debratugwell Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 We are moving our Eglu to a permanent site in the front garden soon and the girls will have Hemcore in the run. Am positioning the Eglu next to the compost bin so that the conents can be swiftly chucked in there. What do others do when it comes to cleaning out the Eglu? Do you lift the whole Eglu with run out of the permanent area and then dismantle the run from the Eglu to powerwash it or does anyone have an easier way. Also, how often do people change the Hemcore in the main run??? Am just waiting for my clear tarpaulin to arrive which will stop everything getting soggy in the run but am trying to think of logistics. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 I hose mine down in situ - take off the lid, droppings tray and roosting bars and clean those with the hose and a brush, and then I close the Eglu door and hose out the base where it is. Water runs away into the ground/bark chippings and it dries off quite quickly. I top the hemcore up when it looks a bit downtrodden, and then rake the whole thing out about once a month, sprinkle some lime and refill. I have the run pegged down with tent-pegs, and I haven't moved it since I set it up three months ago - a garden rake just reaches to the end if you stretch your arm inside! I used to try and rake the hemcore out nice and level, but now I just chuck a pile in - the girls soon flatten it out! I am a bit of a minimalist chicken-keeper, I am sure there are people here who wash theirs much more thoroughly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minky Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Did our first whole eglu clean yesterday! Up till now I've been doing plop tray and scooping any very big poo's out of the run then turning over the woodchip/Aubiose with the 'rake stretch' technique. For the big clean I took the 'lu to bits, cleaned the components next to the eglu with a bucket of ecover washing up liquid/water then a last wipe with plain water with a few drops of tea tree oil. Wiped the front door and cleaned under the body/in the run of the 'lu by getting my other half to tilt the whole structure up with the eglu end in the air, flat fronted run entrance to the ground, and went in with a cloth and spade to clean and scoop up any overly manky bits as he held it up. All in all it was pretty quick and easy to do, the hardest part was stopping the girls interfering (they were roaming the garden at the time) - at one stage Hilda was wandering round with foam all over her head from sticking it in the bucket when I wasn't looking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I do the same as Olly. The Hemcore/Aubiose in the run lasts about 6 weeks before it needs changing - you can either put it on the compost, or use it as a mulch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 When doing a "big" clean I blast everything with the power washer....it shifts the compacted poo and Aubiose through the bars. I just keep blasting until it has all scattered. I the squirt some Ecover washing up liquid about and blast again until it is rinsed away. The hens chase the bubbles. I pick a sunny day if poss so that everything dries quickly. I swap the roosting bars for the spares, put aubiose in the run and nesting box and a thin layer in the poo tray and all done. Takes about half an hour plus drying time per Eglu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I forgot to say that painting your roosting bars with that Plastidip stuff makes cleaning them sooo easy - it just slips off and there are no stains at all. Just need some good weather to get the 2nd set painted now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichelleP Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Hi Everyone Yep, I also use the ecover washing up liquid for washing out the eglu, works a treat. I use smart cat litter for the poop tray, its made from recycled paper and can be composted so I just pull out the tray every week and then tip it all into the composter and then give the eglu a wash down, its nice and easy and does'nt take long at all. I also pop a wee bit of straw in the bowl area which I replace ever other day, I find its keeps the eggs clean. The clear cover for the run sounds a great idea, do omlet sell that?, I used some old stuff we had in the garage but it was blue and the gals werent happy about it but it did the trick when we had that bad spell of rain over the weekend Thanks to everyone who passed on their tips on keeping the chickens fit and healthy, very helpful cheers michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 We also have a permanent spot for our eglu with hemcore/aubiose. We dismantle the eglu once a week, we dont move the run. All eglu taken apart - scrubbed with ecover (smells yummy doesnt it ) and everything blasted off with the hose. We have spare roosting bars - so we rotate them with clean ones. With regards to the run - weekly we remove the top layer of hemcore/aubiose and place in recycle bin and then put fresh in the run. Once a month the WHOLE of the run contents removed and replaced with fresh. We bought a cheap clear " basics" shower curtain from homebase for less than a fiver - you can get cheaper than that from ikea. We put this under the winter shade during the rainy weather. I take it off in the hot/summer weather though because it lets the air in better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 oh and clare gave me another tip - to keep away flies we put a couple of drops of citronella oil onto some kitchen roll and I place that under the shade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I do the same as Olly. The Hemcore/Aubiose in the run lasts about 6 weeks before it needs changing - you can either put it on the compost, or use it as a mulch. Phew, very relieved to find I'm not the only one with this approach! Aubiose is fantastic stuff, even after five or six weeks it doesn't smell and the hens seem entirely happy with it. I am strict about kitchen hygiene, but don't believe in cleaning for the sake of it elsewhere (too much to do in the garden) I wouldn't endanger their health for anything, but they seem absolutely fine with my minimalist approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I admit Im a clean freak my eglu was my birthday present - so I like to keep it pristine......only today I was out there wiping off a tiny bit of mud on it... and "buffing" it up, and its not even eglu clean day!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Michelle - if you click on the album link in my signature, there are some pics in there taken just after I made the clear cover, they show the bungee hooks that hold it in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debratugwell Posted May 16, 2007 Author Share Posted May 16, 2007 Hi Everyone Yep, I also use the ecover washing up liquid for washing out the eglu, works a treat. I use smart cat litter for the poop tray, its made from recycled paper and can be composted so I just pull out the tray every week and then tip it all into the composter and then give the eglu a wash down, its nice and easy and does'nt take long at all. I also pop a wee bit of straw in the bowl area which I replace ever other day, I find its keeps the eggs clean. The clear cover for the run sounds a great idea, do omlet sell that?, I used some old stuff we had in the garage but it was blue and the gals werent happy about it but it did the trick when we had that bad spell of rain over the weekend Thanks to everyone who passed on their tips on keeping the chickens fit and healthy, very helpful cheers michelle I got a tip from another post on this forum and have ordered a clear plastic tarpaulin 2m x 3m with those bungee cord things to hold it on to the Eglu. Website = www.tarpaflex.co.uk. As it's clear it still lets all the light through but will keep the run dry as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMO Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Hi I cheat a bit a line the dropping trays with sheets of newspaper. I change this every other day and the give everything a hose done at the weekend! Save me getting all hot and bothered AMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
braden01 Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 at one stage Hilda was wandering round with foam all over her head from sticking it in the bucket when I wasn't looking LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debratugwell Posted May 18, 2007 Author Share Posted May 18, 2007 I forgot to say that painting your roosting bars with that Plastidip stuff makes cleaning them sooo easy - it just slips off and there are no stains at all. Just need some good weather to get the 2nd set painted now... Hi Clare - I went on their website. Do you mean the clear spray on stuff which costs about £5?????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 18, 2007 Share Posted May 18, 2007 No, I got a pot (like a paint pot). I think it was abotu £8, but I bought it so long ago that I can't remember. Someone did try the spray and it was useless. The stuff I have is quite gloopy and reminiscent of Cow Gum! I'll have a look at the tin for the details and post them later - remind me if I forget! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debratugwell Posted May 18, 2007 Author Share Posted May 18, 2007 much obliged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 OK, the one I have is called Plastidip Soft coat solvent based coating, 1 litre, clear (they make different colours). It cost £12.00, but that was at the end of last year. They are really friendly at that company, so I'd recommend calling them if you have any queries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
