pedroxy1 Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Hi, I have a Cube, and in the floor of the nesting box there is a very large slot . Nesting material goes right through the slot onto the ground below. If I cover the slot with newpaper it just gets pulled through from below. What is the purpose of this large slot, and can it be blocked up? If so, what is the best thing to use for this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Hi I cut a length about 2-3 inches wide of the garden kneeler foam cushioning stuff and squeeze it in the slot. The girls seem unable to push or pull it out. You can push it right through when you want to give the box a good clean out and retrieve it from the run. I think everyone has alternative methods for stopping the stuff falling through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedroxy1 Posted March 7, 2011 Author Share Posted March 7, 2011 Tks. That's a great idea. Do you know why it's such a large slot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 No idea why it's so big, I tried all sorts of things to block it up before finding the foam thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorax Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 I'm guessing it's for ventilation. Personally I wish it had a drawer that slid out, like the roosting bars so that it's easier to clean than it is. I use newspaper, a large sheet and it stays put, and then cover with shredded paper. HTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 No, its for ease of cleaning - its a drainage slot...imagine how messy it would be washing out the nest box without it,as it would just fill up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedroxy1 Posted March 7, 2011 Author Share Posted March 7, 2011 Hi, I assumed it was for drainage/cleaning, but you could drain the River Thames through a slot that big! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorax Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 No, its for ease of cleaning - its a drainage slot...imagine how messy it would be washing out the nest box without it,as it would just fill up! Yes of course it is...doh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margalot Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Hi I cut a length about 2-3 inches wide of the garden kneeler foam cushioning stuff and squeeze it in the slot. The girls seem unable to push or pull it out. You can push it right through when you want to give the box a good clean out and retrieve it from the run. I think everyone has alternative methods for stopping the stuff falling through. I think I am going to try this! I have always put newspaper to cover the slot then covered with aubiouse, but my girls have field day if they find the paper! they pull, it shred it and then it all drops through the hole. The other girls find it fun though they love to catch the bits falling through when one is making her nest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 it's perfect for poking the poo through! (poo snooker) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 it's perfect for poking the poo through! (poo snooker) Sounds like that could be on a list of chicken keepers olympic games. Poo Snooker Mealworm Rugby Egg hide and seek (not exactly an olympic sport but YKWIM) Chicken run crawling (again not an olympic sport yet)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 I use a thin flexible chopping board to cover mine, the bedding can then sit on the top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammiboo Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 to be honest i havent found it to be a big deal. The nest material seems to be ok, but i think i may have to clean it out twice a week now rather than just the once as i seem to end up with a chicken pile up in there of a night time. But it is still early days. When i moved the cube (do this every week) i noticed how big the hole was in the back panel, looking through the hatch you can see right through it. Which make me wonder if this is why they are piling in the nest box as its more sheltered? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Omlet are you listening ??? We need a nest box liner like a shaped trug with handles that you can lift out complete with soiled bedding and dump before washing out the interior. What about it Omlet? You know you want to!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
