Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Emily and Nick]

I have 3 young hybrids living in an eglu and run, not yet laying but hope they will soon. I was letting them free-range at the weekends until last Saturday when we had a visit from a very bold fox in broad daylight, who took one of my girls but luckily she escaped, it was a very close shave. Anyway, now they can't free-range unless I'm there which is a lot less free-ranging for them now.

 

I feel sorry for them all cooped up and I am now looking into getting them a new house and much bigger run.

 

In the meantime, they are having to stay put. The winter cover is on the eglu, but it doesn't seem to be very waterproof at all. The ground is sodden. I am concerned that they have no dust bath. I've tried all sorts including a washing up bowl with sand but that just got wet and poo'd in and generally a not very attractive bath at all.

 

What shall I do about dust-bathing? Do I need to put a tarpaulin over the run to make it dry for them. But won't this totally block out the light. I'm stuck for ideas and need some help!

 

Thanks

 

Emily

[House MD 221B]

I have seen others post that Ikea has a clear shower curtain for around 59p or something, less than £1 that would be waterproof, that other omleteers use, and we plan on doing too.

 

So that would keep them dry and the ground dry.

 

We have a small wooden box or the bottom of a hamster cage to use for a dustbath for them, but ours are fortunate enough to be able to free-range all the time due to high fences and hardcore ground so no digging or climbing for mr. foxy.

 

Im sorry to hear of your fox problem, and im glad she escaped. I hope this is of some use.

 

But ikea curtain would cover your run and still let light in, and almost any semi0shallow box shaped object would be good for a dustbath, others have said they use Ashdust and compost? I could be wrong about the ashdust, wood ash maybe? we just use soil but plan on looking into that.

[BeckyBoo]

I wouldn't worry too much - mine have been stuck in a muddy run too - they can only go out at the weekends when I'm around. Mine therefore have no real dust bath but they seem to manage. Although it's nice if they can and they obviously love it, I don't think it's an essential part of day to day health - mine preen themselves and each other and as long as their bedding is dry it's about all we can do really

 

BeckyBoo

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I live in a particularly windy spot and the shower curtains didn't last a week . So I put corrugated plastic sheets on my run which kept it nice and dry. Do you use a horse bedding? That stays fairly dry as long as it's covered. Hemcore or Easibed are ones I use.

 

I didn't worry too much about a dustbath but they always managed to find a dry spot.

 

[poachedegg]

Not seen that photo for a while ANH!

 

We use IKEA curtains and bungee ropes on ours - not perfect, but adequate.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Not seen that photo for a while ANH!

 

I always keep it handy . You never know when it'll be needed .

[chelsea]

Not seen that photo for a while ANH!

 

 

lol.

 

We used corrugated plastic as ANH did on her eglu and it worked perfectly - cheap and easy.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Not seen that photo for a while ANH!

 

Saves me looking for it to post too

clear tarp is fantastic also. Strong , heavy enough to not flap, eyelets, comes in differnt sizes AND clear= lots of light lt in

[Jules.]

I have a WIR and because of the weather & the saturated ground around it it hasn't been dry on the floor in there for weeks.

My girls don't seem to mind.