Eglu Cube Coop For Sale

[Becky 22]

I have a green, custom eglu, and a Nankin Bantam who, when broody, was bought 8 fertilised eggs.

5 have hatched - 3 Sable Poots, 2 Gold Partridges. The oldest is 4 days old, the youngest is 1 day, while three of them are 3 days old.

The oldest keeps running up the side of the nest box... and slipping down. It seems to be a bit high for them, should I add straw? Or what? Also, I'm worried about the drop out of the nest box, which, after I took out the roosting bars, is considerable and I'm not sure if they'll manage to get back in.

Can I hold the chicks?

Also, I found a heap of foul-smelling, brown excretion which came from the chicken, in the nest box. This would usually be black and white - is that a problem? I removed it quickly.

We did have three chickens, but one died of a disease, so I seperated the last two and gave the broody the eggs. When can I re-introduce them?

When do the chicks need to start feeding? They have special chick food. Also, the mother is very, very protective, even when she does leave the nest, she runs back, squawking, when I open the door to look at the chicks.

 

Loads of questions!

Thanks,

 

Becky.

[Egluntyne]

That poo sounds like a typical broody poo.

 

Fill the nest box and the poo tray with Aubiose, or a simiilar bedding material, and they should be fine. I wouldn't use hay or straw.

 

I'd put the chick food out straight away. Plenty, as the broody will eat it too, and a shallow drinker that they can access, without falling in. A few marbles will prevent any drownings. Leave a glug out for the mum.

[Redwing]

I agree. Fill the tray with Aubiose to even out the levels or if you dont have any then the woodshavings sold for rabbits etc.. in pet shops is fine

 

Put a saucer of chick food out now just inside or outside the Eglu entrance, the mum will also eat it and encourage the chicks to feed

 

Once the chicks and mum are out and about take the opportunity to clean out the nest box, its does sound like normal broody poo. If you hatch again then next time encourage the mum off the nest once a day in to the run where she can eat, drink and poo away from the nest

[Becky 22]

Thank you,

 

I can and will use wood shavings, should I put some newspaper underneath it, to stop it slipping out the hole in the back of the eglu, where the roosting bars would fit? I can only watch the chicks from a distance, every time I get her off (which I did every day she was sitting on them) she will run back on almost immediately, glaring at me warily, instead of touching the corn or food.

I have set the food and water out as you advised.

The chicks are moving around and eager, can I put some of the special chick food in one of the half-eggshells still in the nest? Then they can have something to eat - because I'm fairly sure the biggest ate all of the lining in the other's eggshells.

Also, yesterday the second to last one to hatch was kind of, lying down, still a bit wet, and rather bedraggled. She was the day before when she came out of the egg, and still is today. She's the only one not moving around, althougth she is still alive.

 

Thanks,

 

Becky.

[Egluntyne]

I wouldn't use the egg shell, I'd discard those, and use a shallow dish.

 

Sometimes, a weaker chick might not make it.

 

Why not tempt the mother away with some goodies, and examine the chick, and dry it off a little. it might just be exhausted.

[Becky 22]

6 chicks !!!

Have been holding them, loads fell out of the nestbox and couldn't get back in, so I had to carry them.

They are CUTE

Put some thick newspaper down so they could get back in, and a small tray of chick food.

How do I get them water?

 

Also, I gave them some worms I found in the garden, and put them in this tray in the nest. Should I take them out?

Also, one of the chicks urinated in the food -??? Do I need to change it, it was only tiny.

 

Why does a broody's faeces look and smell so..... disgusting? and strong?

 

Also, the chicks are CUTE.

When will they grow, I hope they stay this size for another week at least !

 

Also, just because this is amazing:

 

Thanks,

Becky.

[Egluntyne]

If you read my last but one post, you will see that I have given you a few tips about providing water for the chicks.

[Madchook]

I really wouldn't be worrying about giving them worms right now All they need are chick crumb and water (in a shallow dish with gravel or marbles in it to stop them drowning). Mum will show them what to do and she will lead them out the nest so you don't need to put things in there...

[Becky 22]

Was using a shallow dish for the food, a plastic lid about 7cm by 5cm. When they'd eaten the food, it got overturned and a chick was underneath when the mum stepped on it. She is fine now, but I know to supervise carefully!

I have the water dishes, I was concerned because she hadn't taken them out of the nestbox at all and the oldest is 5 days. It was really hot today and I was worried that they wouldn't get enought to drink, so I moved the water dispenser into the eglu, on the space where the roosting bars used to be. I lifted a few of the chicks out, put them down, and watched them. The mother and the other chicks soon followed, and the mother started to show them how to drink and peck, although only two got the hang of drinking.

She seemed to be pecking the chicks as well - is that normal? At first it was as if she was pushing them around with her beak, but then some violent pecking to the head and body started, knocking the chick to the floor. They are all fine now and sitting in the nest box, under the mother.

There are two who haven't hatched, although she is still sitting on them and keeping the chicks in the nestbox, should I take them out ? It's 5 days after they were due to hatch, and 1 day after the last chick hatched.

 

Thanks,

 

Becky.

[Egluntyne]

I think I would to be honest, so that the mother can concentrate on the chicks. If there are signs of life, ie wobbling or cheeping, leave it a little longer.