Poorly chicken

[Cat tails]

So I thought it would be nice for prospective buyers to see how easy it is to clean an Eglu. But also for some of the new users to give some ideas about cleaning.

I made a little picture cartoon, using my own Go Up and my own cleaning routine. All pictures were taken during the same clean and even with picture taking the whole process didn't take longer than about 15 minutes. Hope you like it!

 

 

[mullethunter]

That's really good. I especially like the last photo

[Cat tails]

Thanks Mullet! I really like that picture too! And really was like that, no photoshop. I put the drawer back in and Cinnamon marched and planted her butt down to lay.

[Olly]

Brilliant! Your hens are very well-behaved. Mine wouldn't pose like that!

[Cat tails]

Hahaha! The big zoomy clicky thing was rather scary. Normally Nutmeg and Ginger would have barged past me to jump out from the back and munch on the grass.

[Daphne]

That looks brilliant - really professional, but accessible at the same time; Well Done With a few tweaks I bet Omlet might be interested in using it, it shows how easy it all is

[Cat tails]

I emailed an English and a Dutch version to the Dutch representative of Omlet. He featured the Dutch version on the Dutch Facebook, but not sure if he send the English one on.

[izemum]

Great post, thanks!

[Cat tails]

Thanks!

Just a happy user and want to share!

[Lewis]

This is great

[Cat tails]

Thanks Lewis!

[mollyripkim]

That's really great and brilliant idea for new owners too.

[panicum]

I know this is two years later (what new chicken/cube owner doesn't read every forum post!) but I love the hint about using the wipes! Thanks.

[Cat tails]

I started using the wipes after a tip from another Omlet user, and still use them! I do give the roosting bars a scrub with water once in a while, but this saves on time and hassle!

[B.B.]

Ok so newbie here.  This is my first night with the hens in my eglu go up.  I feel like an idiot though because I filled the entire eglu with straw.  But I can tell from your pictures that’s not what I should have done! Do you lock your chickens up at night in the eglu?  I have three, how do they decide who gets the nesting area? Do the others just sleep on the plastic on either side of the the nesting dip bit?  I bought mine second hand so maybe didn’t get all the instructions?  Going to follow your other suggestions for cleaning though.  Thanks!

[Cat tails]

Hi!

Definitely no straw as red mite can hide in and between the straws, also chickens don’t do well with dust. I use wood chips in the nesting dip, others will use something like aubiose (horse bedding). I wouldn’t use wood shavings as especially in winter it tended to go mouldy with me.

In the wild, chickens roost in trees, meaning on branches. So they should sleep on the plastic bars, not in the nesting dip. It will encourage broodyness, and they might poop in the nesting dip. Meaning you need to clean it more often than really necessary. But don’t worry for now where they sleep, they will find a spot.

Depending on your local situation, closing the coop door is a choice. I close mine, because of the early mornings and to keep all my very close neighbours happy. If you have foxes in your area, I would close the coop, although technically the omlet run is fox resistent, if assembled correctly.

And most importantly: enjoy your new chickens!

[B.B.]

Thank you Cat Tails.  My hens are on my allotment and we’ve seen plenty of fox and other animal activity so will definitely be closing the coop door every night!  It makes more sense now and I think I’ll save the straw for the pumpkin patch and go pick up some wood chips for the nesting dip.  After posting my comment I kept reading and feel more prepared and knowledgeable in general about chicken keeping!  This forum is pure gold!  I feel lucky that my girls all found their own way into the coop last night,  I showed up to shut the door, no fuss, no drama, just a bit of patience!  I like your cleaning method because we don’t have running water so “hosing down” anything isn’t an option.  

[Cat tails]

I don’t have an outside tap, so my hose has to cross my living room to reach the tap in the kitchen. Especially in winter far from ideal! But it’s far from my own idea, as some here were already using the wet wipes. I use the ones from the Lidl.

[AndyRoo]

I totally think we should do an Omlet speed-changing challenge. 

[Cat tails]

Would definitely lose as some here just have a second set of drawer and roosting bars! 

[Natspringy]

Love this! 

[B.B.]

Can wet wipes be composted?  I'm thinking because of the chemicals, no.  Does anyone know of a brand that can be composted?  Or if I switch wet wipes for paper towel and just water, or disinfectant do you think I could compost?  I mean on my own compost heap at the allotment, not the council green bins. Otherwise I'd have to take all the wipes and anything else home with me, which is doable, but it would be easier if I could throw everything on the compost pile.

[mullethunter]

I think some wet wipes contain plastic so wouldn’t compost - like you I would imagine the detergent might not be great either. 

I don’t have any bedding in the tray under the roosting bars, so I just scrape the poo straight into the compost and that’s it. Then every month or so I pressure wash and then spray with virkon and leave to dry before replacing.

I’m not saying this is the right or even the best way, but it works for me and means I don’t have any ‘consumables’.