Chicken bald back

[LovelyJubley]

If anyone can spare the time to answer my questions, I'd be very grateful!

 

Few questions:

 

Back garden is entirely paved, with no grass areas or soil areas. I'm intending to lay down wood chip over the paving, as I've read this is adequete enough for chooks to scratch and rummage around in.

How many times will I need to poo pick around in the chippings?

How often to clear all the chippings and replace with new?

How easy is it to see the poo amongst the chippings? I'm worried unseen poo will sift to the bottom of the floor/underneath the top layer of chippings and will fester, be trodden in, become a hazard etc.

 

I do not have access to a garden hose.

Will this prove a problem when completing a thourough deep clean of hen house? Will a bucket of soapy water be adequete enough for the job?

Will this prove a problem when I have to wash the paving slabs down during the Big Clean?

 

I shall keep three chickens for the (hopeful) intention of a heavy weekly supply of eggs collectively. I'd like white eggs, brown speckledy eggs and lastly, eggs of a different appearence.

Can I have recommendations for birds who offer these?

 

My birds will be kept in their run for the majority of the day, allowing free ranging for an hour or so under supervision.

Can I have recommendations for birds who are happily suited for these conditions/ bearing in mind the birds who will give me the desired coloured eggs mentioned above?

 

Red Mites are a prolific problem for chickens..Where do they come from? Soil?Grass? Shrubbery? Are red mites already present in gardens? Or do they arrive on the chickens when collected from the farm?

 

I'm still undecided on which eglu to buy for my chooks. My last choice is the Cube. Too big and daunting for a first timer like me, and I've read several complaints regarding severe draughts via gaps, and leaking. I love the idea it's chest height and that cleaning would be done at that level.

 

It leaves me choosing between the other two..The Classic appeals slightly more because I can clean the roof easier because it detatches from the base. The Go doesn't, and it would seem I'd need to Hands n Knees it, and crawl half way in to clean the inside top and sides.

What are the deciding factors that swayed your choice to your particular model?

 

Many thanks and kind regards,

Fragrantfancies.

[Luvachicken]

Welcome to the forum from me.

I can't answer all your questions I'm afraid, but can do some

 

I have a cube and I love it. It's easy to clean.....I just wash everything up in a big low tub trug with washing up liquid and really hot water, and leave it all to dry. In the winter, I dry the stuff against a radiator.

 

Mine have the cube run section on soil, and a wooden run connected to it which have paving slabs in. In this area they have like a wooden sandpit, but full of soil, they love digging in this, especially with leaves on top.

 

I use an ice s"Ooops, word censored!"er to get the poo off the patio slabs. And sprinkle Stalosan all over once a week.

 

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along soon, good luck choosing your chooks.

[LovelyJubley]

Ooh a reply!

 

What doyou say regarding the leaking and draughts with the Cube?

 

I take it the Stalostan is a dis infectant, anti bacterial thing?

 

How do you (or anyone else for that matter) find the task of cleaning the house when weather conditions are severe: ie settled snow, rain, extreme cold, icy etc?

 

The Cube would allow for room to grow, wouldnt it? My reservation is that I may not take to chicken keeping for whatever reason, and I'd be more gutted at having to sell the cube than the smaller model of Eglu. If that makes sense? The Cube seems more of a commitment for some reason.

[LovelyJubley]

Must chooks be let out at first light?..

[Luvachicken]

Mine only seems to leak through the ventilation bits when it rains really hard and the wind is in the wrong direction.

 

I lay the stuff that you put between floor and laminate, in the trays with aubiose or similar on top, if the weather is bad, it just takes a few minutes to tip it all into a bin liner and give everything a quick wipe down. It doesn't take long, and even washing it all doesn't take long if you have a handy radiator. I would recommend some omlet gloves for washing the stuff. I use only very hot water and couldn't without the gloves.

It also doesn't make my back ache for cleaning.

 

The stalosan is a sanitising agent and makes everything smell a bit nicer. You have to do it on a damp suface and leave it overnight.

 

I did used to have 3 chickens but now have 6 ( 4 small ) and they do all fit in nicely.

 

Hope this helps.

[Luvachicken]

I wake mine up between 7 and 8 at the moment depending on whether I can drag my self out of bed or not.

In summer I tend to do wake them nearer 7.

And I always shut their cube door at bedtime.

[suebee]

Hi there, and welcome

 

If you're anything like the rest of us on here, far from not taking to chicken keeping, you'll soon be well and truly addicted, suffering from morehens disease, and planning to add more chooks!

 

If they're in a secure run, a lot of folks leave the pop hole open, so they can let themselves out. Some folks have automatic openers/closers. Other than that, yes, they shouldn't be left shut in their house for too long, once it's light.

[LovelyJubley]

Chickens I love. I'd love to keep chickens, I have no qualms about that. My reservation will be from how difficult it is to clean and maintain the house and area. I'm finnicky about mess and germs. I'm that annoying person you hear screeching "Ewwww! That's gross!" at the sight of a thick cobweb or seeing the starting of mold.

 

But I love chickens and the thought of keeping the funny little things is swaying me to house some in my yard.

 

Omlet are vocal about their runs being completly fox proof, so by that its possible to keep pop hole open at night/morning isn't it?

 

I lay the stuff that you put between floor and laminate, in the trays with aubiose or similar on top, if the weather is bad, it just takes a few minutes to tip it all into a bin liner

Sorry, bit slow on the uptake here, but what do you mean? What trays? Roosting? Poo Trays? I take it you mean a sheet of material laid down in The Tray, which can be lifted with all its contents sat on top and easily tipped into bin?...

 

Don't forget to mention which model feature had the deciding factor in choosing your house people!

[redcharlie43]

Hello, I can't answer all of your questions but If you have the cash I would get a second hand cube. I started with a classic and soon upgraded. They keep their value so if Chickens aren't for you you shouldn't lose too much. Be warned however that morehens disease is highly infectious and will strike fairly soon if chickens are for you The cube is easy to clean with a bucket of soapy water and a scrubbing brush. I would recommend getting a spare set of roosting bars so you always have a clean dry set to pop back in on a wet winter day. I have my cube set up in the corner of the garden. The run and cube are on stable mats on mud with woodchip on top. They have a free range area which is muddy at the moment. I don't poo pick as much as I should but have the whole of the run covered so it doesn't get too wet unless its really wet and windy. I sprinkle stalosan everywhere once a week when I clean out the cube and rake over the covered run.

The cube doesn't leak too much. Just in really really bad wet and windy weather when some wet does seem to get in but not enough to get the roosting bars or chickens wet. It is mainly noticed under the poop trays when i do the weekly clean.

I have never had red mite so can't help you there.

With regard to letting the chickens out I always leave the cube door open and the cube run shut at night. That way they can let get up when they are ready.

One thing is that if you want a heavy supply of eggs you may be disappointed at times, especially if you only get 3 chickens. I have 4 at the moment and have had no eggs for over 2 weeks! I have all hybrids so if you want a good supply of eggs and certain egg colours then I am sure another omleteeer can advise on this.

Lastly you won't regret getting some chickens for your garden but like all animals it can be stressful at times but the good times usually outweigh the bad.

[Luvachicken]

Yeah, sorry, I meant that's how I line the poo trays.

It does make it much easier to clean.

 

Mine was a 40th birthday present. I mainly chose it so I didn't have to stay bent for too long when cleaning. And I chose lilac to look like a giant flower and brighten up my garden - but I don't think they sell lilac anymore.

This has been my first chicken keeping experience and I've enjoyed it all. I've had them for almost 4 years now

[LovelyJubley]

Ahh!! But I'd only get 3 chickens if I was to get the Classic. The Cube however.....

 

Which reminds me. What do I do with the dirty wood chippings. I don't have a composter. So I'm guessing all chippings get tipped into green bags, which will sit ready for green waste collection?

 

Let me get this right...Chicken house and run will be placed onto my paved floor. Around these will be fixed garden edging. (I cant fathom how that will be fixed tight and secure onto the concrete floor, but that's DH's depatment, not my concern. I digress!). Within the edging and unde/in the run and house, will be a very thick layer of wood chips, which is what the chooks will scratch around in.

 

When doing the Big Clean, do I need to rake out ALL the wood chips within the edging, absolutly everything, right down to the concrete paving? Or is it the first cm or two layer?

[clucker1]

Me too, I love my cube. Very easy to clean. One of the reasons I bought it was because red mite live in wooden houses and I think are less likely to live in plastic. So far, 2.5 years on no red mite. Started with 4 Omlet girls, Omlet are very good at delivering the whole cube and setting it up for you, complete with chickens. Now have 7 chickens (was 8, but one of my original Omlet chickens died earlier this year.) Go for it and enjoy! Not sure whether other Omletters might agree, but it might be easier to start with Omlet chickens or that type and then progress to chickens that lay all the variations of egg colours. IE I was looking at getting 'burford browns who lay a gorgeous dark brown colour, but then did my research and found they ideally need lots of free ranging space and time, which I don't have as I don't have a fox proof garden and don't have all day to supervise free ranging!

[LovelyJubley]

Oh no, I won't be getting my Eglu model from the site. My funds won't allow it.

 

****World's smallest violin****

 

It'll be Ebay for us (me!). You know..I think I'm now leaning towards the Cube! Room to grow an' all that. Thank you for the help BTW.

 

If housing chickens in the Eglu helps minimise the risk of Red Mite, what can be done to minimise the risks of Scaly Leg and worms? (Shudder)

[Mrs_B]

Hello and welcome to the Omlet forums!

 

I understand your feelings about germs and worrying about the smallest thing. I have OCD and one of the many reasons I got chickens was to confront my feelings about 'germs' and now I have barely any issues poo picking the coops everyday and changing their water/feeders. I always have gloves on, but I have gone down from using one spray bottle of sanitiser a week to one a month!

 

Any who - there are a few people that have put their coops/runs on concrete so you will have no problem getting the info you need as this forum is fab. I have no regrets using woodchip and stalosan once a week - this controls the smell and the chickens love scratching around in it. I also do not have access to a hose and like others, I use a tub of hot water and washing up liquid to clean my Eglu. When it comes to 'washing' out their woodchips, I use a watering can with Virkon (disinfectant which dissolves in the water) when I need to and this has been sufficient for me. I also don't poop pick the woodchip, but 'muck out' and change the woodchip half yearly and have put the chips onto the compost heap (but I am straight onto soil, so I would muck out more if it was on concrete).

 

Red Mite is a problem for people and the issue is that they live for several months without having a feed, so they can stay inside a shed and wait. Whilst the plastic Cube is great in comparison to a wooden coop, it isn't Red Mite proof. BUT I have had Red Mite a couple of times but only in my wooden coop - and I have always just dusted my Eglu in diatom (especially in the bedding).

 

There are always Omlet products second hand on eBay, so if a Cube is a bit too much for a first timer, but if you get addicted to chicken keeping then the smaller coops will restrict you buying more chickens, so I would recommend doing a bit of searching to see if maybe a Cube is available at a good price! I chose my Go purely because I needed something fast as I had a pecking issue in my flock and needed to seperate the chooks, and my local poultry farm had one in stock - but if I could chose now - I would have saved up for a Cube (so I could maybe go chicken shopping again )

 

I always close my hens in at night, despite them being in their runs first thing in the morning and of course overnight. I just don't want to take any risks, even if they are minimal because we have a fox problem! I get them up at first light (that's 4am in the summer!) and shut them in when they've put themselves to bed...to be fair the 4am thing is crazy, and most people don't do this, but it's my choice and I don't mind

 

Have fun on your chicken journey!

 

x

 

edit - spelling

Edited December 4, 2012 by Guest

[LovelyJubley]

Need to go to bed in a bit as I have an early morning in the..er..morning(!)

I'll be back to post tomorrow

[redcharlie43]

Have a look at the my busy weekend post that sammiboo posted about a year ago. I also added to it.

I have the run sitting on the mats (or in your case it would be paving) and then add the wood chippings to the run. I have some wooden railway sleepers around the outside of the run. This stops the chickens from kicking the woodchip out of the run but also adds to the fox proofing of the run. However I think that omlet say this is not needed to fox proof the run. Every 4-6 months or so i rake out all the chippings in the run which takes about 45 minutes if not less. If you haven't got a composter then you can put it into bags and bin it. My council doesn't allow animal waste to go into the composting bins so if the compost bin is full it gets put into the normal bin. You can then just wash down the paving slabs with some hot soapy water and a brush and leave to dry before putting new stuff down.

[clucker1]

We are awful chiken mummies here! Twice, in the two and a half years....we have forgotten to let the girls out....SHOCK HORROR!!!!!!!!! Until the very late hour of 10 AM. Crossed wires/OH forgot! The girls were fine though, it just funny at the loooooook you get from chief chicken Darthveda as they rush down the cube steps.

[mimi5]

Hi there and welcome!!!

 

I wish I'd done what you are doing on here....research!!! But I didn't find this site until after I had started keeping chickens and only after I had purchased my cube!!!

 

I LOVE my cube!! It was a huge investment and my hubby nearly had a heart attack when I told him the price!! But I have not regretted it and would totally recommend one! I had a wooden coop and run first which was hopeless really and I learned from my mistakes!!! I suffered warped doors, broken fittings and it was too small for the 3 pekins very quickly!!! Also experienced redmite, ARGH! The last straw being....it went mouldy after being treated for redmite and left empty (babies gone to join grown ups in the cube!!!) So it has been dismantled and taken to the tip!!

 

You could look at my post on here "Phew, pekins all dry!!" You will see not only my cute pekin gang, but my green cube with 3 metre run on soil covered wood chip! Might give you an idea of space? I have 6 pekins and will be adding two more youngsters, currently in my ark growing on in the spring!! Yes, chicken keeping is very addictive...gone from 3 to 8 and even have a cockerel!!

 

I loved trundelling the cube around it is very easy to move and this might help you with cleaning? If you have enough room to "site" your cube in 2 different places on your slabs, you can give the area just used a through clean, whilst having another site quickly ready!!Cleaning is really easy, you'll soon work out your own routine. Alot of chicken keeping decisions are personal choice and what suits you/your lifestyle/time etc. You can always get good advice here!!

 

Best wishes for your chicken keeping journey!!! Just keep us posted and pics please!!

[daxigirl]

Hi,

 

It might be worth seeing if there's an that you could visit near you, there is a section for that. Then you can see the sizes of them in real life. The cube actually take up less space length wise so may be worth thinking about if you've not got much space.

 

If your keeping it on paving/concrete you could put horse bedding in the run rather than wood chips if your funny about mess, that way you could empty it out for a good disinfect every couple of weeks or so and know it was clean.

 

Think how many chooks you want or may want too. If it's only 3 then I'd go for the or .

To get a nice glut of eggs you want to look at Hybrids such as Speckledy for a brown, White Star for a white, Light Sussex for a pinky or like my mum some nice placid Lohman Browns. But there's so many to choose from.

 

Good luck with deciding.

[Purplemaniacs]

Welcome to the forum

 

I love my if you only want 3 or 4 I would go for that rather than a . The cube is good as you can fit more chooks in but I don't think it has the beauty of the .

 

I had 4 in a with a bigger run and they and I were very happy.

 

Where abouts are you omleteers may be able suggest places that you could buy chickens that may meet your desire for different egg colours. I know of one but you may be no where near.

 

Chrissie

 

[LovelyJubley]

Hello again.

 

Back from dropping off DD at nursery. Tis cold out there. Lots of ice was on my car this morning.

 

I quite fancy the cube now after sleeping on all the advice recieved. Easily swayed me! That now means I'll most likey keep 4 to start, and will allow room to grow if needs be. It also means that if a chook dies then I have the room to introduce 2 more to the flock, as recommended by a chicken breeder site, as opposed to a single which apparently is stressful for the chickens and pecking order.

 

Dont forget to tell me about cleaning houses during sever weather people. I'm very intregued (sp?) to know its implications.

 

I'll attatch an extension to the cube run, I think. Extra room for the chickens. And yes, to the poster who suggested 'site-ing' the Cube in different areas within my garden, that is possible to do.

 

I just had a quick Google of horse bedding, and one particular (vair) posh horse website lists 4!! different types of bedding for stables and horses.

What did the poster have in mind when suggesting the bedding, because I have no idea which one is best suited to chickens?

 

With that in mind, I'm thinking I want running costs to be as small as possible, and bog standard wood chippings seem to be the most econmical choice. I even heard local Tree Surgeons offer all their wood chippings for free, or very next to nothing. Is that a rumor? Bet stable bedding costs £££

 

Anyone know how red mite gets into the garden/where they come from?

 

I have a chicken breeder fairly close to me. Nearer the time, I shall pay them a visit. If they turn out to be no good, there are a couple more, but these are further out from me.

 

Realistically, I wont be able to get any chooks until the mid spring. (....Though that doesnt mean I cant start buying little bits and pieces in the mean time, does it!)

[LovelyJubley]

ahhh, just seen 'Aubiose' bedding, with really postive customer feedback. That's stable bedding isn't it? So....

Aubiose bedding: Does the wind whip it around and out of the run?

Does it get scattered and kicked about everywhere?

How often to poo pick and thourough clean this kind of bedding. Same principle as the wood chippings? How long can it be left for until a complete over haul of the bedding is needed, and a complete layer of fresh bedding laid down?

 

 

(How do you pronounce it? )

[daxigirl]

There's other varieties such as hemcore, easibed, bedmax, bliss and they come in flavours like citronella and eucalyptus. It's chopped up hemp and rots down quite quick in the composter or goes in the garden bin at the dump. They're all @£8-10 for a giant bale. Changing time varies upon how much you put down, how many chooks etc. I have a WIR with concrete floor and horse bedding and it's good for about 3-4 weeks before I change it, it gets freshed up with BioDri/Stalosan which is a powder disinfectant during the week. (I also sprinkle this in the poop trays and nest boxes. I also use the horse bedding in the nest box and trays.)

 

The chooks will flick whatever you put in the run out and they're very good at it. I think that alot of us have a clear-glass type tarpaulin/cover over the run to keep everything nice and dry and keep the wind out a bit while letting you see in and the girls see daylight.

 

Think you say it 'orbw"Ooops, word censored!"' well that's my pronunciation anyway.

[LovelyJubley]

From your post it seems horse bedding makes a good all rounder re. bedding can be placed in nest box. Doesn't have the longevity of chunky chips, having to be changed more frequently though. Wood chips can be left for a good few months in comparison. Interesting to note the Auboise seem to repel flys. Flys are the cause of Flystrike I assume?

 

Do most people on this forum own their homes? I don't. I live in the City and my house is a rented cosy (think squished!) 3 bedroom mid terrace house with a completly slabbed little maintenance, garden.

 

I've yet to broach the subject of chickens in the yard to my Landlord - The yard is rather unkept at the moment because of the shocking amount of autumn leaves fallen into it from next door's huge back garden tree. Plus two of the fence panels between mine and aforementioned neighbours fence has blown over, so my landlord and next doors landlord are currently in talks as how best to work out pricing and repair of them.

 

Once the fence panels are sorted, (and realistically, it wont be done until after New Year) I shall be out there giving it all a good tidy, pressure wash the floor, weed anything that needs it, and wash all my back windows and door and make it all top notch and sparkly. Get the landlord round to see it whilst still all shiny, then ask! (plead, more like)

 

Here's hoping he'll agree. Considering the house was left rather grubby by the previous tenants, he's very happy with the way I'm keeping his house at the moment. Says we've made all cosy and its very clean and well maintained and looked after. *preen*

 

Another question:

 

What illnesses/conditons are chooks most likely to succumb to? What things shall I have on standby in case of said complaints?

[Chortle Chook]

Hello LovelyJubley A few pointers . . .

 

Go for the biggest house you can afford because if you come to enjoy chicken keeping you are sure to want more and then upgrading from eglu to cube will be a waste of pennies.

 

Omlet products hold their value really well so selling them will not be a problem if you should find chickens are not for you.

 

Think about how many eggs you will really use. If there are only 2 of you, you'll probably find you'll not actually want 3 eggs every single day. If that is the case you may want to go for pure breeds (who normally live longer but will not lay as well e.g. will stop when they are molting or in the winter when daylight hours are short) rather than hybrids - Take a look on the The Omlet Breeds Area and dazzle yourself with the variety out there. A Marans will lay rich brown coloured eggs and an Araucana lays lovely blue eggs. You can also get hybrids which are crosses with these breeds and will also provide brown / blue eggs, but I'm not sure of their names.

 

Keep your cleaning regime up to date and regular e.g. poo pick every day in the house and clean it thoroughly once a week and you'll not have problems with pests and deseases (My OH has OCD and yet he manages with my chickens without much complaining).

 

Go somewhere where you can actually see the Omlet chicken housing as Daxigirl has suggested. That way you can really get a feel for how they work.

 

Think about one of the Omlet chicken courses. They are just such fun and you'll be able to really see things first hand.

 

Good luck and do keep us posted