Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[stoice]

I've given up trying with chilli dosed eggs, hard boiled ones and plastic ones. My two girls are eating their eggs (Even when Mabel isn't laying a broken softie too) so I've taken the next step and bought a chick box to go in the shed they live in

 

Has anyone else tried one yet? (Those of us with wooden hen houses that is)

Have they worked? Did your girls use them or get freaked out by them?

 

Fingers crossed this'll work. Was considering making my own something like this but as it's plastic i thought it'd be better against red mite and easier to clean.

[Redwing]

I saw one of these on Regency Poultry's trade stand at an auction last weekend, they are pretty sturdy and look as if they will do a good job

 

You can however get plastic inserts for normal nest boxes which would be a cheaper option if budget is an issue

[stoice]

I thought about those but my girls nest area is homemade and therefore under a shelf type area Bit heath Robinson but they've been fine with it - size of about the cube nest box area accessed from inside my shed (Not a separate box like other wooden houses). Just to be awkward eh?

 

Just behind Mabel...

 

I couldn't think of a way to add the insert and also have where the egg ends up out of beaks reach. I'm not exactly a carpenter. It was either the chick cube or a metal nest box (But I had images of frozen botties in winter on a metal nest box)

 

Someone had made one using a plastic drum which looks inventive (although still a bit technical for me!)

 

Fingers crossed the chick cube will fix the egg eating problem.

[Lewis]

I was looking at these yesterday, and watched a video - have they been advertised somewhere or is it just a coincidence?

 

I thought they looked good - was tempted for the wendy house so will be interested to hear other peoples/how you get on .

[stoice]

I was looking at these yesterday, and watched a video - have they been advertised somewhere or is it just a coincidence?

 

Spooky, although I think it may have been coincidence in my case as I've been looking into solving my eggy problem

 

I'll let you know how i get on. x

[Janty]

Here's the one from Regency.

 

http://www.regencypoultry.com/poultry_crate/nestbox.htm

 

I'd also be interested in hearing how people get on with these. My big girls aren't a problem but my bantams are a nightmare when they can't have a nesting box all to themselves. When they go into the side run, I envisage murder at laying times.

 

[Janty]

I've just received an e-mail from Mike taylor-Wilson who is a Sales Co-ordinator at Osprey plastics who make the chick boxes. They can make them in any colour and have had suggestions for some.

 

I thought that it would be funky to have nesting boxes that match my eglus and cubes.

 

If people were thinking of buying these, why don't you e-mail the company to ask about colours. That way they might make funky coloured ones sooner rather than later.

 

e-mail address is : mike@osprey-plastics.co.uk

[Falkor]

oooooh I likey!!!

 

With the roll away nestbox especially - my brahma corss likes to tap dance in the nest box so I often come home to ready beaten egg

[Janty]

I've told the company that I would put their details on here so that people could contact them and they could judge what colour to produce next. As long as you tell them to make purple, green and red, I'm happy!

 

[stoice]

My yellow one arrived yesterday but I have yet to introduce it to the girls. It's quite big and I'm not sure my girls will use the moveable perch shelf part, but the roll away insert looks just the thing I need. Hope my girls don't freak out when they see it! Will keep you posted. (With pics of course)

 

New colours sound exciting

[Janty]

Thanks for that...I've asked all my relatives for them for my birthday.

 

[Janty]

I have just sent an e-mail asking how the company board meeting went and whether they have plans to make other colours. This was the response...

 

RE: Colourful ChickBoxes‏

From: Mike Taylor - Wilson (mike@osprey-plastics.co.uk)

Sent: 13 April 2010 13:46:47 'Jan

 

To: Hi Jan

 

We have discussed it and it really is dependent on what the reaction from Omlet is - I will speak to them later in the week and let you know how things progress!

 

Regards

 

Mike

 

If you are interested in coloured nest boxes to match your eglus and cubes, could you e-mail Mike on the address above so that they can gauge interest, etc.

 

Ta!

[Lewis]

Have emailed about red + green

 

Thanks Janty

[Janty]

Ta!

 

 

The more interest the better.

[stoice]

Just thought I'd give you an update.

 

I have had a bit of a to-do this past week or so. I bought the roll away nest box as Gladys was the main culprit for eating eggs (Mabels are still softies too so often her yolk is eaten as well ) Anyway, Gladys developed sour crop last week so i didn't want to introduce the chick box and stress her out further. She sadly died yesterday but that's on another thread. I'm giving the house and run a major clean out on saturday then buying some new girls (4 little beauties) to keep Mabel company. At which point I will add the nest box. Mabel will have the house as normal with the new box and half the run, and the new girls will have the other half of the shed and run (Glad i got a A4U run with dividing doors now!)

 

Pics will follow of the chick box and of course the new girls.

[Janty]

Thanks for that. The chick box company were supposed to be talking to Omlet this week to see if there was any objections to making them in matching colours.

Fingers crossed.

 

Looking forward to seeing the photos.

 

Jan

[stoice]

Ok, space under the shelf in my shed is where my girls live. Here modelled by Mabel (Sorry for blurry pics as I used my mobile's camera)

So i put the chick cube under their perch and shelf area...

Mabel investigates... (With painted up plastic egg in collection tray for illustrative purposes)

However, Mabel lost the plot over it. She was fine over night with it, as she sleeps on the perch or shelf above, but come the next day when it was time to 'contemplate' or lay an egg she hated it. Would'nt accept it, and kept trying to squeeze down the 4" gap either side to lay in her usual spot. I may have to give up and make something less obvious for her lay in. She's still laying softies and eating them but i'm not totally convinced she was the egg pecker anyway. Gladys, who passed away last week, was my likely culprit and now she's gone maybe i won't need the box after all.

For now it is in the other half of the shed which is the new girls temp accommodation, maybe they'll use it when they come into lay?

[Falkor]

If only these could be used inside the cube!

 

Nessie my sweet but clumsy BrahmaX has taken to tap dancing in the nestbox. So the last two evenings I have come home to smashed eggs

 

I am over run with eggs at the moment as the bantams are on form but me thinks smashed eggs will lead to eating which will lead to eggs being broken on purpose.

 

I may have to put my thinking cap on.

 

Any news of the coloured ones Jan?

[stoice]

Maybe you could ring the makers of the chick box and just buy a couple of inserts (With the plastic lid covering the collection area) I don't have a cube so don't know the dimensions of their nesting area.

 

Measurements (all external) of the main box: 33cm wide; 39cm high; 35cm deep, front drop down bar extends a further 23cm from the front. The box is shaped and does narrow towards the back where it measures 29cm wide x 35cm high. the insert just slips inside so should be a similar size.

[Janty]

If only these could be used inside the cube!

 

Nessie my sweet but clumsy BrahmaX has taken to tap dancing in the nestbox. So the last two evenings I have come home to smashed eggs

 

I am over run with eggs at the moment as the bantams are on form but me thinks smashed eggs will lead to eating which will lead to eggs being broken on purpose.

 

I may have to put my thinking cap on.

 

Any news of the coloured ones Jan?

 

No news yet. I will e-mail them tonight.

You could send an email too Em. That way they will see that more people are interested.

[Falkor]

I sent an email to them requesting Omlet green and purple when you gave us the email

[AJuff]

I looked at these chick boxes after two of my hens have taken to sleeping in the nest box. I hate mucky eggs! I watch with interest . . .