4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[lazela]

Over the last few nights some of my hens have taken to sitting on top of the run and not going to bed in the eglu. I have had to post them through the eggport in order to tuck them up. I've had them since February and not had this problem before.

 

They don't all do it either - on the first night all of them were on top of the run, next night Penny had gone in the eglu and the others were on the run, and then last night they had all gone to bed except Gretta. At first I thought it was because of the longest day/shortest night and that they weren't quite ready for bed, but as they aren't all doing it and because last night I left it until 10.30pm to put them to bed I am at abit of a loss.

 

Has anyone else got a similar problem or any solutions?

[Egluntyne]

Maybe if you tempt them into the run and close it a bit earlier they might put themselves to bed without you having to supervise.

 

Have you checked the roosting bars for signs of redmite?

 

An infestation can make them reluctant to go to bed.

[lazela]

What should I look for in terms of redmite - I wash down the roosting bars each weekend and havenn't noticed anything unusual. I shall try putting them in the run and see if they get the idea of going to bed on their own. I am not a night owl by nature and 10.30pm is very late! Especially on a school night!

[JamesH]

yes check for red mite. They do like to roost though and if the evenings are warm they might have taken a liking to it. Chuck some corn in the run at 8:30 and close it and if they aren't in bed 30 minutes later read them their bedtime story as usual and leave them to it.

[Egluntyne]

Signs of redmite are grey cigarette ash like deposits in nooks and crannies and on the bars.

 

If the mites have recently gorged themselves, there will be clusters of red blobs. If you wipe over any thing suspicious with a whote tissue, and you get red streaks, it is likely to be redmite.

 

Also, I'm not sure having the hens out of the run so late at night s a good idea, if you don't mind me mentioning it. They would be very vulnerable if a fox was around, and evenings and early mornings are the likeliest time for an attack.

 

I'd put them in the run much earlier, and leave 'em to it.

[dancing cloud]

Three of my little monster play the "sleeping on the roof" game every night. Three put themselves to bed like proper good girls and the others always have to be picked up off the roof and put in the run, when they then walk up the ladder like they always intended to.

 

They know they are going in the Cube, but they always try it on anyway, little attention-seekers

[Smiler]

I would put them back in the run an hour or so before lock down.

I have one a little reluctant to go into the run now but think she likes the attention af being last one inand having a quick cuddle with the rest out the way.

Its very cute seeing them all huddled in the doorway when I go to lock the door.

[Snowy]

Mine like to sleep outdoors whilst it's warm (they roost on the branches in their run). When I checked them last night they all had their wings slightly away from their bodies as it trying to keep cool