Part 0800.0005

[KimmyCustard]

Evening All

 

DH has surprised me by ordering me a pink Cube! I am v v and hopefully it will arrive this week. We currently have a wooden henhouse and I was having dreadful trouble sliding the poo tray out and then almost climbing inside it to clean it out. He clearly couldnt stand the sight of my ample rear poking out the door of the henhouse and scuttled indoors to order me one - yay!!

 

After the house cleaning debacle, Big Bertha (Black Rock but should be renamed Green Rock) shot inside the nest box. There was much banging and crashing and throwing of Aubiose in the air then DSD (aged 13) poked her head in the nest box and there was our 1st eggie!! Clever girl!!

 

Egg has to be kept until tomorrow till my parents arrive from Cornwall as they have to witness the first egg eating

[LuckyChickenLover-]

Lucky you! And congratualtions on your first egg!

[KimmyCustard]

Thank you LCL, I am VERY lucky, have coveted one for so long and now I cant wait to get it and play hen houses!

 

One question, will I have to shut them in it for 24 hours as I did with the wooden one in order to imprint them again or will they just go to bed in it as usual please?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Congratulations, what a lovely surprise .

 

Are you getting the run with the cube? It's only necessary to keep them locked in the run rather than the cube to imprint them. I've heard that they sometimes need a hand working out the ladder but they should realise the cube is their new bedroom .

[KimmyCustard]

Hi ANH

 

No I dont need the run, DH built me a WIR so I just have the Cube coming tomorrow .

 

I was wondering if they would work out that the Cube is their new haven or if they would stand there at bed time with their wings on their hips, shaking their heads "If she thinks we're going in there......"

 

One more question please....... Can I use shredded newspaper in the nest box mixed with Aubiose ? They seem to scratch up the Aubiose into a nest shape then lay their eggs, do I need to make it more 'nesty' for them??

 

Thank you for all your advice so far, helps enormously!!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I was wondering if they would work out that the Cube is their new haven or if they would stand there at bed time with their wings on their hips, shaking their heads "If she thinks we're going in there......"

 

Lovely image and yes, that's probably exactly what they'll do . I know some people have had to help their girls up the ladder till they get the knack. You could also make it easier for them by putting a log or flowerpot at the bottom or if your OH is handy (must be if he built a WIR ) he could fashion some sort of temporary ramp.

 

Re shredded paper, I used it in the nestbox at the beginning but didn't like the way it ended up all over the garden if it was windy. I just use Easibed now and it's fine.

[daxigirl]

Good colour choice. They'll be very happy girlies.

 

See having a larger bottom does have it's uses after all!

[Omletina Kyckling]

One option would be to put them in the Cube at bedtime, so move them from their normal house, so they sleep in there and then wake up and have to come down the ladder? I've done that in the past.

I also find that if you slide the roof open a tad and shine a torch inside at dusk, they may work out that's where they should go as they'll go to the light.

I've also put golf balls in the nest box of the Cube when I first got hens (didn't have any pot eggs!) to show them where they should lay their eggs.

What a lovely OH you have! Enjoy your

Look forward to seeing the photos!!

[Redwing]

If you are able to remove the wooden coop from the garden that would make it easier for the chooks to get used to the cube, chances are you'll have to post them in on the first night regardless though

[KimmyCustard]

Thanks so much once again ladies, the Pink Palace has arrived and DH got up after being on nights and built it for me The old house has been removed from the WIR so they dont have a choice of bedroom for tonight! Hopefully they will realise how lovely it is and dont make me pop them in the door but I bet they will! I have a big torch at the ready as well.....

 

I have also made little chickeny steps out of old breeze blocks up to the ramp, its all new and sparkly, I'm so pleased with it! And youre right, he is the best and I'm very lucky As soon as I can work out how to post pics, I'll get some on here!!

[furball]

Glad you are enjoying such a lovely thoughtful present. Hope my OH reads this thread

[Henergy]

Wow - off to try waving my bottom around whilst cleaning the coop & see what transpires !!!

Not that my male dominated household would appreciate a pink one - we'd have to get a 'male' colour

[KimmyCustard]

I know, there are some rewards for having an ample rump!

 

The girls were fine, although they were all piled up in the nest box together! I did text DH to ask if he thought they could all breathe and I got a text back with just 'Yes, you dope' written on it

 

Last night there were 2 on the rooster bars and three in the nestbox, no eggs yesterday either, so I imagine they need time to adjust to their new home before any more eggs arrive, bless them.....

[Purplemaniacs]

When I moved mine from the eglu to the cube, I put some in via the cube to give them a clue as to where bed was going to be and at night time they took themselves to bed and the next day laid in the nest. I was most impressed

 

Hope you have had some eggs in the cube nest now.

 

Chrissie

[KimmyCustard]

Hi Chrissie

 

Yes, we now have eggs in the Cube Bertha is head hen and she is always last in at night (goes round checking the run with her torch ) and she always looks really cross that the other girls are all piled in the nest box and no room left for her. They really make me laugh and I get some very odd looks from the neighbours cos I look like I'm laughing on my own.......

[Lewis]

Congrats!