gavclojak Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 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.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddie Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 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!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redcharlie43 Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted April 7, 2013 Author Share Posted April 7, 2013 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted April 7, 2013 Author Share Posted April 7, 2013 Thanks for the heads up on the ex batts forum, will join that as I am sure I will need the help:) x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
