MarkDonne Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 Hi Forum! I have been an Eglu owner for over 2 years now and even built my own walk in run to put the Eglu into but this latest problem has me nearly at my wits end! We own 3 large (ish) chickens and one of them, a Gingernut Ranger called Chicken Little (as named by my 14 year old daughter), keeps emptying the nest box area everytime I put straw in it. She started this about 6 months ago and has been doing it ever since. It doesn't matter when I put it in there, or how much I put in there, she immediatly runs into the Eglu and starts to scratch at the straw until its all gone. I even tried Hay just to see if she had gone off straw but the same result. I wouldn't mind but nearly all of the eggs are breaking on the bottom so we don't get many now Has anyone else experienced this or do you have any suggestions on what I can try? Thank you! Mark Donne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkDonne Posted April 14, 2012 Author Share Posted April 14, 2012 owner for over 2 years now Wow, has it been 4 years! I just noticed my sign up date! Lol, how time flies!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 That must be a record for the fewest posts in 4 years . You could try horse bedding to see if the texture makes a difference? It's a lot denser than straw or hay so might discourage the kicking. Worth a try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearls007 Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 I put a handful of Aubiose in the classic nest box - just enough to cover the bottom. It is gradually kicked out but it's enough to cushion the eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 I use Aubiose in the nest areas of the and too and it always stays put Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 or try some dust extracted soft wood shavings from pet shop. Mine will remove straw and newspaper, right mess they make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 my legbars always do they are about to lay and eggs, I can just see auboise flying out of the eglu door as they kick it! but as others have said, try auboise or hemcore of somthing, because it doesn't tangle together like straw or hay and so it's more difficult to comprehensively kick it out of the nest, and there is normally enough left in it for the eggs to be ok. is it also worth putting straw in the run. It can get a bit messy, but my girls will happily stay occupied for a few hours if you chuck a big clump of straw in the run, maybe pour some corn of similar on it, an watch them scratch around. Failing all that, sit the girl down and have a stern word with her. Tell he if she doesn't it again she will be sent to bed without any supper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkDonne Posted April 16, 2012 Author Share Posted April 16, 2012 Thank you to everyone that replied and for your helpful suggestions. I will get some Aubiose (whatever that is! lol) and see if she leaves it alone. I'll update this topic on the outcome. And as for "Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here", your home made run puts my home made run to shame! My wife says I have to make my run more like yours, lol! Thanks Mark Donne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkDonne Posted April 16, 2012 Author Share Posted April 16, 2012 Thats it, ordered a Sample Bag from the Omlet Store, cost £1!! Very happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkDonne Posted April 25, 2012 Author Share Posted April 25, 2012 Hooray! She's not kicking it out. She still had a good old scratch around as soon as I put the stuff in there but she didn't scratch as hard as she did with the straw so it ended up staying put. I think the fact that its a lot finer than the straw helped as well. Thank you to everyone for your help. Mark Donne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Great news . A large bale usually only costs about £10 and lasts ages, so I'm sure you'll find it's worth buying. Thank you for your kind words. Can't take credit for the building of it but the design is my own . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clucking_Mad Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I was having the same problem with my girls kicking the straw out of the nesting box. I tried other bedding but my girls wouldn't even go into the nest box. I then raised my eglu up off the ground and now the straw stays in the nest box and the eglu stays a lot cleaner and they poop less in it so it's been a lot better for us all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Sadly mine kick hemcore out too - short of super glue I give up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
