chuckmum Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Since we lost Doris I have contacted two local breeders to get new companion(s) for Mabel. They have both been forthright in their dislike of Eglus but without being very specific. However one did mention that there was no roosting bar and that the slats were too close to the litter tray and that they tended to sit rather than perch which is bad for them. (comments please) As we are grieving for Doris and want Mabel to have the very best conditions (without building a hen hotel - which would take too long) - we have inserted a roosting bar into the eglu so that this 'problem' is addressed. The only thing is Mabel seems to have got into the habit of laying her eggs not in the nest box. This didn't seem to matter when she was on the slats but I have picked up two cracked eggs now because she seems to be laying from the perch(???). How do I get her to revert to laying in the nest box? She was doing this ok to start off with - but we suspect that Doris (who never laid an egg in her short but beautiful life) perhaps used to sit in there so that Mabel (who is an early layer) couldn't get a look in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Hi Chuckmum You'll always get eglu-bashers . It seems to be that some people, who have never actually seen one, know all about their faults (Do you know if these guys have ever seen one in the flesh?) Not sure what they mean about the bars being too close to the poo tray . It only needs to be high enough up for a hen's claws to grasp the bar, surely. Any higher would be unnecessary I would've thought. Although these people are obviously entitled to their opinion, I am happy that Omlet have done their research and have designed a henhouse that provides safe and proper accommodation including bars & nestbox. There are probably thousands of Omlet chickens happily and healthily living in their eglus & cubes so they can't be that awful . Don't blame you for looking for reassurance - an experienced chicken breeder's opinion is hard to ignore . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Mine all roost in a standing position very happily. Unfortunately there will always be those who are critical and give the impression that we have to defend our choice. A lot of it is down to fear of the unknown and a refusal to accept that traditional designs can be improved upon. Sling a deaf ear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I got hubby to make me new roosting bars for my Eglu, with one bar reversed so that it becomes a perch (if you see what I mean - all the other bars are attached to the bottom of the supporting bars across the ends, one is fixed to the top of the bars). I find this helps reduce the poo in the nest box problem. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs chook Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Sling a deaf ear. What a great phrase, never heard that one before! As long as you are happy then that;s fine, mine love theirs ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum Posted October 9, 2008 Author Share Posted October 9, 2008 Since my last post I've done lots of online research into eglus - and have visited a number of independent sites - and I have to say that I have found nothing that is adverse about them apart from the fact that they are a bit expensive! I knew this already but wooden houses rot (I know cos I had one) and do not have integral fox proof runs. Eglus on the other hand are really easy to keep clean and pest free because they are PLASTIC! Hurray for plastic. These are all the reasons I bought an eglu and I haven't changed my mind. However - remember I asked about how to get Mabel to revert to laying her eggs in the nest box? I would still welcome some advice about that. since I posted last she has lain most of her eggs in the box . To discourage her from laying outside the box I put some paper over the slats - this has the added advantage that if she does lay outside the box (from the perch???) the eggs don't crack - however today I found an egg outside the box. I really don't understand what;s going on and would really like her to develop a habit of laying in the box. I have found a good supplier of hens now, which I have visited, and hope to be able to get Mabel two companions tomorrow. I'm sure that she is quite happy being lady of the manor in her large estate - but she cuts a lonely figure in the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 I'm assuming you have checked for a red mite infestation as this can make hens reluctant to be on bedding that may have the little blighters present? What sort of bedding do you use, perhaps try something different and see if that tempts her, I used to use straw but have changed to wood shavings as it was easier to clean out the poo when my new girls used to sleep there. They roost now thankfully. I also used a china egg (bought from ebay for a quid) when my girls started to lay in other places and that worked for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Slats Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Yep, Fake eggs is the way to go. we put a couple of china eggs in our nestbox when we brought the ex bats home as they have never seen a nest box before. Leave the fakes in the nest box, 24/7 and it should only take her a few days to catch on to the idea of laying in there. Once she's got the routine you can take the fake eggs out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
