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

[homefarm]

In my ex-battery cube nest box I have put chopped straw, but am now hearing that this is not a good idea. Also, my ladies have eaten and scratched away all the grass in their (extended) run! They free range for about two hours a day in the week and longer at the weekend, but I would like to give them something to scratch around at during the day. They dont seem to mind not having any grass and are loving dust baths in their run.

My questions are:

1. What is your prefered choice of nesting box material

2. Do you put anything in the perch area (I dont at the mo)

3. What should I put at the bottom of their run?

 

At the moment I rake out the run every evening for poop, and clean out the perch area daily. I remove the straw in the nesting box twice a week and replace with fresh stuff. Is that enough?

homefarmer

[scrambledhead]

Hello, I have an Eglu and put chopped straw in the nest box which I change daily as Jerry sleeps (poos) in it

 

I use Aubiose under the perches its very absorbent and seems to nuetralise the smell.

 

Hope your ex bats are doing well?

[homefarm]

Thanks yes, they are lovely and very chicken like now! My hens pooped in the nest box at first but now they dont. Funny really, they just stopped over night!!! Do you put anything in the run?

[Raina]

Hi,

 

I'm currently using Newspaper & Straw

 

but after reading about the straw i think i'll just use newspaper until i next go up town.

 

 

I put a lemon scented bin liner in the poop tray this morning,i put them in the bottom of the rats cage too,keeps the smell down a little too

[Hen Watch]

Auboise in nestbox

Auboise in the run (covered)

Auboise sprinkled in poop tray.

 

Big Auboise fan here ........

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Easibed and shredded paper in nestbox.

Couple of sheets of newspaper with citronella sprinkled on it in the poo tray.

Easibed on soil on the run floor.

 

You're very houseproud . I clean the poo tray out weekly but I do poo pick in the run daily .