Omlet cube and run

[gavclojak]

Hi there

I am new to all this but hope someone can offer some advice, I am about to take on 4 ex batts, mid may. I am getting the cube with a few extension runs until I can afford the walk in run. They will free range several days a week in a secure location too. My question is.....and excuse my ignorance....

1 I will be using hemp bedding and know it needs to go in the nesting box but what about in the trays that slid out...what goes in there?

2 Do those trays need emptying every morning? Only I work 2 days and just need to know how much earlier I need to get up:)

3 There are sooooo many different treatments out there for cleaning the coop and I am becoming baffled, how many do I really need and what is best? I was planning on a big clean once a week, is that enough.?

 

I have read every book going but I think I am overloaded......HELP....

[Scottie]

Hi there - how exciting for you!

 

I've never had exbatts, but in answer to your questions, I put straw in the nesting box and newspaper on the trays. The trays just need to be emptied each week. Cleaning once a week will be just fine.

[Olly]

Welcome to the forum. I put a sprinkling of hemp bedding in the trays to stop poo sticking to them, others use newspaper or you can just leave them bare. Once a week is fine for cleaning, and in very bad weather I just empty the trays, I only scrub the Eglu out when the sun is shining!

[freddie]

Oooh new hens!! Lucky them, and lucky you!!

Rule one: Don't panic!!

2: re the cube. I have one, and did , until recently have 4 hens in it. I line the trays with newspaper:don't know whether it was deliberate, but the smaller newspapers fit the tray perfectly, so a couple of sheets in the bottom makes ckeaning out so simple, and I shake the poo into the compost bin, then ditch the paper, or burn it. My nest box is also lined with paper, then sawdust, then some straw/hemp or whatever you use. You don't need to put anything in the trays. (except the paper, to make life easy!)

I clean the poo out of the nest box every am, as mine will sleep in theirs, (use a garden trowel!! ), you can compost,

oNCE A WEEK, DURING COOLER WEATHER IS PLENTY ENOUGH TO CLEAN OUT FOR FOUR, i KEEP AN EYE ON THE TRAYS ETC, AND WATCH OUT FOR "SWEATY APTCHES" FROM HOT HENS IN THE NESTING AREA.. tHESE GIRLS CAN GENERATE SOME HEAT!! i DO TEND TO SLIDE THE ROOF OPEN A BIT DURING THE DAY IF i'M ABOUT, TO AIR IT ALL OUT A BIT!ignore caps, hit wrong button!

Other than that, clean water is a must, every day. Chickens are , on the whole, easy, and ex batts are just the best, they are so sweet, and very grateful for anything!

enjoy, and I hope all this helps.

I take the whole of the easy to tak e to bits bits off and hose them off, every two weeks at the mo, once a week in summer, and scrub them off with a stiff brush. 4 don't make that much mess , to be honest, but poo sticks to the roosting bars!! like cement!! have a good look for mite when you take it to bits, as they are a pain, but easy to spot on the plastic, and heaps easier to treat, we had a wooden house before, and plastic IS fantastic!!

[redcharlie43]

How exciting.You won't regret it. I had ex bats first and they may struggle with the cube ladder. I had a classic and for the first few nights I had to lead them into the classic with a torch. If you have a cube be prepared to have to lift them up and down for the first few weeks. Ex-Batts are not used to going to bed at night. It might be wise to make some alternative accomodation under the cube until they get their strength up to climb a ladder.

With regard to cleaning....I put auboise and straw in the nesting area in the cube, I line the trays with newspaper and a sprinkling of auboise and I clean the cube about once a week. I used to poo pick but the girls now roost on the bars and lay in the nest box so a once a week clean is normally enough. Once I have cleaned up the cube I give everything a liberal dusting of diatom. So far the chickens seem healthy and happy. Congratulations on your chicken adventure!

[Luvachicken]

Hi and welcome from me.

 

I clean my cube every week. I line my trays with the plastic underlay stuff you put under laminate flooring, and then put aubiose on top. I also put aubiose in the nest box and sprinkle red mite powder on top.

 

Make sure you show us some pictures of your ex-batts

[gavclojak]

That is AMAZING...thank you guys so much...I am too excited to get my princess layer and her crew..... You have all been so helpful and I am sure I will have many more questions during this adventure. Thanks again x

[Cheeky Chooky]

Good on you for rescuing some Ex-Batts They're wonderful girls...you won't regret it

 

Have you joined the Ex Battery Hens Forum? It's a wonderful friendly place with a wealth of knowledge amongst it's members

[gavclojak]

Thanks for the heads up on the ex batts forum, will join that as I am sure I will need the help:) x