3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[EmmaJC]

I'm wondering if I've done the right thing here...

 

My ex-batts are utterly useless at perching on anything but the patio table. At night all three of them cram themselves ontop of each other in the nesting box and make a right mess. On the occasions I've put obstacles in the nesting box they sit ontop of them.

 

When I was cleaning the eglu yesterday and saw the appalling mess of poo and bits feather (Nigella is moulting) I had a moment of either genius or madness and removed the bars from the eglu and filled the lot with Aubriose.

 

I checked in on them when they were in bed and found all three cuddled up in a line in the back of the eglu and not in the nesting box! This morning they laid their eggs in the poo free and stunningly clean nesting box.

 

Have I done the right thing? Will them not being able to perch at night damage them in some mysterious way? They do perch (under the patio table, on branches in their run, on plant pots), but just not for long periods. I'd have thought they'd have got their strength back after 7 months of being out of the cage, but maybe I'm wrong.

[Carol U]

I'm sure it won't damage them at all. If they're comfortable on the floor, leave them there - especially as it leaves your nest box clean. Mine frequently sleep in the nestbox - I think it's a case of whoever gets there first! It's probably warmer this weather than having a draft from underneath!

[Redwing]

I have a few that refuse to perch and their Eglu is the same, I find they do chuck loads of bedding out of the slit above the poo tray if I fill it too deep though, they are healthy enough and I turn them over at least once a week to ensure they have no soreness etc.. you do need to keep on top of changing the litter though as if it gets damp it wont be good for them, I've discovered that they are just as happy to sleep on one inch of bedding as three inches so I put less in and change it more often these days

[eggmayo]

If it's any consolation my 3 ex-batts won't perch in the Eglu either and I've had them for 12 months now. They too all pile into the nest box together. I've given up trying to coax them into perching and just let them get on with it as they seem pretty happy with their sleeping arrangements. I just scoop the poo out of the nest box each morning and top up with a bit of fresh bedding.

 

If yours are happy with sleeping on the floor, I'd go with it. I'm sure if they are anything like mine, they'll soon let you know if they're not happy.

[EmmaJC]

They seem perfectly happy - I popped in to check last night and they were all lined up along the back sprawled out

 

I'm going to empty it out in the morning and pop more straw in, but I suspect I'm onto a winner! Lovely clean eggs 3 days in a row now!