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

[Cindig]

Hello!

 

I've just got a cube - it has been delivered today! (Not assembled yet). I'm collecting 3 ex-commercial hens on Saturday. We just have to muddle along for the first 24 hours, then I'll be getting further help on an Omlet course on Sunday! All so exciting!

 

My children have got names ready: Rosie (after 'Everything's Rosie' I think), Digger and Cinderella.

 

So, to help me and my girls, please can you help with some advice?

 

1. How do ex-batts tend to get on with the roosting bars in Eglus? I gather that some ex-batts won't perch on bars in traditional coops, but will they be ok straight away on the toast-rack style roosting bars in the Cube? Or should I provide an alternative? Presumably it's a good idea to try to keep them out of the nest box at night?

 

2. I'm wondering how best to keep them warm enough at night initially until their feathers grow back. The BWHT website suggests during cold weather, putting deep dry bedding on the coop floor, or if in a large coop / stable, putting a cardboard box on its side, half-filled with bedding. I'm not sure how this advice fits with a cube - bedding directly on the racks wouldn't work very well, and whilst a cardboard box on its side might fit, they might get used to that and never want to move to the roosting bars. Any advice on the best way to ensure they won't be cold?

 

3. I've heard that straw can be scratchy until they grow their feathers back, I have something called Easichick which I assume will be ok for them. Having read lots on here about Aubiose, that seems like a good one to go for in future!

 

4. One website suggested initially putting food and water in the coop to ensure that they had no problems accessing it. However I rather think it would make a mess. Is it better to leave it outside and physically lift the hens outside if they are unwilling to go themselves? I don't want to stress them by making them go somewhere they are not comfortable going, nor do I want them to be hungry/thirsty!

 

5. Do I fill up the grubs with food, or just put a few handfuls in? (Clearly clueless)

 

6. Do I mix the grit with the crumble, or provide it separately? (Very clueless)

 

Thanks in advance for all your help!

[Cat tails]

Welcome to the forum!

How eggciting this must be!

 

No doubt someone will be along shortly to tell you all about ex-commercial girls.

 

But regarding to points 4, 5 and 6:

4: they don't need food in the coop, but you could make going in and a bit easier by giving them a step up or a little ramp instead of the ladder.

5: Just top up the grub (not so much that it spills out, about half way should do it) and fill it up every few days, depending on how much they eat (I only have three small bantams that don't eat much at all)

6: I would give grit separately.(little dish, bowl or pot will do the trick) They will only eat it when needed and layer pellets have calcium in them already.

7: get a chair and sit back and enjoy your ladies!

[wez]

Hi there! Welcome

 

Agree with lovely Cat tails ... give them a step up to the ladder and consider putting mesh or something over it as they may not get the hang of it easily, also, their legs can be a bit weak to begin with so not jumping up or off heights will be good for them whilst they regain their strength

 

Food - top up their grubs and give grit separately, good quality layers pellets have lots of what they need in and they will take what grit they need themselves, even better if they get some free range time once settled in

 

Easichick or Aubiose are great, and they will get the hang of roosting ... main thing is good ventilation but free from direct draughts and they will be fine. Condensation is worse than cold for them ... we leave coop door open all year round, they find a way to keep warm even when moulting

 

And leave the food out of the coop ... as long as they've had free access during the day they won't starve and as long as they can get down the next morning, they'll soon find their way.

 

So exciting and keep us posted!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Can't add to the excellent advice above (apart from mentioning Easibed as a good bedding too!) so will just wish you luck with your new girls .

[jimnpaula]

Hiya and welcome!

 

Regarding your points 1 & 2, In my experience they huddled up in the nestbox when they first arrived, so perhaps the cardboard box might not be a bad idea for a while - that way they can cuddle together to keep warm and not in the nestbox. They are used to sitting on the floor so the floor level roosting bars are not really different except to walk over. I would suggest making a long ramp with rungs to help them get up to the cube, just lay it over the ladder and prevent it from slipping down. Once they are fitter you can cut a bit off to make it steeper if you want, then get rid of it altogether if that's your goal.

 

As mentioned above, get yourself a chicken watching chair, a good warm jacket, charge up the picture-taking device and enjoy!

[Chickabee]

Hi,

 

From personal experience only.

 

My exbats still sleep in the nesting area. Nearly 2 years on. They will be nice and warm in the cube. Aubiose or similar is my favourite. Don't mix food and grit. Keep all food and drink as high as you can, they will scratch it all out onto the floor and mix it in with flooring if not, and water will get filthy. Help will be needed with ladder. You will probably get eggs straight away so prepare to be very excited.

 

Remember you have room for more than 3 and will probably come home with more. This is a fact that most omleteers will agree with

 

Enjoy. The best bit for me was the first wing stretch. I'll never forget that

[jimnpaula]

The best bit for me was the first wing stretch. I'll never forget that

 

Oh yes! "Hey, I can stretch!"

 

And +1 to everything Chickabee said.

[Orangediva]

Hello!

 

I've just got a cube - it has been delivered today! (Not assembled yet). I'm collecting 3 ex-commercial hens on Saturday. We just have to muddle along for the first 24 hours, then I'll be getting further help on an Omlet course on Sunday! All so exciting!

 

I don't have any advice as I'm another potential new chicken obsessive - not quite as close to getting my girls as you - but I just wanted to say how exciting and keep us posted! I've got my eglu classic, run and fencing kit and I'm doing my (non-Omlet) chicken course on the 28th. I'm currently reading everything chicken related I can lay my hands on - and possibly confusing myself even more - so I will be following your thread with interest.

 

Good luck for Saturday - looking forward to hearing about your girls

[Luvachicken]

A cube ????

You can fit a lot of chickens in a cube you know

Looking forward to hearing what you get and seeing some photos.

[Cindig]

Guys you are all brilliant - thank you so much! Feeling slightly more confident... not necessarily that I have any clue what I'm doing, but at least there is brilliant help out there to see me through!

 

The cube is half built and is massive for just 3 hens!!! (And my garden is not terribly big!) But I just didn't take so much to the Go Up and they take about the same amount of space on the ground anyway. And just in case we need room for another... (flawed logic here because then we'd need a bigger run... and a bigger garden). Anyhow, my kids now want to be put in the run, so I might keep the hens in the children's bedrooms instead.

 

Thanks everyone!!! Will get ramp-making too. My two-year old will be delighted because (a) he thinks the ladder is his and has been carrying it around the garden all afternoon and (b) he loves hammering.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You'll need to post some photos when you've got everything all set up and ladies in residence .

[gavclojak]

No question is a silly question, we have all asked the same questions ourself, in a few months you will be replying in posts so really....ask away....and you will have so many more questions to come!!!

 

I just wanted to add, well done for taking on some ex- cage fighters and giving them the chance of a happy retirement.....if you get a chance have a look at an old thread of mine flora and fauna before and after?..you will see how quickly your girls will blossom

 

The first wing stretch, yep that's incredible but also is the first catching of the worm and the ensuing chaos when they all want a look.....a benny hill moment

[chickanne]

Agree you are going to need specific chicken watching kit! Especially old clothes at this time of year.

I'm enjoying a last couple of minutes in my toasty nest before going to sit in the run.

Integration of two cream Legbars going well but Ruby is being to little Fleur.

I let the girls tell me their names - Cyd has a beard!

 

Enjoy this weekend! I don't believe you'll stop at three if you have a cube

- however small or trashed you garden.

[Cat tails]

Enjoy this weekend! I don't believe you'll stop at three if you have a cube

- however small or trashed you garden.

 

Hence the reason I got a Go Up!

[Chickabee]

I started with 3 and now have 18. Got my eye on a couple of orpingtons. A black mottled and a silver laced. Will have to wait til we move though

[Orangediva]

Did you get them?!! I was wondering how it's all going for you?

 

I picked up my Eglu, run and fencing this morning and my course is Saturday so I'm nearly there too - yay!

[gavclojak]

How exciting! Good luck to you and I hope you enjoy your course! X

[Orangediva]

Thanks

I'm currently devouring everything I can that's chicken related in books and the Internet so I don't make TOO many mistakes. I've built an Eglu/run for my bunnies already so I feel confident about the housing which is good and I'm planning to use the "mud management" run techniques I read about on here - this forum has been massively helpful.

 

The OP's experience with her new hens really interests me as I'm not sure whether to go for ex commercial girls or whether I'd be better with POL hybrids for my first chickens. Oh and whether to get two or three.

 

Told my son tonight that he's going to have to start peeing round the garden boundaries to deter foxes, his face was a picture

[Cat tails]

I got three bantam hens at 12 weeks of age. I decided on 3 hens, so when one dies, I won't be stuck with a lone hen and can introduce two more, when I want to. I loved the fact that my three hens were still squeaking babies when I got them, but it takes a looooong time before you get your first egg.

[gavclojak]

Yes, i would say always get three or more and I am a great fan, as everyone here knows of ex commercial girls:)

[Chickabee]

I started with 3 hybrids from Omlet. They were great layers. My best layer at the moment is my white star, there's no stopping her I like having different coloured eggs. I've got a columbine that lays green eggs and a couple that lay dark brown ones. Also a skyline who will hopefully lay blue eggs when she gets started. All the others lay "normal" coloured eggs of various sizes. Probably just made decision making worse

[Orangediva]

Yes, i would say always get three or more and I am a great fan, as everyone here knows of ex commercial girls:)

 

Thanks both of you - yes the books seem to mostly suggest a minimum of three and the BHWT only reghome a minimum of three - but is the Eglu Classic big enough for three? I am planning a WIR and could get a run extension. They'll be out when I'm home and can watch them (my bargain eBay Eglu came with Omlet fencing so I can keep them off my spring planting) but they'll still be in the run a fair bit and locked the house at night? I guess it's tons more room than they are used to bless 'em?

[Chickabee]

I think you would need a 3m run attached to the classic. A walk in run would be perfect and the fencing is a very good idea. You can get run extensions they're not too expensive and easy to fit

[gavclojak]

It sound like your heart is set on ex cage fighters? We (BHWT) are doing a big ex commercial hen rehoming on the 8th of March if your interested;))) plenty of girls to go around!

 

3 in a classic would be fine but I agree with chickabee, the more room they have the better, you don't want any squabbling

[jimnpaula]

Your limiting factor is the size of the run, not the house - I had 9 silly girls stuffed in the eglu tonight! DH had to move the posh girls back to the cube and left the 4 ex commercial girls in their eglu.

So 3 to 4 girls in the eglu is fine but they will need as much space as possible in the run, so if you can't get your WIR sorted before you get them then limit yourself to 3 and get as many extensions as you can afford/find.