Katy Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 We are going away for 10 days soon, and FIL will be looking after the girls. He has quite serious back problems and I'm hoping to have them on a permanent base with wood chippings by the time we leave so he wont have to move the eglu around onto new grass as we are doing at the moment. Whilst he could in theory bend down to empty the droppings tray I'd rather he didn't have to as doubled up eyeball to eyeball with a pile of poo is not somewhere I'd want him to get stuck! Anyway, getting to the point - If I put hemicore or similar into the tray would it be ok to be left for 10 days as long as he changed the straw in the nesting box? We have the plastic bars so pretty much everything drops through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I would inagine it would be quite smelly and full of flies after 10 days. Is there anyone who could empty it once while you are away? 5 days wouldn't be so bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I squirt citronella oil in the droppings tray and have never had flies inside Eglu even when i leave it for 5-6 days.I personally wouldnt leave the tray for 10 days purey because of the build up of poop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 we are going for a week and although it's not ideal we are not asking our SIL to change tray. Auboise helps and citronella too - it may not be perfect but will probably be ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 You might get away with changing it just once in that time. Looking at your signature you've only got 2 hens so you get much less poop in the tray than I get with my 4. And I can get away with a weekly change if I have to. I sprinkle about 3 handfuls of Auboise (similar to Hemcore) in the poo tray on top of a sheet of newspaper. I also use Auboise in the nest box too (then your FIL wouldn't have to change the straw). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 Thanks for that, I'm sure he will be fine cleaning it out once or twice - I just don't want to ask more of him than necessary. Will definately use some citronella tip to combat any flies- typically the moment we leave the country the weather heats up at home! At least both girls are now laying so he will get plenty of rewards for his trouble - I'm gonna miss the eggs whilst we're away, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Hi Katy, When you think about it, hens do poo and live in its environs without harm. While flies might take advantage of it, hens don't seem to suffer from it. They even are happy to drink from water contiminated by it (I have a hen who climbs up on the glug before bedtime and poos there). Yes, it would be nice if everything was tidy and sanitary, but hens seem to be the last critters who suffer. Better that your FIL should not harm his back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayflower Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 So....does this also mean he wo'nt be collecting the eggs then? Although I do'nt have an eglu, but a cube, I imagined that the nest box is more or less the same height as the trays. Just wondering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 I agree, with just the two hens, not emptying the poo tray for a week should not present a massive problem. Bending once to collect the eggs is less of an issue than the bending, twisting and carrying involved in emptying a poo tray, so your FIL should be able to manage that. He will know his limitations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted July 23, 2008 Author Share Posted July 23, 2008 He will know his limitations. You'd think! Possibly the most accident prone person I know - I wont tell you how he ended up with the back problems! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 at the risk of sounding extremely slummy here, I have sometimes not cleaned mine out for 10 days (either due to weather or lack of time) and as I dont clean out in between 'proper' cleans (ie dismantling, hosing etc), that means 10 days worth of poo. in my opinion, its been absolutely fine, and that was when I had 2 bluebells and 2 sussexes in the one eglu, so quite substantial poos! but they were freeranging all day, so if yours just have the run and eglu that could be different. the most important thing is that your FIL doesnt make his back worse... and I agree that removing the poo tray is not the easiest thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 Ithe bending, twisting and carrying involved in emptying a poo tray, 1. I got my neighbour to simply pull the tray out and tip into large bin bag - very easy to do - no carrying involved - and its not that heavy anyway - left right amount of aubiose in anther bag for her to top up tray. 2. I only clean mine out once a week - thats fine with just 2 girls - I'm sure 10 days would not be a problem. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
