Steph101 Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 As the nights are starting to draw in now, do you think it would be a good idea to start shutting them in properly (the door to the eglu i mean, NOT the run)! I've been leaving it open all night since spring, so they can stroll out first thing at their lesiure. But I've been reading recently that draughts are really bad news for hens, so maybe I've been doing the wrong thing? What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Nope you not doing the wrong thing. We been doing the same. We probably gonna leave it a bit longer til mid sept or when it gets pretty cold out there. We like laying in and it's handy not having to go down there to let them out. At least when the mornings are darker for longer it will be easier leaving them shut in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 to be honest I never close the door, unless it's absolutely freezing. They all huddle up together, they're wearing duvets anyway - it's never bothered mine. I might close it if below-zero temperatures are forecast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Ive just started leaving their door open...well i leave a 3inch gap so i gues its only partly open. My chooks seem happier now than when i used to shut them in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 I never bother with the big girls, but I do shut the door on the little ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 I never bother with the big girls, but I do shut the door on the little ones. how old are your little chickens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 10 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 I'll prob start shutting the door and bringing in the Grub when the rats become active again. I'm more worried about them being hassled by rodents at night than by the cold! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 I'll prob start shutting the door and bringing in the Grub when the rats become active again. I'm more worried about them being hassled by rodents at night than by the cold! Jo When do your rats start showing themselves? i have been told people in my street have had rats in the past, im hoping they dont come to my garden What do they do to the chickens?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 When do your rats start showing themselves? I usually notice them most just after Christmas but will start shutting the Eglu door as we approach Halloween/Bonfire night, unless it gets cold much earlier than that. On this forum there have been aprocryphal tales of rats biting hens' legs and although that's probably an urban legend it has stuck in my head! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 On this forum there have been aprocryphal tales of rats biting hens' legs and although that's probably an urban legend it has stuck in my head! Jo eek! I dont want no chewed chuck legs lol. ok so u shut it round bonfire night and when do you start leaving it open again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 I don't know about drafts but 2 of mine like to sleep Al Fresco - on top of the broody cage I keep in my run. Actually Clara is in there at the moment so we had to put an Omlet cover over the top to stop them pooing on her! My 2 new girls would also sleep on there if they had more bottle - they keep trying only to be chased off by the others. So I don't think it's Eglu door closing time yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocolatedog Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 I shut the eglu door every night even in summer, but it's mainly so that the girls don't make a nuisance of themselves if they get up early and make a noise, as I wouldn't want to upset the neighbours. (They're very close to the neighbours on the back road.....and a long way from our house so we wouldn't hear if they were making a noise or not, but I've always shut the door just to make sure.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 I shut the eglu door every night even in summer, but it's mainly so that the girls don't make a nuisance of themselves if they get up early and make a noise, as I wouldn't want to upset the neighbours. ditto to the above. my lot get let out the same time every day and they are used to the routine, not a peep out of them in the mornings now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 After reading all of the above I wasn't planning on shutting my eglu door on a night for a while yet, but lots of fireworks are going off tonight. Does closing the door make any difference to the sound proofing for the chickens does anybody know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
