If you live anywhere subject to cold temperatures, chances are good that you’ll encounter a frozen chicken egg in the nesting box. Frozen eggs are less than ideal for numerous reasons – but they can be avoided. Here are some quick tips to show you how to prevent your eggs from freezing before you get to them.
Why do eggs freeze?
Eggs are mostly liquid inside until they’re cooked or are able to develop into a chick – and like other liquids, they have a freezing point. Chicken eggs freeze around 29℉, and can freeze solid in just a couple of hours. Since a non-broody hen doesn’t sit on the eggs for long, eggs laid in the nesting box are susceptible to the cold.
How can I tell if an egg is frozen?
Frozen eggs may feel more dense than usual, and may also crack, burst, or bulge from the internal pressure. Some eggs may not be completely frozen when they’re collected, and if you use them right away, you may see the partially frozen egg white. Partially frozen eggs may also feel off-balance in your hand, or make an audible sound when shaken.
Can I use frozen eggs?
Eggs that have frozen don’t have the same consistency or taste that you would normally expect from fresh eggs. Frozen eggs can be thawed and eaten, but due to their makeup, their texture will be grainy and unpleasant. Frozen yolks that have thawed will be thickened and gelatinous, losing their ability to be mixed well.
Any eggs that have cracked or appear misshapen from pressure should be thrown out – including those that have frozen. Once the shell of an egg has cracked, it exposes the egg to bacteria and other contaminants that can make you ill. It’s in your best interest to toss frozen eggs and focus on preventing them from freezing in the first place.
3 ways to prevent eggs from freezing
Insulate your coop
Insulated chicken coops help contain the body heat from your hens and keep it from dispersing too quickly. It also minimises the effects that the exterior temperature has on the interior, keeping the coop warmer than the ambient temperature. You can attempt to insulate your existing chicken coop – but be sure not to limit the ventilation, which is important during the winter months to prevent moisture buildup. Our line of Eglu Chicken Coops have twin-wall insulation with draft-free ventilation to keep the coop comfortable during the cold. Extreme temperature protection can also be added to further insulate our coops in especially cold climates.
Focus on the nest box
Make the nesting box as warm and inviting as possible. Thick bedding like straw is a good choice for winter nesting box comfort. You can also hang strips of thick fabric like fleece as a curtain in front of your hens’ nesting area to further insulate against the cold. Chicken nesting boxes should be elevated above the frozen ground, and warm enough to prevent the eggs from freezing until you’re able to collect them.
Collect eggs more frequently
During the winter months, it’s important to check for eggs several times a day to prevent them from freezing. While chicken eggs can stay in the coop for several days under normal circumstances and still be edible, frozen eggs should be avoided. Hens typically lay their eggs mid-late morning or in the early afternoon. It’s good practice to check the nesting box after your morning cup of coffee, after lunch, and at least one other time before dark.
What to avoid when preventing eggs from freezing
There are some insulating or heat-producing measures that may be tempting to take in order to prevent your eggs from freezing, but be sure to avoid:
- Placing a heat bulb or plate inside of the coop, as this will make your hens too hot and potentially cause them to go into shock when they venture out into the cold temperatures.
- Completely sealing up a chicken coop – this prevents air from circulating and will encourage moisture buildup on the coop and your hens, which can lead to respiratory illness and frostbite on their combs and wattles.
- Offering blankets or other cloth as nesting box bedding. Hens’ claws can easily become snagged in fabric and cause injury.
Omlet and your eggs
Our range of Eglu Chicken Coops all feature the same expertly designed insulating methods to keep your hens as comfortable as possible in all weather conditions. And, with the addition of an automatic chicken coop door, you can schedule your hens to stay in their coop during the coldest parts of the morning – adding heat to both the coop and their eggs. When you choose an ingeniously insulated Omlet chicken coop, you can have confidence that your chickens are comfortable when they roost, play, and lay their eggs.
This entry was posted in Chickens
Christmas is a wonderful time of year, and we’re all looking forward to celebrating together with our loved ones, including our pets! It’s therefore important to consider what effect all the festive fun is having on our furry friends, and to make sure they’re also having a great time. Here are some of our top tips for keeping your pets safe and happy this Christmas!
Limit treats
We know it’s much more difficult to resist feeding scraps to your pets over Christmas, but in most cases, it’s really not good for them, and can even be harmful. Instead, we suggest that you spend this special occasion making the most of plenty of quality time with your pets. They’ll without a doubt prefer your company to treats or presents! For a guide of what you can feed your dogs this Christmas, take a read of our blog Happy Howlidays: Food Do’s and Don’ts for Dogs This Christmas.
Keep routines
Try to stick to the normal schedule as much as possible over the holidays, especially when it comes to mealtimes. Our pets don’t understand that we have got lots to do during this time after all, and a disruption of their routines will add to a possibly already stressful time. Let your chickens out at the same time as usual, walk your dog as you would normally and give your cat their daily play time.
Give your pets a safe space
Christmas can get hectic, so make sure your pet has somewhere to go to get away from all hustle and bustle, preferably in a different, quieter, room. If you’ve got guests coming over, let them know what to do, and what not to do, around your pets. It’s important that everyone knows what doors, windows and gates need to be kept closed, what the pets are allowed to do and eat, and when they are to be left alone.
Going away
If you’re spending Christmas somewhere else, you need to take your pets into consideration. Don’t leave them alone for longer than they are used to, and make sure they’ve got what they need while you’re away. If you’re taking them with you, bring something that will remind them of home, like a cat blanket, dog toy, or their hamster cage. If you can’t take them with you, you will need to find an alternative solution.
Make sure you plan the journey and be aware of the fact that traffic can be busy around Christmas. Your pet must have access to food and water at all times, and depending on your what pet you’ve got, there might be a need for toilet breaks.
Christmas trees and plants
Make sure your Christmas tree if safely secured, as cats tend to try and climb them. It might also be a good idea to hang especially intriguing and tantalising decorations higher up in the tree where pets can’t reach them as easily. This minimises the risk of cats getting tangled and the tree falling over.
Hoover under and around the tree regularly to get rid of fallen pine needles. The needles can get stuck in mouths or between toes, which can be very painful.
Lots of our most common Christmas plants, including poinsettias, mistletoe and amaryllis, are poisonous to a lot of pets, so make sure you stay clear of them, or keep them out of reach.
Decorations and presents
Choose non-toxic Christmas decorations and keep cables from lights and other decorations out of reach. Should your pet try to nibble through them, this can cause damage to both cable and pet.
Don’t leave presents containing eatable things (chocolate in particular!) under the tree. It will soon be sniffed out, and it won’t take a couple of greedy paws long to get into a wrapped present.
Once the gifts have been opened, clear away the wrapping paper straight away. Not only will you avoid having paper all over the room once your pets get to it, but coloured paper and string should also not be ingested by pets.
This entry was posted in Pets
Get you delivery in time for Christmas.
Make sure you order before the these dates to get your delivery in time for the big day:
Orders delivered by DPD must be placed by 12 Noon on Wednesday 19th December.
Royal Mail orders must be received by 12 Noon on Monday 17th December for Christmas delivery.
Orders for large items requiring pallet delivery (e.g. Eglu Classic) must be received by 12 Noon on Wednesday 12th December for Christmas delivery.
Deadlines depend on the product you are purchasing and your chosen delivery method delivering to a mainland UK address. Please allow an extra day for delivery to the Highlands. This date is a guide only, we recommend that you place your orders early to avoid disappointment. If this date has passed you can call out customer service team to see if delivery is still possible. Omlet cannot take responsibility for third party supplier delays such as courier service.
No delivery service available on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Years Day.
This entry was posted in Offers and promotions
The cold, frosty temperatures of winter are in full swing, and while you are enjoying a warm cup of tea in the warmth of your kitchen, you might be looking out on your girls wondering how they feel about the colder weather.
If you’re looking for a new way to keep them warm first thing in the morning, or late afternoon just before they go to roost, consider making this yummy, warm corn recipe, specially for your hens, with a festive flavour which will provide extra nutrients to keep up their health this winter. It’s super simple and quick to make.
Ingredients – for 2-3 chickens
40g corn
20g oats
20g raisins
100ml hot water
Pinch of ginger, cinnamon
Method
Soak the corn, oats and raisins in hot water for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in a pinch of Ginger and Cinnamon for added nutrients for your chickens. Leave to cool slightly before feeding to chickens.
Benefits of Ginger and Cinnamon For Chickens
Ginger supports the immune system and provides anti-inflammatory benefits which can be particularly beneficial for a poorly hen. Cinnamon has antibacterial and antioxidant benefits, and can reduce inflammation, these are extremely good for chickens as they are likely to experience respiratory problems.
Only feed your chicken’s porridge as an occasional treat. Make this recipe outside of your kitchen to avoid cross contamination of food.
Source: https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2015/05/spice-up-your-chicken-keeping-for.html
This entry was posted in Chickens
Insulating your chicken coop and getting your flock ready for winter is vital for their health and happiness. Most chicken breeds cope well in moderately cold temperatures as long as they have a well-insulated, dry coop. Chickens normally acclimatize to the cold weather, so if you have an insulated coop such as an Eglu Chicken Coop, you won’t need to fret during the cold months. In fact, chickens are able to adapt to the cold much better than hot weather! But with a little extra planning and preparation, you can ensure that your flock not only endures the winter, but thrives in it.
Why you should use an insulated chicken coop
Whilst chickens tolerate the cold well, ensuring your chicken coop is insulated during the cold months can promote their health. Whether you live in a state such as Alaska that is cold all year round, or experience warm summers followed by cold winters it’s vital you choose a coop suitable for the weather.
Our range of Eglus are designed with warmth as a core aspect. With a unique double-wall insulation system, you’ll find that our coops work in a similar way to double glazing. Your hens’ body heat is trapped inside whilst ensuring cold air cannot get into the sides of the coop. When comparing Eglus to a traditional wooden coop, you’ll discover that the Eglu provides far more insulation.
The insulation of our chicken coops is not the only benefit they provide. They are easy to assemble, easy to clean, portable and simple to attach to chicken runs. This will allow you to give your flock the space they need to roam during the day, as well as a cozy spot to sleep at night.
How to easily insulate your chicken coop
Whilst our chicken coops are naturally insulated, in really cold temperatures you may wish to insulate their home even more. Our Eglu Extreme Weather Protection are designed to perfectly fit your coop for added insulation. The temperature blankets are filled with a heat trapping recycled material that is breathable whilst keeping your pets warm. They are simple to fit to your Eglu and are easily secured with bunjees.
However, if you do not have an Eglu there are other ways to insulate your coop:
Weather protection & insulation for wooden coops
Your chickens’ coop must be waterproof! Most chicken breeds do well in the cold so long as they are dry. Chicken coops should also be insulated enough to remain warm inside even in the cold of winter. Here are our tips for insulating a chicken coop:
- Keep your coop and run dry – you can use coop covers and tarps to do this.
- Spray foam insulation – you can hire someone to insulate your chicken coop with spray foam to help trap heat inside your hens’ nest.
- Fiberglass insulation – using fiberglass insulation is an easy way to add DIY warmth.
- Wool blankets – adding wool blankets to the smalls can help to keep the coop insulated.
Ventilation whilst keeping cozy
A well-ventilated chicken coop will ensure that plenty of fresh air gets inside the coop. This will keep the odors down and avoid moisture build-up. Whilst you want to stop chilly drafts, a chicken coop without ventilation will retain moisture along with heat. And while some air circulation is good, make sure the coop is draft-free.
Elevation to reduce dampness
Height can also be an issue when making sure chicken coops are insulated. Coops should be raised off the ground to prevent the base becoming damp. For larger flocks, the Eglu Cube is an excellent choice for both insulation and elevation. If your coop doesn’t have legs, you can place bricks under the coop to allow air to circulate and reduce dampness. Always make sure you place or build your chicken coop and run-on high ground that won’t flood during heavy rainfall.
Size of the coop
It seems counterintuitive, but chicken coops can actually be too big. When the coop is too big for the size of the flock you have, your chickens won’t create enough body heat to warm up the space. This is why it’s so important to understand how much space your chickens need, when deciding which coop to buy. Chickens huddle together and keep each other warm, so they don’t need much space in their sleeping quarters. Try not to open the door of the coop at night when your chickens are roosting as it can compromise your insulation. Be mindful that this pent-up body heat is keeping them warm, so make coop and egg checks quick! If you have a large coop or barn and just a few chickens, you can place a large cardboard box on its side, half filled with chopped straw or wood shavings in a corner to help them conserve their body heat.
Keeping your chicken run insulated
It’s important that at least part of your chicken run is covered during winter months. Using weatherproof chicken run covers will help reduce how much snow can build up inside the run. You can also build a greenhouse-style addition to your coop, covering it with clear plastic, which will help convert sunlight into warmth. To prevent areas under the run from becoming too muddy, cover wet spots with pelleted pine bedding (usually used for horse stalls). Mud is a breeding ground for poultry parasites, so muddy areas should always be addressed.
Perches for cold chickens
Give your chickens plenty of places to roost. To prevent their feet from getting too cold on the frozen ground, you’ll need to give your chickens a place to perch in both their coop and run. The perches need to be wide enough so that the chickens can cover their toes with their feathers to thaw out chilled toes. By placing freestanding chicken perches or wire-mounted chicken perches, you’ll give multiple hens the opportunity to warm their feet while they’re out of the coop.
Cleaning your coop in winter
Keep your chicken coop clean and dry. Clean the droppings from inside the coop daily and replace bedding as necessary. By keeping the coop both dry and clean, you will help to prevent moisture buildup, which can lead to frostbite on your chickens combs and wattles.
Caring for your hens in cold weather
Keeping your chickens fit and healthy in winter goes beyond just insulating your coop. Here are our top tips for happy winter chickens:
Water in winter
It is important your flock always has a source of fresh, unfrozen water. Depending on where you live, this can pose a challenge. To prevent frequent defrosting, you can invest in a heated waterer or heated poultry drinking base. You can also insulate the water like you have your coop, by wrapping the chicken drinkers up in a layer of bubble wrap to keep the water thawed for longer. Don’t place the water inside the coop, as it will increase humidity levels.
Chicken feed in the cold
During winter your chickens feed consumption will be higher than in the spring/summer. Often chickens enjoy warm feed, like cooked lentils or warm oatmeal with some raisins or other small, dried fruits. Give your hens extra corn or scratch inside of a peck toy for both physical and mental stimulation in the afternoon, as this will heat them up internally as they digest it overnight. Offer hay or dried grasses for extra ruffage to fuel their metabolisms. Hens will decrease or even stop laying eggs in the winter to conserve energy. But you can help encourage hens to continue laying by providing adequate feed – both in quality and quantity. Supply layer pellets to give the right nutrients your egg-producers need throughout the winter.
Take care of their combs and wattles
If it gets extremely cold during the winter, your chickens’ combs and wattles can be in danger of getting frostbite. Most hardy breeds have small combs, but if you have chicken breeds with very large, floppy combs you will need to gently rub Vaseline on their combs and wattles. You will also need to keep an eye out for coughing, sneezing, and general symptoms of being unwell.
Vermin
Remember at this time of year, there are hungry rats and mice attracted to the chickens feed and water. Take extra care with the storage of your feeds. Store feed away from the coop and keep it in an airtight container. If you notice any signs of vermin, remove the feeders and drinkers at night, when they are most active. Offer kitchen scraps or fresh vegetables in a Caddi Treat Holder to keep the floor of your flock’s run free of tempting treats for unwanted visitors.
Fighting winter boredom
With less grass and weeds to munch and fewer bugs to feast on, your chickens will experience boredom in the winter. This can lead to behavioral issues, like feather pecking, egg-eating etc. Prevent boredom by giving your chickens toys like Chicken Swings, perches, piles of leaves, mirrors, or even a xylophone mounted to the run! Keeping your chickens hentertained will ensure they’re mentally stimulated and kept busy.
Introducing Omlet Petcare
Whether you’re a keen chicken keeper, or have a whole pack of pets, we’re here to help you take care of them. From chicken pens to roam in, to comfy dog beds your pooch will adore.
This entry was posted in Chickens
This entry was posted in Chickens
We recently got the chance to speak with Frau Dr. Sewerin, a German Vet who specialises in poultry. We asked her what her top tips were for keeping your hens happy in colder conditions, here’s what she had to say:
“Make sure the water does not freeze. To do this, place a thick, well-insulated bowl of warm water in a sheltered place, change the water on regular basis or get a water heater.
You should also make sure that there is a dry, snow-free place in the run. You can regularly mix leaves with some wheat grains so that the animals have something to pick. A dry corner with sandbathing possibility must not be missing. Different perching options should always be available during the day anyway, but especially in winter: this helps keeping their feet warm!
Depending on the circumstances, a windcover should be installed at chicken height so that the animals are somewhat protected. You can easily turn the Eglu run into a sheltered, snow-free area. There is are a range of weather protection covers available at Omlet or you could use simple greenhouse film, combined with bubble wrap. This way the run will be a few degrees warmer and windproof on the inside.
In order to help the chickens saving energy and make it a little bit more comfortable for them, you can get an extreme weather jacket for Eglu coops or use tinfoil as it can be found in emergency blankets. The dropping tray can be additionally insulated with an extra thick layer of straw or newspaper. But after all the easiest way is to use the Omlet extreme weather jackets which makes sure that there’s still a good insulation on the inside of the coop.
Pay special attention to the inside of the coop, because the exhalations of the excretions will otherwise accumulate quickly in the interior and irritate the respiratory tract. Good ventilation is also important to remove the humidity, so that the animals do not catch a cold.
A few extra vitamins in the form of fruits, vegetables and herbs can help the immune system. Also onions, garlic and leeks shredded with vegetables or mixed with “flavor enhancers” such as oatmeal, grated carrots, yogurt and oil are very popular.
Once moulting has finished it is the ideal time to do a worming cure. If chickens are heavily infested with worms, it weakens them very much.”
If you’re thinking of upgrading your coop, now is the best time to do so. Here are some of the top benefits of having an Eglu plastic chicken coop vs a wooden one, particularly in winter:
- Eglu chicken coops and Eglu rabbit hutches do not absorb water, so they don’t get heavy and remain easy to move.
- They don’t rot and don’t require painting with varnish or wood stains (also means that you don’t have to move pets out whilst you are waiting for the fumes to go.)
- They have insulation built in so remain warm.
- They have draft free ventilation so your pets wont get a nasty chilly breeze coming in.
- The door locks are made from heavy duty steel and wont break even in the freezing weather.
- The door handles are all made from plastic so your fingers won’t freeze to them.
- The door handles are nice and big so you can use them with gloves on.
- The water container is really quick to lift out so you can take it in at night to prevent it from freezing.
Looking to upgrade your Chicken Coop? Click here to find out more about the different types of insulated Eglu coops!
This entry was posted in Chickens
This entry was posted in Pets
Delivery in time for christmas…
Royal Mail
Midday Thursday 21st December
DPD Delivery
Midday Thursday 21st December
Tuffnells
Midday Thursday 21st December
Parcelforce
Midday Thursday 21st December
Collection
2pm Friday 22nd December
Deadlines depend on the product you are purchasing and your chosen delivery method delivering to a mainland UK address. Please allow an extra day for delivery to the Highlands. These dates are a guide only, we recommend that you place your orders early to avoid disappointment. Omlet cannot take responsibility for third party supplier delays such as courier service.
No delivery service available on Christmas Day., Boxing Day, and New Years Day.
Normal deliveries will resume on Tuesday 2nd January 2018
This entry was posted in Offers and promotions
This entry was posted in Pets
This entry was posted in Pets
We just wanted to say a very Merry Christmas to all of our Omlet customers across the world. We hope Santa is good to you this year and that you and your pets get everything you were hoping for.
If you have purchased any products from us this past year, we would like to thank you and if you are thinking about joining the Omlet community then we look forward to helping you find the perfect house or accessory for you and your pet.
Keep your eyes and ears peeled in the New Year as we have some very exciting products launching, make sure you subscribe to our newsletter to be the first ones to find out when these new products are released.
In the meantime, as the January temperatures continue to drop it might be a good idea to invest in one of our Extreme Temperature Jackets to ensure your pets are extra toasty this Winter.
All that’s left to say from us is EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY.
Many thanks,
Barbara & The Omlet Team.
This entry was posted in Pets
With the passing of the Autumn Equinox, the sunlight fading and winter on it’s way, now is an ideal time to give your chicken coop a thorough clean out. Chickens aren’t difficult to look after, but they do need a clean, draught-free coop to protect them during the colder months. Doing the hard work now will save you a deep clean in January/February when it is too cold.
Here are some top tips to keep your hens happy during the colder months.
1. Pick a dry day (easier said than done), start early and take everything apart. Remove the roof if possible and the roosting bars, droppings trays and nesting boxes if you can, and brush out any nesting material. Using a special spray, such as Barrier V1 disinfectant, give everything a thorough scrub, remembering the corners and inside the top of the coop; places where mites like to hide. I like to use a bucket of warm warm, a squirt of poultry disinfectant and a Bucket Brush and paint scraper to get to those fiddly areas. The roosting bars are easily cleaned with a pressure washer as these tend to be where the most caked in droppings are. Pay particular attention to the corners and joints as these are the most likely places for beasties to lurk!
Once you’ve scrubbed everything, rinse clean with a watering can or hose pipe and allow everything to air dry. Reassemble the coop and give everything a good sprinkle of Red Mite Powder, especially the ends of the roosting bars.
2. Next, it’s time to look at the feeders and drinkers. Empty the food and water out and give those a scrub too. Rinse them very thoroughly and allow them to dry. The plastic Grub and Glug can be placed into a dishwasher (top shelf) and they come out good as new (but maybe do this at night when your hens have gone to roost). Consider investing in a spare set of feeders and drinkers as this makes cleaning out easier and they aren’t too costly.
3. Check the structure of your wooden coop and look for damage. Make sure all locks are secure, oil the hinges and tighten any screws that you can see. Consider treating the coop with a wood preservative if necessary.
4. Look at the ventilation of the coop. Omlet plastic coops have special air gaps built in as do most wooden coops. Good air flow is vital for the health of your hens, so don’t be tempted to block up ventilation holes for the winter to keep them warm. Hens have a higher body temperature than us and as long as you feed them well, they won’t suffer from extreme cold in the UK. However, if you do want extra peace of mind, you can buy an Extreme Temperature Jacket to fit on your Eglu.
5. People assume that keeping chickens means you will have rats. Rats aren’t interested in chickens, only the feed. With food supplies low in the winter, rats come closer to civilisation in search of food. Making sure you use feeders will help reduce spills and that should prevent Mr Rat from visiting. Keeping the feeders in the run will stop vermin entering and making sure you always feed treats in bowls or scatter feed inside the run should stop any nocturnal visitors.
6. To prevent your chickens’ water freezing, consider investing in a water heater for your drinker. These are usually a plastic disc that your drinker sits on and they are mains operated. They use a low voltage, so they are perfectly safe for your hens. This saves you changing the water every few hours when the temperature plummets.
7. Consider moving your coop to a more sheltered part of your garden, away from prevailing wind, if possible. The location of your coop can have a huge effect on your hens. If this isn’t possible, make sure you have suitable run covers to prevent rain and snow entering the run and coop.
8. Your hens will spend more time in the coop in winter due to the longer nights. With their increased feeding (to help them keep warm) there will be increased droppings, so you will need to clean the coop out more often. I tend to ‘poo pick’ every couple of days to keep on top of things. Adding extra bedding material to the droppings tray will also help keep the coop warmer.
9. Giving your hens a handful of mixed corn an hour or so before dark will also help keep them warm overnight, as will making up a bowl of pellet porridge. Simply pour boiling water over pellets and stir. Allow to cool and give this to your hens. You can add Poultry Spice as well to give them extra vitamins for the Winter.
10. In the winter, your hens won’t have as much access to your lawn, so give them greens to supplement their diet. Half a raw cabbage hung up in the run will keep them occupied for hours and it will also prevent boredom. Stuffing a wild bird cage feeder with kale or greens is also a good idea.
11. With limited access to the garden, give your hens a purpose made dust bath to help keep themselves clean. Fill it with dry compost, cold wood ash from your fire and a sprinkling of mite powder.
This entry was posted in Pets
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