Soggy run

[LaPoule]

I have a 5 year old Mark 1 eglu, which I am planning on using as in integration unit when the new girls arrive in a few weeks

 

But we can no longer remove the first section of the run from the eglu! Le Monsieur reckons that something inside the eglu, which the run screws into, has come loose, so when we try to unscrew the bolts, they just turn and turn without coming undone!

 

Has anyone had a similar experience? Any suggestions? I was hoping to put it in the WIR (not built), without anything attached, but if I saw the bolts off, I will never be able to attach a run again!

[tom123]

Don't know how to help just wondered what new girls are you getting?

 

Good Luck

Tom

[Lewis]

Is it an allen key screw or a flat head screw/bolt?

 

I collected my eglu this week and it came with flat head bolts and not the allen key ones as shown on the plans. He said they were really hard to get off but WD40 made it easier.

[ubereglu]

Oh, I know what you mean, (I think). The original Mark 1 eglus came with plastic bolts and yours have now got stuck and you can't remove them, I know this has happened to a few people, but can't remember how they got them out. I think Kate might know though, so you could try PMing her, as she'd know what I mean.

[Cooks]

I think I remember reading on here that someone had bought an eglu from ebay where the plastic bolts were sheared off and they had to drill out the holes. I am sure I read that somewhere.

[LaPoule]

The bolts are unscrewed with an allen key, and they are metal, but it is possible that the part they screw into is plastic and that's what's come loose... I might give them squirt with WD40, but the problem is they do turn, but that's all they do. Whatever they're bolted into inside the eglu is turning with them (And they used to unscrew - I've owned the unit from new, and unscrewed the whole lot when we moved 3 years ago, but haven't removed the run since).

 

Thanks for the suggestion of PM'ing Kate, Ubereglu - it's definitely worth a try, because I don't really want to shear them off.

 

OR - I could just leave the run attached as an integration/isolation unit, and then buy a runless eglu for some quail, and stick it in the WIR...

Don't worry, they will be separate from the chickens - I will stick a couple of metres of cube run in there, with some finer mesh or kickboards to prevent them getting pecked.

 

Tom - I am getting another Poland bantam and a white Sussex bantam at the end of the month, and then in August I am getting two silkie bantams! YAY! Bantams = more chickens for your space! I love economics

[Redwing]

I've just bought one of the allen key ones and the bolts on mine screw in to metal a metal threaded 'holder part' in the Eglu so it could be that your metal threads have come unstuck from the inside of the holes so are just twisting around and around (does that make sense?)

 

Perhaps leave the first part of the run on the Eglu (with no end on) and let them just have a porch?

 

I have used the first section and added the door panel which does attach but is obviously a bit big so doesnt look the best but makes a nice small run for young chooks