Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Jenthelibrarian]

Good morning

 

Firstly, it is lovely and reassuring to know you guys are here and that I can share my nervous beginner's musings!

Thanks so much!

 

Let the clucks out at ten past eight today, bit of noise going on as I approached, but also a lovely warm egg, I could get used to this

 

We have an Eglu classic with an extended run, on woodchips. The girls seem very happy s"Ooops, word censored!"ing around in it, turning it over and and delightedly finding bit and bobs to peck. I'm wondering now about keeping this clean, I can see the odd cube of cucumber from last night, all covered in dusty bits. They are also kicking woodchip into the water...

 

I'm thinking a small rake on a long handle to reach in and 'tidy up' and pick out the nasties.

Anyone else got a good idea here?

 

As I let them out, and presented my morning offering of a couple of leaves off the cauliflower the cat slunk up. Tilly, who seems to be the bolder of the two, flew at the cat, saw him off but whacked herself into the bars. She seems absolutlely fine, I think I was more shaken than she was.

I'm guessing the cat will learn to stay away!

[sjp]

your ideas sound fine as to the tidy up have a look at the childrens gardening tools you might find a small rake I know they do a spade in the range I use a childs snow shovel that I got from the place I get my bedding from as for the cat the local scabby cats by me lost intrest in my big girls after about a year but by then they only ever watched from the oppersite end of the garden I think they had their nose pecked through the mesh once to often to get any closer

my number one broody more than likly scared the off after that as they don't even come into the garden when the mob is out FR now

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Long handled rake sounds like a perfect idea . Lots of folk use woodchip quite happily but another option for bedding is to use stuff made for horses - Hemcore, Easibed, Bliss to name a few. They are brilliant for absorbing any dampness and the poop just magically dries up and virtually disappears! If you can source it easily it's worth a try to see which you prefer.

[sjp]

I use Bliss in the coops but I find it a bit to light for the run Easibed is a wood chip bedding which is good for runs it's a better size chip than a lot of garden center woodchips

[jomeena]

Hi,

Only the second day and a egg, wow. I had to wait a month. Yes the cats learn to stay back when hens are free, or they get chased away. We also have extended the run and found adding a extra broom handel to our plastic garden rake works well. As long as no one is standing behind me. For the nest box a cat litter spade is easy to use. Happy chicken keeping