Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[mullethunter]

Has anyone tried one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HOP-INN-Dust-Bath-for-Chickens-NEW-Fun-but-Practical-/261145413951?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

 

Or do you have a dust bath that stays dry all winter?

[Grandmashazzie]

It looks like a good idea.I have just got an old tyre as suggested on previous thread.I intend to fill it with sand and pop it under wooden coop,which is raised and hopefully that will keep it dry.

[mullethunter]

After I saw how eagerly Bernie got in the spare (dry) dust bath I keep in the garage this afternoon I decided I needed to get something asap. So the girls now have a large covered cat litter tray from Petsathome with the front flap removed. No-one's been brave enough to go in it yet though!

[PixieDust]

I have a shallow trug. I hope it'll be good enough.

[mullethunter]

That's what I've used until now PixieDust and has been fine. It's just got too wet over the last few weeks as my run isn't totally covered / dry.

[Chickabee]

I looked at it some time ago, thought it looked a bit flimsy. Went for a large shallow trug instead. It took them ages to go in it, but some of them do now. I placed it under the cube so it didn't get wet

[Valkyrie]

I think the bottom wouldn't last very long - they do tend to scratch the dirt. But I see the attraction for not flying around too much with the sides and top covered. I used to let the girls have a dust bath in the greenhouse but it's not very practical as the dust flies up everywhere.

[Jen the Hen]

I also use a very large, shallow trug, and my girls absolutely love it. They even stay in there if the weather's a bit blowy, as I think it keeps their ankles warm... I've had trouble finding dry sand at this time of year, so I use Auboise sometimes and the chooks still get in and have a good flap about.

[beccauk]

Hi

 

I brought a storage box for under bed storage and just didnt use the lid its the perfect width and height for under the cude I also made a clear pvc cover round the base of the cube round the mesh to keep it dry and draft free dont know if photos show it very well

 

[Chickabee]

Wow! It looks lovely. Did you make the Eglu cover ?

[mullethunter]

Beccauk that's an amazing set up

[beccauk]

Yes, its a new cube I brought this year from having a secondhand eglu so wanted to keep it nice and sparkly lol , on the outside anyway lol wanted to protect it from fading

 

Beccauk that's an amazing set up

thank you ive only had chickens for a couple years really they have had 3 extentions lol the roof and extending to made it wider they have a plastic shhet that rolls up the front and back when the weathers bad lol always find theres ways to change and improve especially when on here swapping ideas

 

becca

[Chortle Chook]

That's a lovely cover beccauk!

I (or rather my chickens) also use a tub trug under a shelter roof with the dry earth from old pot plants in it. All the chooks just love it. Several get in at once and even prefer it to scratching craters in the garden (they free range and used to do a lot of landscaping till I introduced the tub trug)

[Cat tails]

That's a lovely cover beccauk!

I (or rather my chickens) also use a tub trug under a shelter roof with the dry earth from old pot plants in it. All the chooks just love it. Several get in at once and even prefer it to scratching craters in the garden (they free range and used to do a lot of landscaping till I introduced the tub trug)

 

That's my plan too for the winter. I think I will fill a plastic box with dirt from the garden and just keep it in the shed. Don't really have anywhere else to put it, where it will stay dry... Might look for a tub though. That might keep the dirt in a bit more. Did you cut a hole in the front for them to get in? Or do they just climb in?

[Chortle Chook]

They just climb in. Sometimes they try and wait their turn by perching on the edge but normally fall in anyway Mine is a normal tub trug - not a particularly shallow one - and I just cover the bottom in about 1-2 cms of earth at any one time. Soon the earth becomes the finest dust which from time to time I tip back out onto the garden. I tried a cat litter tray but my girls like this much better.

[Cat tails]

Sounds good! I was thinking cat litter tray too, but I think it might be too shallow. Will go hunt for a nice tub!

[Chortle Chook]

You could get one in purple to go with your Eglu

[Claireabella]

A Tubtrug sounds like a really good idea, I think I'll get a few of those! Love the cube cover Beccauk!

[The Dogmother]

Mine have an old Belfast sink in the run; it doesn't tip over and they manage to fit 4 of them in there at once.

[mullethunter]

That'd be lovely Dogmother. Don't see many of those about these days though - too many appearances in Country Living et al

[The Dogmother]

I sort of collect them as planters in the garden - found at the dump, in skips etc, and I've never paid much for them.... I can assure you that my hens' run looks nowt like Country Living

[Valkyrie]

Definitely like the dotty cover!

 

Well they can't tip up the sink! Am thinking next time the aubiose gets swept out the tub trug will be going in down the back. The plastic needs to be replaced too as it's beginning to show signs of ripping. So time for a bit of maintenance down the end.