Smiler Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 At the moment the girls can usually free range a couple of hours in the morning then I go off to work so they go back in the run (1.8m x 2.2m) until end of school when they come out again til 8ish then are shut in their house at dusk. They don't seem to like laying with the others about. Do I need to do an adaption to provide more privacy to the nest box? Also their apartment is in the shade of the trees where it is only getting a few hours of sun. Is this ok for them or should we move it so its getting a bit more? (especially on the days I work all day) When they come out to freerange they do come to sunbathe but soon disappear back into the cool of the shade. It is a south facing garden so when the sun hits you know about it, from about 11 through til late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Hi, my garden is also south facing and I have placed my eglu under the shade of a couple of trees I certainly think you've made the right decision there! As for privacy while laying, I think chooks do like to feel a bit secluded and safely hidden from predators but they also like to have their flock nearby to raise the alarm for them while they're.....indisposed Sounds to me like your birds are getting a great life! dappled shade, regular free ranging and a very caring owner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 And here's me moving the eglu and run into the sunniest part of our north facing garden!!!! The trees cast shade over half of it anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Chickens were originally woodland birds so prefer dappled shade especially during the hottest part of the day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 My garden is south facing and on hot days it can be like Death Valley. I have moved the hens right up to the top of the garden into a wooded area to give then some respite and shade. They seem to appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiler Posted May 14, 2008 Author Share Posted May 14, 2008 I feel put at ease that I am not starving them of too much sunlight. I was just concerned about the two days they are in the pen most of the day. Yesterday I got home and let them out about half 3, Daphne hot footed it back to the house to lay as soon as the others were all out the way, bless her. Perhaps she just likes me to know its her laying and gets that extra fuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 My garden is south facing and on hot days it can be like Death Valley. I have moved the hens right up to the top of the garden into a wooded area to give then some respite and shade. They seem to appreciate it. Snap.I try to keep the Eglu in a spot where it wont be in the mid day sun,but can be hard as it gets full blown sun from dawn to around 3.30pm.The hottest my garden has ever been was 39c in the heat wave of 2003 so i do try to keep the chooks cooler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
