What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[Henergy]

I'm moving the girls into the cube tomorrow & its all ready except for the nest box. I usually put Aubiose then straw in my wooden coop nest area, but I notice that there's rather a large hole down the center of the nest area in the cube so guessing the Aubiose will fall out !!! Advice needed !!!

[Happy Mrs Chicken]

I just put straw in my nest box.

[Egluntyne]

Aubiose.

[mollyripkim]

I cut up a cheap garden kneeling pad to push in the hole. Its easy to push out for cleaning. Can't remember who on here recommended it. Then I use easibed or comfy bed in the next box, I think they are similiar to auboise.

[Henergy]

So why the big hole ?

[Egluntyne]

Ventilation and drainage. I don't block mine. A bit of the Aubiose trickles through, but it isn't a problem.

[beach chick]

I use the cut-up garden kneeler too now. I did experiment with a sheet of newspaper under the aubiose, but they just scratched it up and it all fell through.... do you have very tidy chickens egluntyne?

[Egluntyne]

I wouldn't say so.

[Lewis]

I use Aubiose and normally just leave that in there but have 2 broodies in there atm and they kick it all through the hole Have a strip of cardboard in there now which works well

 

I think it was dogmother who cut a strip of plastic milk bottle + weighed it down with 2 bolts to fit the gap perfectly

[Space Chick]

I have a thin flexible plastic chopping board covering mine Then hemcore on the top

[The Dogmother]

I think it was dogmother who cut a strip of plastic milk bottle + weighed it down with 2 bolts to fit the gap perfectly

 

Yup, that was me - well, The Boy did it and it works really well. Had the strip in place for about 3 years now and it's still going strong.

 

Phew, found the photos. Oh, and I'd scooped some Aubiose out so that you could see it - I don't usually expect them to lay on so little bedding

 

 

[beach chick]

I have a thin flexible plastic chopping board covering mine Then hemcore on the top

 

THAT's an excellent idea! coz my bit of kneeler does fall out from time to time...

[Lisa C]

I just put straw in my nest box.

 

I put straw in mine too!

When I had the classic I used to put shredded paper in!

[The Dogmother]

If you use straw, then check the chooks and the housing regularly for mites and lice as the hollow stems of the straw tend to harbour them.

[LolaLayla]

When I had the classic I used to put shredded paper in!

This is what I use in my classic too. Every day I replace the sheet of newspaper with shredded paper on top in the nest box. Keeps the girls clean and its a cheap option too

[goodinparts]

I've put 2 plastic washing up bowls inside the nesting area, with mite kill underneath them in case and aubiose inside...It seems to work really well - though now I'm worrying that there is some chicken welfare reason why the slit is there, that I am spoiling completely by using the bowls. Does anyone know? It might just be for draining water when you hose down the cube??

You can just fit 2 rectangular washing up bowls in side by side...its a squeeze to get them in but it makes 2 happy nest boxes.

[The Dogmother]

No welfare reason for it goodinparts, it's just for ventilation and drainage when cleaning; if your girls are happy with the washing up bowl option then carry on with it

[Purplemaniacs]

I've got an off cut of the roofing from the WIR over mine, it seems to work well. If the bedding falls through the dogs like to eat it and I am sure it is not good for them

 

Egluntyne how does your auboise not fall through the hole?

 

Chrissie

[fluffy chick]

I can see why it is good to have the slit for washing the nest box out but I always understood that ventilation should be above the birds

 

Anyway I find the slit a pain too so will be looking for something along the lines of what you've done dogmother, good plan

[Chucky Mama]

I use shredded paper