Fox attacks - a list of what happened?

[jilly]

Just got our cube delivered last week and set it up yesterday. A few things were missing/damaged which I have e mailed omlet about.Managed to get the basic frame together and made it it up barring the missing bits (which wouldn't cause this prob). Got up this morning to find the rain in the night had leaked into the nesting box and had formed a puddle in one end. Thought the CUBE would be water tight. The CUBE is sited on ground that is more or less flat. Just wondered has anyone else had this problem ? We have checked all the roof fitting etc and it couldn't be tighter, and is fitted right according to the instructions ?!

 

Can anyone help ?

 

Thanks

Jilly

x

[MaggieMcHen]

Hi

Yes there is a problem with a few of the cubes. Email Johannes or James and let them know. They are producing a seal to remedy the problem. I have the same problem, mainly when it rains REALLY hard and it should run out of the nest box as there is a slot at the bottom. It shouldn't be happening though.

 

There have been other posts on it and all sorts of suggestions for a remedy but I'd just let Omlet know and await results.

 

I've had mine for three weeks and am over the moon with it and the chooks.

 

Enjoy

Maggie

[jilly]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. so its not happening to everyone then thats interesting ?!

Will let omlet know. Go on my hols tomorrow so hope its not flooded when I get back. Apparently there are severe weather warnings this week again !! Not picking up chooks till we get back (thank god) wouldnt have liked to leave them like that in someone elses care.

Regards

Jilly

x

[moochoo]

I was really worried about this happening but after two days of quite torrential rain I have to say mine is dry. I don't want to sound boastful I just thought I should mention that it's not a design fault.

Ours was put together by the Omlet delivery chap, I might not have been so lucky had OH installed it!

Let's hope the seal works when it's sorted by Omlet.

[Rabbieboy]

The rain gets into my cube, not through a bad seal on the roof but through the gap between the roof and the rear panel just where the sliding bolt is. If it is raining and there is no wind then the inside stays dry, if the wind blows over the rearside then it drives the rain into the gap. I was suprised at the size of some of the gaps around the cube, I always thought there should be no drafts around the lower area of the roosting area, only the top for ventilation.

 

I still love my cube though...

Edited August 15, 2007 by Guest

[MaggieMcHen]

Just in case you were boasting, mine was also put together by Omlet chappie. Doesn't always help, he managed to leave mine missing two brackets that hold the side panel on!

I agree with several other posts though that there are a few glitches. The roof is quite hard to get back in place - it needs a handle. My super glug is impossible to remove as the hooks are just a bit too big - a problem with some molds not all - I am having to 'modify' with a sharp knife until the hooks are ever so slightly slimmer.. My back panel leaks in the same place as yours. By the time the chooks have finished scratching soil and bark over the 'skirt' and digging holes and dust baths it is almost impossible to move the Cube with the run in place and removing the run is extremely time consuming, as well as being a two man/woman job, so our Cube now remains in one place and I have bought Crock Knee pads so that I can crawl in through the chicken sized door to do clean up duty!! The things we do for looove...............

 

BUT all things considered I love my Cube and am very glad I got it. and I feel much better now that lot is off my chest

 

Maggie

[Guest]

[Twiglet]

I had this problem with my cube leaking in the same place and there is a thread on here about it.

 

I have e-mailed omlet and they are working on a rubber seal which will be sent out to all cube owners when available BUT....

 

Dilly made a suggestion about slightly shifting the roof by removing it and then repositioning it as far over to the opposite side of the nestbox. (I think that was it

 

Anyway, i did it and haven't had any more leaks since. If you are cleverer than me perhaps you could find the old thread and Dilly's instructions in it.

 

Good luck

[Roxanne]

My cube lets in water too - I have newspaper at the bottom of the tray and remove the soiled sheets daily but they are often very wet - initially I thought my chickens had major problems but then realised it was the rain!!

While it is not too cold(!) it is not a huge problem but when it gets colder it could be nasty.

I am also having terrible problems with my glug - removing it from the run for cleaning is a nightmare as the catches are so tight it is a two handed job - one from the outside and one from the inside of the run - great fun in the dark or early moring on a soggy lawn! I can't do it when the girls are out as they get in my way. When it has water in it is very heavy to push off and it is situated too high to reach the top and pull it off with the 'handle' at the top. Perhaps a special door in the netting at the top to reach in and retrieve it would be a good idea?

I was considering asking Omlet to send me an open topped glug bowl used in the smaller runs as Henrietta likes to go up the ladder and drink from the top!

[Guest]

We are having the most horrendous weather here - non stop torrential rain this week.

 

I popped one of those cheap garden tarpaulins over the top of the cube 'just in case' and tied the four corners to the stand.

[sparkleeeeee]

yes dilly it is really bad isnt it. i have just been out trying to put the roof on my run and i am so wet i leave puddles everywhere so i have given up until it stops. the girls are in their new run except uppsy who is very wet wondering around the garden and will not go in. i am picking up some silkies tomorrow so i hope the sun comes out for them.

[Aunty e]

I keep a blanket over mine, to keep the light out in the mornings so the neighbours aren't disturbed by shouty chooks, but I've never had water in the cube, even before the advent of the bungee blanket. I put it together myself though, maybe I'm special

 

Warning on the silky front, mine can go up the ladder to the cube, I've seen her do it. But most of the time she sleeps underneath it, which is extremely annoying.

[jilly]

James said we will all be getting one of these new seals when they go into production. In the meanwhile what my clever husband has done is drill a couple of holes (not too tiny but not too big) at each end of the nesting box, either side of the slit where the puddle was gathering. He did this when we had just taken delivery of the cube, when the problem became apparent. We were worried because although we hadn't at that point picked up our girls we were going on holiday the day after and didn't want to come back to it all flooded out, and whilst we were away there were some severe weather warnings. Anyway we came back and found that it was dry. So hubby's DIY must have worked ?! Told James at omlet about this on the phone and he said great as long as it worked, good idea !! (not suggesting everybody does this though coz it may have been more luck than judgement and wouldn't want anyone to damage their cubes ? But it had worked for us (for now) till the seal comes through.

[xChicken04x]

Yep ours does, poor Spice layed her egg the other day in a puddle of water her little bum got all soggy

 

xx

[Guest]

yes dilly it is really bad isnt it. i have just been out trying to put the roof on my run and i am so wet i leave puddles everywhere so i have given up until it stops. the girls are in their new run except uppsy who is very wet wondering around the garden and will not go in. i am picking up some silkies tomorrow so i hope the sun comes out for them.

 

Its like hurricane weather here - really really deteriorated

Is that another new run sparkleeee or the new run extensions you made

 

So excited to hear about your new chooks (despite your OH and you saying that will be all for now)

 

I keep checking out your gallery

[Jules.]

yes dilly it is really bad

Its like hurricane weather here - really really deteriorated

we have sunshine here today, Tshirt & cropped pants weather

[Guest]

I don't wish to know that