Roksteddie Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 One of my girls has just started laying this week which is exciting, but we're also getting bits of poo in the nesting area. I don't think one of them is actually roosting in it, but rather close to/beside it - hence the poo. Obviously we don't want to be collecting/eating eggs covered in poo. Any tips on how to combat this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 Put something in the nest box at night to keep them off the nest - a football is good. The problem with the Go is that it doesn't have a proper nesting box so it's hard to shut off at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 We bought a large tile from B&Q that covers the hole, and we prop it up with a brick at night, and then take it out first thing in the morning. I'd read that chickens are creatures of habit, so if you do that for a couple of weeks you may find that they snap out of it... at least for a little while! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roksteddie Posted November 25, 2016 Author Share Posted November 25, 2016 Andyroo I'm assuming you have a cube as in the eglu go there is no partition so there's no real way of keeping the area separate. However, there was no poo in the nest area today so maybe I'll get lucky and they'll avoid pooping there in future.... I doubt it though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Oh, sorry, I didn't realise you didn't have a cube! Maybe try finding a plastic bowl that fits the circle and turn it upside down in the hole overnight? Take it out in the morning. Same principle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Ok, so the difference is: The cube (well, the old style one) has a partition with a round hole - the smallest size tub trug fits nicely in this to seal it off at night. The mark 2 eglu has a raised nest box, which is quite deep - this is easy to fill with a football our plastic bowl. The Go has a much flatter nest area, and people have found it difficult to keep anything on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 I must follow your advice with new girls,up until now I have let others sleep where they like but the eggs can be messy. New girls in classic so I will put tile on nest box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roksteddie Posted November 25, 2016 Author Share Posted November 25, 2016 Yes, the nest box design on the eglu go is strangely poor. I wonder why they made the area so shallow. Am finding that my layer seems to push all the nesting material out of it when she lays... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Yes, the nest box design on the eglu go is strangely poor. I wonder why they made the area so shallow. Am finding that my layer seems to push all the nesting material out of it when she lays... I hate to say it, but the whole thing is poorly conceived and built. I am not a fan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 I like the sliding door on the Eglu re-design, I just don't like that they made the design smaller overall. If Omlet have sense, they'll re-design just the panel insert for the MK1 and sell it as a separate item. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 Agree, Go Up is very flimsy and doesn't seem to be as good quality as Classic. I also have Cube which I presume is new model and while it is more solid it has quite a big gap at back between wall and tray which if was outside WIR am sure rodents could get in. The cube nest box seems to be best as shavings seem to stay where they should be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 The Go has a much flatter nest area, and people have found it difficult to keep anything on there. I put a bit metal flower pot in the nestbox. Upside down of course. Works fine. Yes, the nest box design on the eglu go is strangely poor. I wonder why they made the area so shallow. Am finding that my layer seems to push all the nesting material out of it when she lays... I use wood chips (not shavings) in the nest box. Mine don't tend to kick it out and it't comfortable enough to lay in. I only clean it out every week or week and a half. If it is very dirty sooner than cleaning day, I just sweep the chips into the drawer and add another fresh scoop of chips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E11minifarm Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 We have this issue too with our Eglu Classic and our four bantams. Being completely new to chicken ownership - and given that our young hens haven't started laying yet - I hadn't given this much thought yet. In terms of putting a tile or similar over the nesting box at night, which seems easy enough to incorporate into our routine, does this mean that hens only lay during the daytime? Sorry for the terrifically ignorant question! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 Experienced laying hens mostly only lay during the daytime. Occasionally young hens will lay during the night or early morning. I have forgotten to take the pot out once or twice and then hens did just squiggle their but in I guess and I found an egg next to the pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
