heatherjulia Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 Hi everyone We just received our eglu yesterday after years of wanting to get chickens but not having a garden! We have now settled into our new house (WITH GARDEN!!!), and didn't want to waste any more time! We are getting some ex-bats from the BHWT on 10th July, and can't wait to bring them home! ANYWAY... my question was, in the eglu, do you put bedding on top of the roosting bars as well as in the nest box?? I mean, I suppose you must do to make them cosy and comfortable, but I also thought that they grip the bars with their feet while they sleep?? So do you just put a bit, but not loads?! Hope that makes sense and would really appreciate the benefit of your wisdom!! xXx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 I don't use any nesting material on the roosting bars, just in the nesting area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 Welcome to the forum,and there's no such thing as a silly question on here. You've worked out the answer yourself - they sleep on their feet, gripping the bars, so there's no need to put bedding on them, however put a bit in the nesting box for them to lay in. In fact, you may find that one or more of them prefer to sleep in the nesting box anyway! I usually sprinkle a bit of aubiose in the droppings tray as it makes it easier to clean out. Don't be shy of asking any other questions you may have, we love answering queries on here and we were all new to chickens once, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 nesting/bedding material just in the nesting box. Some people do put some bedding material in the poo tray (under not over the roosting bars) to collect/dry the poo which they then pick out regularly, rather than cleaning the whole poo tray. I just line the poo tray with newspaper then take that out and compost it and replace. Not a silly question for a new chook keeper at all! Just thinking ahead Welcome and congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 I put aubiouse in the nest box only and just hose and give the trays a little scrub for all my girlies, but... when I got my ex-batts I initially took out the roosting bars and filed the trays up with aubiose so they could snuggle down. Once their legs had got stronger I put one part of the bars back so they could choose to roost properly or continue snuggling down and then eventually put both bits of the bars back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heatherjulia Posted June 19, 2010 Author Share Posted June 19, 2010 Ah ha... yes that makes sense! Brilliant, thanks so much for the advice everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 We've had 2 lots of ex bats and each time we have put straw over the bars for the first week or so to make them more comfortable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
