Carol U Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Do those of you with converters and extensions find them difficult to access and clean etc? I'm thinking of increasing my flock after Christmas and although they freerange most of the time, I'm trying to find the best way to give them more safe run space when I have to be out. Any suggestions appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 we added the converter, it gives a good deal more room for the chooks. We havent added the extension yet as I feel the converter is good enough for now as like yours mine free range all day. The run is obviously a lot longer, I dont clean the run out though (hubby does it! ) and I watch him get down on his hands and knees. He usually takes the eglu off one end and cleans that end of the run out - then re-attaches it and then goes down to the door end to do that bit. We dismantle/clean our eglus and runs every week and never had any problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I just blast everything away with the power washer and then ladle fresh Aubiose in from the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I use a rake and reach in as far as I can - the converter does make it a bit more difficult but you can still just reach the end with a long rake. In all honesty though, since I started using aubiose I don't really rake it out very often Next time it needs it, I will probably lift the whole thing up and move it to one side so I can rake it more easily. I definitely don't do it every week! more like once every three months! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 I definitely don't do it every week! more like once every three months! I do it about every 6- 8 weeks. In between times I just top it up. They haven't developed trench foot and it doesn't smell awful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted November 21, 2007 Author Share Posted November 21, 2007 Many thanks folks. It will be much easier just to get a converter than to build a whole new run. I was just a bit worried about maintenance. It seems like it won't be too big a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 I've got a converter too Carol, when the run needs cleaning out, I unbolt it from the eglu and drag it off the patch so that I can rake it all over and put all the old hemcore in the compost. Sprinkle garden lime on the soil to help keep any nasties away and then top up with new Hemcore or Aubiose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N&J Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 Hi Don't mean to hijack this post for my own personal gain, but we are selling our convertor if you are looking to buy one! We are based in Henley-on-Thames, but have relatives in Bristol and Wigan plus friends in east London who we'll be visiting in the next few weeks - are you anywhere any of those places?! We are looking to get £37 for the convertor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 Oohh- where in Wigan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N&J Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 Orrell. Are you looking for a convertor too?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 Hmm I'm not sure if I am looking for a convertor ( I was being nosey as I am in Wigan!)- how much longer will it make my run? We ( alihodg & I ) want to get 2 more chooks next year, & I think that with a convertor my run would be big enough then, & my chooks free range alot down the bottom of the garden too. I will have to ask Father Christmas *cough*- hubby- I was thinking of having a water butt for Christmas but a convertor is tempting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 It will add a metre in length, but this is at the fullest height of the Eglu so it makes quite a difference. I bought mine planning to get two more chickens, but somehow I ended up adopting three more, and buying their Eglu too ... so now the three new ones have the converter,and my original two are just in the run. With the converter, you'd definitely have room for four chooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N&J Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 The converter adds an extra metre to the run and then you can add as many extensions after that as you like (or can afford, or can fit in your garden!). We have 3 chooks (although did have 4 which was why we bought the converter) who free range all day, but the converter is handy for those summer mornings when the chooks get up at 4am and we don't get up til 8 (or 10...) or if ever there is a time when we have to leave them in all day. Not that I'm trying to twist your arm into getting a converter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 Sorry to be dense- where does the convertor attach to the existing run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 You take off the front panel with the door on, attach the converter, and then the front panel fits back on the end of the converter. After that, it's all straight so you can add as many extensions as you want (although it does start to resemble a polytunnel!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 Thank you Olly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N&J Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 You take the end section with the door in it off and then clip the converter on to the run and put the door section back on to the end of the converter. Hmm, does that make any sense?! Have a look at the Omlet shop for a photo of a converter and that may help. It's difficult to explain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 And ...thank you Rita & Mavis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N&J Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken%20Extras&sub=general&product_id=185 This will probably explain it much better than I did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted November 21, 2007 Author Share Posted November 21, 2007 (edited) Hi Rita & Mavis, We're in Caterham, Surrey, so could easily collect from Henley on Thames. £37 would be fine. Perhaps you could email me privately with your address etc. Many thanks! Edited November 22, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
