Wanted - Eglu Cube Mk1 Roosting Bars

[nikkichick]

Hey everyone.

 

Just got my Eglu Go delivered, looking forward to putting it together at the weekend. Got to dig a little plot in the garden for some wood chipping and edging.

 

Hoping to be ready for chickens by Feb half term (am a teacher so this means i can spend some time with my chicks as they settle in).

 

Where is a good place to get wood chipping from?

What is the best thing to put in the nest box? straw?

Shall i put wood shavings in the pull out tray?

 

Thought the grub and glug looked ever so big (huge if your a chicken!).

 

Done lots of research on care of the chickens so hopfully i will do a fab job as a chicken mum!

 

So many questions!!! All advice is welcomed from you seasoned chook lovers!!

thanks,

xx

 

[Lewis]

 

Wood chip from B&Q

You can use a hemp based bedding (Aubiose, Hemcore etc) is the nest box and in the poo tray

 

I think the Go grub is really deep with the lid on, and so just use it as a glug

[chestnutmare]

I got my and chickens last week. I use a sprinkling of Rapport in the poo tray and I'm using up some straw for the nesting box. Although I'll use Rapport in there too as soon as my straw's used up. I got my woodchip from B&Q: 'B&Q Hardwood Chips Natural 56L'. Don't make the same mistake as I did by buying bark. I had to return it as I didn't realise at the time that it wasn't good for the chickens. I'm also a teacher, so snap on that and the Go.

[chickanne]

I too teach and timed my babes to arrive just before the summer hols. Try and get them a week before half term. This gives them a week of peace acclimatising in the run and eglu, then you can have the most fantastic time beginning to bond with them! Find an enclosed space (shed?) where you can take them and just sit with them hand feeding a few treats. Gradually, you can pick them and put them down rewarding them each time.

 

PS - you'll find yourself running home from school much earlier than you used to....

[Sageandonion]

Warm welcomes to the forum - despite the fact that I've been lurking on here for 6 months or so we only got our chickens at the weekend. We got our wood chip from Flytesofancy based in Dorset but they have a website. We got it when we ordered our hen house so only had the one delivery charge. In future though I will get it from B & Q (thanks Lewis and CNM ) - looks good value especially with a discount code that appears on discount code websites from time to time.

 

We are using the aubiose bedding following recommendations from the forum, seems very absorbent and it's easy to poo pick - sorry if that's too much information .

 

I've noticed you're in Surrey - not sure how far you're from Worplesdon near Guildford but "Rokers Animal Feeds" http://www.rokers.co.uk has a good range of chicken supplies at reasonable prices. I went there last week for the 1st time, sorry I didn't notice whether they had wood chips or aubiose - I wasn't looking for them but I got the layers pellets and corn from there plus dust bins for storage. Don't know if you have other animals but they do a wide range of other pet foods at competitive prices. Everyone there was very helpful and the chap at the till pushed my trolley to the car and helped me load my car. Sorry this sounds like an advert for them - I'm not on commission honest - was just impressed by their service .

 

Keep us posted and pics please when you get your chooks!

[Gertie]

Hello

 

I also use B&Q wood chip & Easibed which is a horse bedding available from horsy farmy type shops. I put Easibed in the poo trays & they are really easy to clean as everything just slides out when you tip it up. I do use straw but change it regularly as it can get damp & harbour mites.

 

The grub & glug do look large but chickens can eat quite a bit when they are laying, they also drink a surprising amount!

 

Have fun putting your Go together.

 

Totally agree about leaving school earlier. Haven't told anyone at work why...must get home & give hens corn before bed...don't think the head would understand that!!

[chestnutmare]

Totally agree about leaving school earlier. Haven't told anyone at work why...must get home & give hens corn before bed...don't think the head would understand that!!

Ha ha! No, but I do!

[nikkichick]

Thanks for all the info!! Think i will get myself to b&q for wood chippings!! Went to a local breeder yesterday to check out they're POL hens. they all looked super healthy and happy and got some advice from the owner.

 

Cut down a big tree in the garden today to make room for the chicken area. Next weekend is digging up the garden!

 

Will possibly get them the week before half term then, so they can fully settle in.

 

Gives me less time to sort the jungle (aka garden) out!

[Sageandonion]

We got our chickens from a supplier near Hindhead last weekend - Goldenvalley poultry - is that the one you went to? I think they may be more expensive than others - but we really liked the set up and the birds looked well cared for and healthy. We loved the theme tune to their website too . Touch wood no problems with ours so far and we'll really enjoying having them.

 

Keep us posted with your preparations and let us know when you get your girls - pics are a must remember !

[LolaLayla]

Don't know if anyone does the same as me but I put a folded sheet of newspaper in the nest box with some paper shreddings. I replace it every day when I collect the eggs and the old one goes in the compost bin. As one of my girls sits in the nest box every night I find it is the best way to keep it clean....and so easy too. I did try various methods to stop her sitting in the nest box overnight but she is very determined!!

Good luck with your girls, you will love them!

[Egluntyne]

I wouldn't use straw. It is claggy and harbours spores and parasites. I'd go for Aubiose if I were you.

 

Have you a tame tree surgeon nearby? You may be able to get your wood chippings for nowt.

[chickanne]

I started with straw in the nest box but I am sure that Louise was allergic to it or something (fungal spores?) in it. She always had a sneezy sort of cough. Swapped to shredded paper and she has been fine ever since. Not quite as aesthetic when they toss it out into the run, but cheap and compostable. Mine seem to take it in turns to sleep in the nest box - if they did not mess in it it would be fine!

[nikkichick]

We got our chickens from a supplier near Hindhead last weekend - Goldenvalley poultry - is that the one you went to?

 

Yes. We were impressed with the set up and the owner gave me some advice!! Nice to see the chooks happy, good to know where they will come from!

 

Started to dig up the area for eglu this weekend, also spent a bit of time planning clearing out the shed as we invested in a new one (our one was leaking which would be no good for keeping feed and straw in!)

 

Next weekend a good old shed destrying party at mine, using the minibus from shcool to take some rubbish to the tip!!

 

Trying to have a super lovely garden for the chickens to move into!

[nikkichick]

We got our chickens from a supplier near Hindhead last weekend - Goldenvalley poultry - is that the one you went to?

 

Yes. We were impressed with the set up and the owner gave me some advice!! Nice to see the chooks happy, good to know where they will come from!

 

Started to dig up the area for eglu this weekend, also spent a bit of time planning clearing out the shed as we invested in a new one (our one was leaking which would be no good for keeping feed and straw in!)

 

Next weekend a good old shed destrying party at mine, using the minibus from shcool to take some rubbish to the tip!!

 

Trying to have a super lovely garden for the chickens to move into!!