veggiemad Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Hi. Got my 3 ex batts on sunday, and all is well, abit of pecking to sort out whose boss but this seems to be improving. However, there is Poo Poo Poo everywhere. I'm changing droppings tray everyday and today had to totally clean whole eglu, which is fine but what do i do abut poo in the run. i have an eglu so getting into the run isnt easy , how often should i poo pick from the run, i have hemcore down which is covered from rain etc. any advice- gratefully received. sage GNRonion GNRnutmeg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Hi, congratulations on your new arrivals. I have Auboise (same as Hemcore) on the floor of my eglu run (covered) and I don't poo pick inside the run at all...... I do poo pick the lawn daily where they free range. The poo gets absorbed into the Auboise when the all scratch around. I change the Auboise completely once a month. As for the poo tray. When mine first arrived they pooed for England. I think it's the stress of transit and new surroundings. I was changing the tray daily. But after a month, it all settled down and you will find you only have to change it once or twice a week. (Top tip: put a sheet of newspaper in the tray and sprinkle a handful of hemcore on it - this really helps). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 I never poo picked in my eglu run either . If there was one in arm's reach of the door I'd move but otherwise I left them and as Hen Watch says, they just get absorbed into the bedding. I cleaned out the run every 6 weeks or so and had no problems with smells or anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 I'm a poo picker It started because I didn't want to be standing in it in the garden, then it just got to be a habit. I find it helps the grass stay healthier if I clear the droppings every day or two and chuck them on the compost heap. I also believe it helps break the worm cycle to some extent. My other reason for doing it is because I don't like the idea of them pecking around in poo - that can't be healthy!!! I have an aviary which is currently housing my surplus boys and the concrete floor is covered with easibed (similar to hemcore and aubiose, just that bit cheaper) and I do a complete change in there every week. Guess you've worked out that there's always more than one answer to any question about chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Too true, Jools . I'll just add that I did put Stalosan F down liberally fairly frequently to keep things as hygienic as possible . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 I poo pick the garden - not all of it, but where DH and I are likely to walk. I poo pick the nest box as they do insist on sleeping in there and what I can reach in the actual coop. Not fussed about the run (again, unless I can easily reach it) - I use Megazorb over wood chip. And it gets a good old clean out now and again. What I am going to do is pop out later and get a cover for the front face of my run as if the wind is in the wrong direction it can rain straight in the run. Guess which direction it is blowing today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veggiemad Posted September 3, 2009 Author Share Posted September 3, 2009 thankyou so much- i knew i'd get a friendly answer on here! you'll all fab- thanks for your help, i shall delay my poo picking abit i think, and perhaps splash out on a winter cover as the shower curtain i'm using (cutting costs!) is still letting alot of rain in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 and perhaps splash out on a winter cover And get a winter cover for yourself I am not yet 3 weeks in to this wonderful adventure but I found this morning's cold, windy and tipping with rain tidy of my girls not very nice. Come to that neither was the getting them back in the run after a little FR yesterday pm. It's going to be a mixed corn treat to bribe them home in bad weather everytime from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veggiemad Posted September 3, 2009 Author Share Posted September 3, 2009 I'll take that tip- thankyou, off to the poncho shop! I must admit, its only day 4 and the wind/poo/rain/clucking issues this morning we not for the faint hearted - but isnt it great nevertheless!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Poo picker here too There are days when I don't get time to but I do like to pick up what I can see each day. My run is right next to my neighbours fence and I wouldn't want them to moan about any smells. I only pick the big lumps up though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare L Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 I am afraid I am another poo picker! I really dont like smells and am terrified my neighbours will object if they get smelly! So I nip into the run most afternoon and grab out any lumps, they kick it all to the back anyhow, so I grab the lumps out when I level it off again. I also put down Stalosan and Garden Lime at the weekend and top up the auboise if needed. I have not yet had to do a full change of auboise. Works for a cleaning fanatic like me As for a cover, I would really recommend corregated plastic from B&Q, we used an Eglu when we first got the girls and it fitted a treat and kept all the rain off and we could still see in/keep it light. Just hold it on with a couple of bungees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Like you, I pick the run and garden every day, but I just enjoy raking the hemcore and I have a cube with door conversion. I don't think with an eglu you could do it every day. It's just an excuse to chat with the girls. They are so nosey they sit on the door and rabbit away to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I must admit that unless it's heaving it down, I enjoy a little outside time and poo picking is a great excuse! Same with the twice yearly wood treatment .... always a nice sunny day with chickens for company and plenty of day-dreaming time. I know, I'm sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackieb Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 I'm a several times a day poo picker in the run but my girls don't free range so I like to keep it clean and fresh where they are. Mine are on aubiose which has probably been down 6 weeks and it will need changing completely in the next week as I think it dries any missed poos out completely and they turn to dust and I'm starting to notice a fair amount of this, so next week is clear out time. I poo pick every time I go in to the girls even if it's only a couple of bits it also stops them from walking in it!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowerangelk8x Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 I have our 2 girls on Auboise and i empty the poo tray and nest box every day and change the whole run once a week. i have just been reported to the envioronmental health by my neighbour for smells!!!!!! i'm really glad to read some of you don't change the auboise until 6 weeks.... that makes me feel so much better......so i can do no more!!!! and there IS NO SMELL.... thanks for making me feel so much happier about my cleansing routine!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 I have our 2 girls on Auboise and i empty the poo tray and nest box every day and change the whole run once a week. i have just been reported to the envioronmental health by my neighbour for smells!!!!!! i'm really glad to read some of you don't change the auboise until 6 weeks.... that makes me feel so much better......so i can do no more!!!! and there IS NO SMELL.... thanks for making me feel so much happier about my cleansing routine!!!!! That is crazy, you have a good routine. The only smell you'll get is when they do a fresh curry poo but the aubiose will soon dry it out!! Chuck some eggs at your neighbour then she won't complain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 @ chucking eggs at neighbour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowerangelk8x Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 What a waste of good eggs.....! i'll have to find something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 I did mean place a box of eggs in her hand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowerangelk8x Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 I know.... but she is quite scary ....i really don't think i'm brave enough... she might throw them back at me , i'm not good at confrontation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 No it's peacemaking and manipulating her into liking chickens. Go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowerangelk8x Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 ok, thanks i'll give it a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
