4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[MedusA]

I know I've read something on the forum recently about chicks not using roosting bars before a certain age (due to lack of bone formation, I think), but I'm blowed if I can find the post!

 

Anybody able to point me in the right direction? I'm off to bed but will check in the morning. Thanks.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Is this the one you meant?

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28226&highlight=

[MedusA]

Thanks, ANH, but it wasn't that one I'm afraid. I think it was about a week or two ago. One of the experienced Omleteers was saying that before a certain age, chicks should not have the roosting bars in the eglu, and I'm just a bit worried about my 10 week old Araucanas. I don't want to cause them harm.

 

Thanks anyway.

[Gallina]

It was Clare who said it to me: she said I must take the roosting bars out of the Eglu before my eggs hatch.

 

She was thinking about tiny chicks, which I imagine could get trapped between the bars. She also suggested plastic mesh to stop them slipping on the floor of the poo-tray, which is of course where they would be standing once the bars are removed.

 

They have to be able to stand easily and straight for their legs to grow straight. But perhaps at 10 weeks they are OK? By then they are not spending a lot of time in the Eglu are they?

[MedusA]

Thanks Gallina, that has reassured me. Phew!

[The Dogmother]

They will be fine at that age Medusa. Don't worry.

 

As Gallina said, little tiny chooks need some of that non-slip rubberised matting inside the eglu. Their muscular control is very poor at that age and they may well end up with splayed legs if they can't stand properly. can't find any online piccies of the stuff that I mean, but it's available in most hardware stores.

[hils78]

Is it that rubbery perforated stuff that comes in different colours? I can't find it either but have found rolls of the stuff in the Pound shop (classy me!).

[Gallina]

I will confess now that I don't think I know exactly what Clare means, but I am thinking of using the mat that my son used to have in the bath (not used for about twenty years).

[BeckyBoo]

I have to say I took out the roosting bars but I didn't put any rubber matting in, I just put bedding like normal and they've been fine.

Mine have had access to the outside since the day they hatched as well, I know some people have been querying how old they have to be before they can go out, but maybe that's eggs hatched in incubators.

 

Mrs B

[MedusA]

Thanks for the further reassurance, Clare. I am not likely to have very baby chicks, but it's also useful to know what to do if ever I did. Does that make sense?

 

Little darlings went into the eglu by themselves the first night, but every night since I have had to pick them up and put them in there!

 

Hope your babies do well everyone.

[Pinkybijou]

I left the bars in my Eglu but filled the base up to almost the top of the bars with wood shavings. Little Banjo gets along fine, but still sleeps in the nest with his mummy. I wonder when Dora, the mummy, will leave the nest and start roosting again?

[The Dogmother]

I will confess now that I don't think I know exactly what Clare means, but I am thinking of using the mat that my son used to have in the bath (not used for about twenty years).

 

That should be OK Gallina. Sorry, but I couldn't find any pictures of the one that I use. So long as it's non-slip and they can't trip over it they will be fine.

 

I notice that Lakeland sell a non-slip mat for sinks that is washable and re-useable, so would be good. It's more expensive, but would work.

[bronze]

I took the bars out but used hemcore as a normal layer.

[The Dogmother]

I did that Bron, once they had found their feet and weren't slipping around. I give them about a week on the non-slip matting.