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

[Bondinho]

Hi all,

 

Quick question for you all. Are anyone else's chooks staying in the house in this cold/wet weather at the moment? Mine spend most of the day in there and come down to eat/drink when they want, but then go back into the house?! Even when the run door is open for free ranging

 

They've never done this before - although I only got them in Jan/Feb so obviosuly wouldn't know if they would have behaved this way at same time last year.

 

Cheers.

Edited November 10, 2008 by Guest

[sandyhas3chucks]

yes mine do, they tap on thepatio window when they want to go back out

Only prob is the pooh My house is not exactly hot, & although it is 10 past 11 & today I have turned on the fire, that is unusual, I don't think too much temp changes would be good for them, but they seem fine afgtyer all they coped with this summer didn't they like you I only got them this year, but from a quest I did put about what do chickens do in winter(that was asked in summer!) seems lots do come in.

[Bondinho]

Sorry I think you misunderstood me - I meant they spend the day in the Cube house rather than in the run itself! I wouldn't get away with keeping them indoors, the mess would be unbelievable surely?

[sandyhas3chucks]

I do get through a lot of toilet roll, but they are in & out 4 not too much mess, the feathers are messier looking!

[Dinkychick]

I do get through a lot of toilet roll, but they are in & out 4 not too much mess, the feathers are messier looking!

 

i take it you have a wooden floor? hehe my carpet wouldnt like 4 chucks poohing on it no matter how much loo roll i used

 

As for the chucks staying in...yes mine stay in their house, one comes out and gets soaked but then she goes back home, im worried they are eating enough?

[sandyhas3chucks]

might seem an odd question but is the run covered? If not perhaps you could. A cheap shower curtain lets in light. Plastic shetting isn't too costly. Saw a great set up, had plastiv around 3 sides too, kept out wind & driving rain.

My lucky girls don't need all that not over the winter anyway, the summer living is down the bottom of the long arden & specially with our climate will need it all there. (when they aren't with us... naturally

[Bondinho]

Yeah the run is covered. As long as other people's chooks are doing it then I feel a bit better, but I thought they braved any kind of weather usually - they were out in the rain and all sorts in the summer!

[Madbird]

One of my girls has stayed inside all day today - so not eaten or drank anything

 

Should I encourage outside (all the others are out)?

[madchickenlady]

My girls aren't too keen on coming out when the weathers bad. I have been known to prize their little tootsies from the perch and make then free range They generally just look at me with disgust and then strut back in again I worry about the eating/drinking as well, but as I keep having to top up their feeder, they must be.

[sandyhas3chucks]

yeh I would worry if mine hadn't eaten or drank all day... I know some chooks don't care about the rain but others do. Being me Io would opffer them food & drink whilst they were inside, but I am not suggesting that is the right thing to do, just I would!

[Louisdog]

I am sure they will come out to eat and drink when they are hungry/thirsty, especially if weather not that bad.

 

But I totally understand, and it cannot hurt to offer food and drink in the house or bring them out for food.

 

I gave my lot supper in bed tonight, delivered to their perches Some corn and a few breadcrumbs

[sandyhas3chucks]

Oh LD a woman of my own heart what ARE we like

[Leicester_H]

I gave my lot supper in bed tonight, delivered to their perches Some corn and a few breadcrumbs

I've been tempted to do this but resisted so far as I thought it would be habit forming....

 

but if others do it, well............!!!!!!!!!!!

 

H

[sandyhas3chucks]

oh I just couldn'yt bear the thought of them going to sleep on an empty crop, or silly girls getting dehydrated. I believe they withdraw food & water for 2 days to the battery's before slaughter! would explain there starvation & thirst when we get them!

[Louisdog]

Really? For two days? That's horrible

[sandyhas3chucks]

i believe so, can't remember how I found out. To do with costs & mess or some such unacceptablee reason!