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

[maryeadrian]

Hi. I'm very, very new to this. So new I don't have my chicks yet! Actually, I'm waiting for the next shipment to the States for my cube.

 

I decided to put 1/4 in wine mesh under the ground to help rat proof it. But now I hear that the 13 gauge wire (and I really don't know what that looks like) is fairly big. Can a rat get through it? Do I need to cover the entire Cube with something? If so, that would mean the door, too.

 

Any ideas??? Suggestions???

 

Looking forward to any and all ideas.

 

Thanks,

 

Mary

[Olly]

Hi, welcome to the forum!

 

I've never (*touches wood*) had a rat problem, but the most popular approach seems to be to put the Cube and run on slabs, so that rats can't tunnel underneath the skirt at the edge. I believe someone else on here found that rats could actually get through the holes in the run though.

 

Sorry, can't give much advice but I know there are people who've been plagued with the little beasts, I'm sure someone will be along with more substantial advice shortly.

[Egluntyne]

Article about **rats** here. I have my cube and Eglus on slabs and haven't had problems with rats actually getting into the run....as far as I know. They have tried to tunnel under the slabs though.

 

Have had no signs of rats since putting poison down a ouple of weeks ago.

[maryeadrian]

Thanks for your replies. I thought about putting them on cement blocks, but worried that they wouldn't be able to pick at the ground all day while I'm at work. Oh, I HOPE those "Ooops, word censored!"s can't get through the wire, but I just have this feeling.....I've only seen one or two at night around the bird seed. And that was only a couple of times. And I plan to take their food in at night. Guess I'll have to wait and see and then just deal with it.

 

Hardest part is waiting for the Cube! Mine doesn't come till the next shipment (late Spring) to the US. So I compulsively read everything I can until then!!!

 

Thanks again!

 

Mary

[maryeadrian]

MY APOLOGIES! I didn't know that word was a swear word! Here in the states, it doesn't seem to be. I checked with some friends, and yep, I was wrong. Sorry! (How embarrasing! )

[Redwing]

Don't worry - no one got to see the word

 

As this is a family forum the naughty word filter is quite strict so sometimes even words that have other meanings or aren't particularly bad get censored just to be on the safe side

 

As for rat proofing, slabs or concrete are good as long as they have a covering for the chickens to scratch in such as woodchip. I have mesh under my Eglu and run covered in woodchip I havent had any problems but will be moving them to slabs as they will be easier for me to clean.

[maryeadrian]

I didn't know that!!!! I mean about the bark or whatever you put down being enough for them to scratch in. That makes life a little easier. I kept thinking they "needed" dirt/grass/etc. for scratching and getting worms. (Which they'll get on weekends and evenings when it's light out.) I did wonder if there were even enough worms or bugs for them to even get within the run. Thanks!

[Redwing]

Woodchip is just fine for them to scratch in, I guess my layer is about 4-5 inches deep but 3 inches would be ok. use something around the bottom of the run sides to stop it spilling out

 

They don't have to be on dirt and a solid base helps when you need to clean them out.

 

If you do put them on dirt you can still use the woodchips to keep it from getting too muddy - it helps if you cindition the earth underneath every now and again if you aren't going to move the run, powdered GARDEN lime (not builders stuff) and a chook friendly powdered disinfectant will do it.

 

They don't really need bugs but a lot will get in through the bars anyway, mine find all sorts to eat in the woodchip!

[maryeadrian]

This is such a relief. Wood chips are easy enough. I just really wanted to make sure I was doing whatever was best.

 

I've seen pictures of the things folks put around their cubes to keep the wood chips or hemocore in. They look so good! Coworkers are now telling me I've become compulsive about this. My response is, "Wait till I actually get the chicken!"

[Redwing]

my colleagues show polite interest then start backing away when I start on about my girls - I used to be a workaholic but not any more!

 

you can always come and talk to us, we are always interested