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

[C&T]

Normally I wait till both chooks have layed before dismantling and cleaning the Eglu, otherwise I get "told off" for the entire time the Eglu is in pieces! But yesterday I didn't have time to wait, and so got on with it.

 

I dismantled and cleaned and brushed and hosed, when towards the end, Fred started telling me off, and so I hurried to put it all back together again so her ladyship could lay me an egg.

 

But Fred continued to tell me off. I showed her the Eglu, she went inside, but soon came back out moaning - not a happy girl. Backwards and forwards she ran. I checked her, I checked the Eglu, and could see nothing wrong. I put her on the nestbox, and she ran out again complaining. Half an hour later Fred was still complaining, and in obvious need to lay an egg. By now she is looking for other places to lay around the garden whilst telling me what she thinks of me in no uncertain terms.

 

Then I remembered I hadn't put any red mite powder in the eglu. I normally put some in the nest box to get into their feathers as they settle down to lay, as well as some around the house.

 

As SOON as I had done that, she stopped complaining, in she went, layed an egg very happily, and went back to digging up the garden...

 

How fussy can you get!

[Christian]

Mine are exactly the same. They are almost as addicted to the smell of it as I am. Almost.

[craftyhunnypie]

Ha ha, they know if their house maid hasn't done it to their satisfaction!

Mine are the same.

 

Emma.x

[katieadams]

I've not been using mite powder yet - we've only had them 3 weeks and not had a problem yet. Should I be using it all the time anyway?

[chick wiggle]

Snap Katieadams, I have never used powder yet either and am now wondering the same thing. Do you just put it in the house wether you have red mite or not cos as of yet (touch wood) not a sign of the little red devils.

[Egluntyne]

I use it all the time in the house.....for no better reason than that the smell is heavenly.

[C&T]

I've not been using mite powder yet - we've only had them 3 weeks and not had a problem yet. Should I be using it all the time anyway?

 

We didn't use it origially, but then suddenly there were a lot of Gingers feathers in the Eglu. A liberal sprinkling on the chooks and in the eglu, and she stopped losing her feathers at night. (Was also very relieved it wasn't Fred pulling Gingers feathers out!!)

 

I now routinely sprinkle each time they are cleaned out (and am reminded when I don't ) and no return of the little bugs...

 

And it does smell good!!

[tidygirlsuk]

Snap Katieadams, I have never used powder yet either and am now wondering the same thing. Do you just put it in the house wether you have red mite or not cos as of yet (touch wood) not a sign of the little red devils.

 

They come out at night !

[chick wiggle]

Sounds like a-shopping we will go. What about bokashi aswell, and garlic powder?

Oh its confusing

 

Please tell me if i should be using anything else.

 

I know there has been mention of all these things before but to have everything that i should be using mentioned in one place would be a great help.

[katieadams]

Ohhhhh I didn't know that, I thought the chickens would be itching away and there'd be wee red critters all over ! Maybe we should get some Sandie - I'd hate to think they were ichy and I was clueless to it!! Think I will (seems weird that it would smell nice ). Do you just sprinkle it all over the house and bedding? How much do you use?? OOH do you think they might start laying as a 'thank you'???

[katieadams]

Sounds like a-shopping we will go. What about bokashi aswell, and garlic powder?

Oh its confusing

 

Please tell me if i should be using anything else.

 

I know there has been mention of all these things before but to have everything that i should be using mentioned in one place would be a great help.

 

 

Great minds think alike ha ha!

 

You're right a list would be great - it's confusing trying to pull all the info together (not to mention difficult not to get sidetracked and start reading everything else on the forum, only to realise hours later you still don't know what you need )

[chick wiggle]

That would be good wouldnt it - appreciative hens!

[Patricia W]

I helped my friend who has 2 broody orps do hers on Saturday. She says they have been showering everyone and everything in powder when they flap around! We maybe over did it - but the smell is heavenly!

[tidygirlsuk]

Ohhhhh I didn't know that, I thought the chickens would be itching away and there'd be wee red critters all over ! Maybe we should get some Sandie - I'd hate to think they were ichy and I was clueless to it!! Think I will (seems weird that it would smell nice ). Do you just sprinkle it all over the house and bedding? How much do you use?? OOH do you think they might start laying as a 'thank you'???

 

 

I spinkle on the end of roosting bars, poo tray and nest box. In my wood house i do the same including all crevices. hope this helps.

[tidygirlsuk]

Sounds like a-shopping we will go. What about bokashi aswell, and garlic powder?

Oh its confusing

 

Please tell me if i should be using anything else.

 

I know there has been mention of all these things before but to have everything that i should be using mentioned in one place would be a great help.

 

 

There is a thread here about a shopping list

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=23387&view=unread#unread

[katieadams]

I spinkle on the end of roosting bars, poo tray and nest box. In my wood house i do the same including all crevices. hope this helps.

 

It does, thanks! Think I'll get some

[chick wiggle]

Thanks for that tidygirlsuk, have now copied and pasted to word, and so have a shopping list. I really do need half of that list, so thanks again

[tidygirlsuk]

No problem glad to help. I had a lot of help from people on this site when i first started out and it's nice to be at the stage that i can help others.