,

 

Sarah from up the road. Your girls look like they are coming on well!

 

Mine dust bathe in the garden. They especially enjoy a particular earth border where the cats poo - such chavs they are! Weird that they don't smell of poo??

 

By the way, as you are up the road have you had an increased amount of flies on the lawn round the chooky poo lately? Seems like a fly invasion last few days.