Solitary chicken - need advice

[dacktarie]

Hi everyone,

I have an eglu classic and have noticed that the inside gets very damp and wet (and smelly), I use wood shavings, and within a day or so the droppings are going very furry! i have kept chickens for a few years now in wooden houses before and found that the droppings dried out better and the inside did not get damp.

I am now thinking that it is because it is on the floor rather than raised up?

Does anyone else have this problem, getting fed up of cleaning them out everyday and having coccididiosis trouble, so not very happy, any ideas?

 

Thank you!

[libby22]

Hi

 

I have an eglu classic too but haven't had this problem. My eglu is on top of a table though so not sure if that helps.

 

I empty the poo out each day, just collecting it from the nest box and tray and making sure enough fresh shavings are left in the nest box, then line the tray with newspaper.

 

Although with all this rain, everything seems to be constantly damp at the moment!

[Charlottechicken]

Have you had this problem during the summer or on warmer nights? Just wondering if it is a combination of the warmth from your hens and the cold outside air now we are in Autumn, causing condensation on the inside of the Eglu?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I wonder if it's because you're using wood shavings. I used horse bedding (Easibed/Hemcore/Aubiose) which is really absorbent so will soak up any excess moisture.

 

I also lined the poo tray with a couple of sheets of newspaper. Soaks up moisture too and makes it easy to parcel up all the bedding for the bin.

[Patricia W]

Like ANH, I'd switch away from wood shavings and see if it improves.

[Miss Millies Chicken]

I use aubiose in my classic with no problem. The droppings remain dry. The house sits on the grass and is home to 4 ex bats who appear to produce copious amounts of poo . Twice as much as my other chooks. I do tend to poo pick it every day to keep it fresh. But when I haven't been able pick it doesn't go furry. The aubiose does absosrb the moisutre in the poo fairly well.

[LolaLayla]

I have had my eglu since 2010 and it has always been on the ground. I also use a horse bedding - Raport and usually poo pick every day. However even if it is longer than that I have not noticed it going furry.