Storms and chickens

[mullethunter]

Hi all. I’ve had a look through other posts and found a few bits but nothing that directly answers the question...my second hand Cube is leaking really badly. I don’t think it was like it when I first had it, or maybe the weather wasn’t so bad for the first winter, but the end of the nest box nearest the run is REALLY wet. At the moment there’s not much Easichick in there because no eggs are happening but what is there is completely wet through. It’s also wet in the outside tray but I’m not so bothered about that because it doesn’t affect the chooks. It does mean that the bit of the run under the Cube gets quite wet though.

 

Has anyone else got / had this problem and been able to do anything about it?

[Luvachicken]

I'm amazed how much tree rubbish collects in the roof slots of the cube.

Maybe you have something in that part of the cube that sends the water down to the nest box instead of it trickling down to the drainage holes ?

I know pine needles do that on our conservatory roof

 

If not, maybe the wind has just blown the rain in at angles that it wouldn't normally get in ?

Not sure what else to suggest though, sorry.

[mullethunter]

I hadn’t thought of stuff being in the slots luvachicken. Thanks, I’ll have a look tomorrow.

[Ursula123]

Mine is always wet under the trays, I blame it on not being completely level. The nest box doesn't get wet, my cube is across a slope and nest box is at the top side.

[The Dogmother]

Make sure that it is level, clean out the roof 'gutters', including the one that runs across the front of the Cube.

 

Omlet used to sell a set of rubber liner thingies, which are used at the back end of the gutter to get the water to flow down and not into the housing. Try ringing them to see if they still have them.

[mullethunter]

Thanks DM. I skipped out all the wet easichick bedding after work today and will be cleaning out the gutters tomorrow so I’ll give Omlet a call then. It had the rubber bits when I think they’ve all perished so that could be the problem.

[Luvachicken]

Thanks DM. I skipped out all the wet easichick bedding after work today and will be cleaning out the gutters tomorrow so I’ll give Omlet a call then. It had the rubber bits when I think they’ve all perished so that could be the problem.

 

That's interesting.

I cleaned mine out yesterday - in the brief bit of sunshine - and the aubiose in the nest box was damp underneath.

Now I've thought about it, it was damp underneath when I cleaned them out the last time too.

I'm going to check the rubber bits tomorrow.

I know they are fine at the back end of the cube, they are still nice rubber there, but have no idea what goes on at the other end.

[The Dogmother]

MIne has the rubber bits in, but still gets a tiny bit wet on occasions, especially when the rain is very hard. The clear tarps that I have covering the runs also extend back over the cube roofs, but I forget to secure it and it sometimes blows off

[mullethunter]

Rubber bits look fine, gutters are clear, next thing is to check it’s level - it looks ok but it is possible that the slabs I laid have settled. I cant work out whether the water’s coming in through the egg port or somewhere else but it’s properly wet.

 

If I can’t sort it out I might make a cover out of the old, holey tarpaulin I’ve just taken off the run.

[The Dogmother]

Just be sure to allow plenty of air circulation underneath so that condensation doesn't build up inside

[Cat tails]

On 1/30/2018 at 8:56 PM, mullethunter said:

Rubber bits look fine, gutters are clear, next thing is to check it’s level - it looks ok but it is possible that the slabs I laid have settled. I cant work out whether the water’s coming in through the egg port or somewhere else but it’s properly wet.

 

If I can’t sort it out I might make a cover out of the old, holey tarpaulin I’ve just taken off the run.

@mullethunter have you ever got this sorted? My dad has a second hand Cube and is finding the nesting box very wet too. Trying to get him some good advice over a distance.

[Patricia W]

I had this a few years ago and Omlet sent me a free pack of extreme weather rubber thingy’s.  

[mullethunter]

Not really no. When it’s going to be really wet for a long time I put a tarpaulin over that half of the Cube so that less rain runs down into the door. It does make it a lot better but it’s not a great solution.

2 minutes ago, Patricia W said:

I had this a few years ago and Omlet sent me a free pack of extreme weather rubber thingy’s.  

Could you post a photo of them please and do they work?

[Cat tails]

@Patricia W love to see those too!

[Patricia W]

They are just rubber flange thingies which fit in the gaps where water might get in.   There were two sets.  One I fitted but took out when I had a bad bout of redmite.  I stripped everything liable to be a hiding place!  Until then they stopped water under the trays.   There’s a spare unused kit somewhere.  I saw it recently.... be back .... in a minute.... or two...... 

[JMC]

On 1/21/2018 at 10:26 AM, mullethunter said:

Hi all. I’ve had a look through other posts and found a few bits but nothing that directly answers the question...my second hand Cube is leaking really badly. I don’t think it was like it when I first had it, or maybe the weather wasn’t so bad for the first winter, but the end of the nest box nearest the run is REALLY wet. At the moment there’s not much Easichick in there because no eggs are happening but what is there is completely wet through. It’s also wet in the outside tray but I’m not so bothered about that because it doesn’t affect the chooks. It does mean that the bit of the run under the Cube gets quite wet though.

 

Has anyone else got / had this problem and been able to do anything about it?

 

[Cat tails]

My dad cleaned the pop hole for the nestbox very thoroughly and added new rubbers on the door. It is now completely dry again.

[mullethunter]

Are there supposed to be rubber seals on the door?! Mine doesn’t have any

[Cat tails]

37 minutes ago, mullethunter said:

Are there supposed to be rubber seals on the door?! Mine doesn’t have any

Maybe he added rubbers? I don’t know for sure. Haven’t seen him since June last year. Stupid COVID.

[Luvachicken]

The aubiose in my poop trays has been wet lately, especially the tray that is more in the middle. And I'm sure the other day, the nest box was a bit damp too.

It just keeps raining and blowing, I think that's how it gets in.

Getting really fed up of the weather now.

The only bit of sun we had was yesterday, and I was at school all day.

[Cat tails]

The additional run I build this year has cost me well over €400, including a €120 clear plastic cover. But haven’t regretted it one second. It has been so wet lately!