BooBoo Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Please can anyone tell me at what temperatures they are happy to leave the eglu door open all night? I don't live in an area with a fox problem and I would like them to be able to get up and wander round their run at dawn (when I am fast asleep!!) your thoughts would be appreciated Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 If you are sure that your run is fox proof then you have no worries in leaving the door open all night. Chooks are very hardy to temperatures and will be quite happy with the door open all night I only close mine if it is very windy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 I never close mine...even in snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 I must admit I always shut mine (apart from in the summer months) I worry about the draught and foxes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 I leave mine open unless it is very cold or very windy, or if one of the girls is below par. They have a higher body temperature and their own feather duvets to keep them warm. They'll be fine! If I shut the door every night, I'd have to get up at 3.45 in the summer! I am an early bird, but not THAT early! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 I stopped going out to shut mine, because no matter how late I went out, Kentucky and Atilla always came out to greet me.....and it was getting that I wasn't getting to bed until after 1am....and they were still up....so I abandoned it one night. I tossed and turned as I thought I would come down to a garden full of mangled corpses....but they were fine....and I get to bed earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie26pet Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 I stopped going out to shut mine, because no matter how late I went out, Kentucky and Atilla always came out to greet me.....and it was getting that I wasn't getting to bed until after 1am....and they were still up....so I abandoned it one night. i was like this, and as the days are gettin lighter in the morning i haev taken now to leaving it open Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Ouch maybe I will have to leave the door open with mine. I don't think I can face a 3.45am wake up call. Only just stopped my little boy waking up 3 or 4 times a night as it is (he is 3!) Andrea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 i leave the door open every night, they are very sheltered next to the house and they can get up whenever they want and i can toowithout feeling guilty sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 I only close my eglu door in really severe frosts - mainly for my own peace of mind. With pet chickens it's easy to forget that they are really outdoor creatures and in their natural state would be roosting in trees like other birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 If the idea is to save yourself getting up early, no way i would before 7 lol do you all leave food there all night? i have been taking mine in every night so far to eter mice and rats. Wouldn't they make noise for the food? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janepie33 Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 I always leave the door open so that my girls can come and go as they please and I can have a lie in sometimes! They all snuggle up in the corner next to the nesting box and keep warm and cosy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cazz Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 i always have mine shut because my chickens are getting on a bit, that and i worry about stotes, and the flaming rats stealing my eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 I leave my food out at night Barbara so they can have breakfast when they choose, but suppose I would have to rethink if I saw any sign of rats. So far so good - could have something to do with having a Burmese cat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 I shut my door my partner lets them out before he gose to work at 5.30am so there up when i get up.Having a baby and 6 year old all helps in the mornings.But if we are to have a very rare lie in then l leave it open.I tend to push the door a little shut on my cube so they can just get out.I have gini pigs in one as well but l shut there door.Unless you can get up just before it gets light then id leave it open.The thing is they spend there days in there runs no matter how cold it is so they should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel F Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 I was only advised to close the door in horizonal blizzard conditions, so havent yet shut the door. They all seem to sleep in a bundle away from the door - did wonder because it was too cold by the door! But they seem okay... Makes it much easier for them to come and go... Rachel F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...