Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[Duncan08]

In this hot weather, my girls appear to be attracting more than their fair share of flies.

 

I clean out the Eglu and rake out the run twice a week, (they are very good at turning over the bark and soil in the run themselves), so it isn't at all pooey. I have even added extra door panels to make sure I can do it properly and get into all the corners. It is actually much easier to do now with the extensions and the extra doors.

 

They don't particlulary smell, but there just seems to be a lot of flies the last couple of nights around the Eglu end of the run.

Any treats are gobbled up pretty quickly and anything like oats with yoghurt is given to them and removed as soon as they finish it.

They do live near the pond which probably doesnt help, but has anyone any ideas to combat this.

 

I have been reading that Auboise, Bokashi Bran and Garlic powder are good for smells, might this help does anyone think. At the moment they just have newspaper and sawdust in their bedroom with some straw in the nest box.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

[SteveC]

Hi there. I'm trying a few things at the moment as well. Aubiose seems to absorb some of the poo well - meaning that there is less for flies to be interested in. Have also just started putting both Bokashi Bran and Garlic into the feed - not sure yet what the results will be with regard to flies, but there is a definate reduction in odour. Having said that, maybe it is working for flies as well as I don't see that many!

[Jools]

Is that a yellow eglu I spy in your avatar? I seem to recall some discussion here that yellow was a fly magnet .......

[Duncan08]

OMG is it

 

Yep, the Avatar pic is the girls run when brand new before extensions and extra doors.

 

It looks so pretty though when the daffs are out!

 

We have a navy tarp that we pull over for shelter in sun and rain, I will try opening it out over the eglu and see if it makes a difference.

 

I was thinking I would try the Auboise, but did I read somewhere that it cant get wet?

They seem to quite like light rain, and although we give them shelter, they don't particularly use it for rain only sun.

Not sure they would appreciate a permanent roof.

At the moment the run is bark and soil, which I was going to change for wood chip in the winter.

 

I think I will need to do a little experimenting too.

[SteveC]

Yes, Aubiose shouldn't get wet - it absorbs the rain and ends up as a 'mush'. I use it inside the Eglu in both the nesting box and the poop tray where it is very effective!

[Duncan08]

Thanks Steve,

I have just read that the Auboise has "natural" fly repelling properties.

 

Think I will get some to try once my current sawdust runs out. Will try out in the poop tray and the nest box, (our Bluebell who hasnt started laying yet has a tendancy to hang out in the nest box and poo's in in all the time), do you still use straw or just the Auboise?

 

I think I might also rig up the Navy tarp as a more permanent shelter at the eglu end of the run (and cover up some of the yellow), now the extensions are in place, there is plenty of room. and I can add some at that end too which might help.

[SteveC]

If you're using Aubiose you shouldn't need straw. The Aubiose is probably more comfortable for the girls anyway as it's nice and soft. Other advantage is that Aubiose composts down really well too!