JoMonkey Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Hello, Just wondered if anyone had a solution for this? One of our new chooks races in and kicks all the straw out as soon as we've put it in the nest! It results in the eggs being covered in poo, which whilst I don't mind personally, family and friends do! I've tried a flower pot on top of it, but this just gets kicked out too! Any ideas most welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Simple... don't use straw It tends to harbour mites and gets mouldy quickly - I just use Aubiose in the run, poo trays and nest boxes and it's fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I used straw for about 2 weeks , waste of time. Wanted to make it lovely and comfy for them, truth is, they don't really care, its a human thing rather than a hen thing! I too just use Auboise in the nest box and poo trays, with horses easibed in the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I've got one that the same as soon as the new bedding goes down in she runs and out the bedding goes. (I use Bliss not straw) she's been that way ever since I brought her home at 10 weeks old this is her 3rd winter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoMonkey Posted January 12, 2012 Author Share Posted January 12, 2012 Haha, set to continue then?! None of our original chooks did it, and it's just one of our new ones... She is a bit excitable... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I just use Aubiose in the run, poo trays and nest boxes and it's fine. Same here...it seems to work really well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinning Top Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 What timing - I was going to ask the same thing! I've been using Easibed in the poop trays and straw in the nesting box. I've tried shredded paper but the girls don't seem keen and Easibed falls straight through the hole (it's a Cube). I've also tried a sheet of newspaper over the hole then Easibed but they just scratch the paper away so I went back to straw which worked fine (I turn it regularly and check it's not damp then change it weekly) until we got the new girls, one of whom kicks it all out. Given that Dogmother and Cheeky Chooky say you use Aubiose, which I believe is a similar consistency to Easibed and your signatures show a Cube, what do you do about the hole please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I use newspaper and then a deep layer of Aubiose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinning Top Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Thanks Cheeky Chooky, perhaps I didn't use a deep enough layer of the Easibed. I'll have another go tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 That's what I did initially and the paper was scratched up and strewn all over the place Now with a much deeper layer of Aubiose, the paper is left buried and there are just indentations where nestling chooks have been, at either end of the nest box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinning Top Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Working a treat - thanks Cheeky Chooky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 When I looked in the nest this afternoon, I could see bits of newspaper emerging! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 When my girls were in the go they used to sleep and lay in the nest box which meant pooey eggs. I gave them a thin layer of auboise . Since moving into the big house they are now roosting on the bars and laying in the nest box, clever girls. After managing to not leave one poop in the nest box for 3 weeks, they were rewarded with a super thick super comfy layer of Auboise in the nest box, I might even give them a little bit of straw next week. After reading the thread about the poor lady whose leg was pulled through the drainage hole, I have been lining the nest box with newspaper, but I am going to make a template out of an old cardboard box this weekend to sit over the whole of the base of the nestbox, which should solve the problem of the paper poking though and providing a scratching temptation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Umm, I wouldn't use cardboard - someone I know did this and it ended up being encrusted with red mites! I have a small strip cut from the side of a plastic milk carton, then held in place with a couple of bolts - works wonders at keeping the Aubiose in the nest box. I wouldn't worry about a bird having its leg grabbed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Mmm, hadn't thought of the redmites. I was just thinking it would stay dry now the girls are much cleaner in there. Especially with corrugated cardboard they would be in red mite heaven. I will try the plastic, sounds much better. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Here are some pics of it; I had scooped out most of the Aubiose to show the strip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Fantastic, Thank you so much for finding that for me, I will "create" the same over the weekend. Thanks again, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
