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

[Forge Cottage]

When we get home about 6.30pm I quietly shut the girls into night routine. They have always put themselves to bed at dusk, but the last few days I have been surprised to find Mabel hanging around the gate for me in the dark.

 

As I take out the Grub there is always a dusty handful of pellets in the bottom, so I put some on my hand and shine the torch on it. She pecks it as if she has been starving, though I know she has been ranging all day. Then I shine my torch on the water and swish it, she drinks obediently (which I am told I do a good impression of). After a few minutes - if she hasn't encouraged the others out, she saunters inside and I shut the door...

 

I am not worried about this behavior, in fact it is really nice to see them in the dark, (if you know what I mean). But should I discourage feeding after hours like this?

 

You beauty

Tonight I found an extra egg in the nestbox, a first present from Gerty, good girl! Big for a first egg and might even be a double yolker. So they are finally all laying now.

 

With the shorter days, do you think maybe there aren't enough hours to eat all they need to lay?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Have you increased the amount of pellets you're putting out since they started laying? They do eat a lot more once the eggs come along. It does sound a bit like she's not managing to get enough during the day so I'd put more out and see if her behaviour changes . Or do you think it's just too dark for her to see where the pellets are, if there is enough left in the grub?

[rabbitfluff]

Coincidentally I've had similar behaviour from my girls since Sunday night. They put themselves to bed, and then when I get home about 7.30 and go to shut them up for the night, they all come back out in to the run for about 10 minutes - spending most of the time drinking. I thought maybe the water had frozen over during the day so they were thirsty but definitely Monday and Tuesday the water was fine so I've no idea what's wrong with the little rascals!

[Forge Cottage]

Thanks. Spooky that rabbitfluff has the same thing (I like the avatar by the way!)

 

Yes, I have been increasing their pellets. Currently just over 2 mugfulls for 3 birds, plus a scatter of grit in the run (they are out in a grassy pen most of the day). I don't get home in daylight to give them corn or treats in the week, but there are always pellets left over, often half a mugfull or so, which I tip back into the sack overnight.

 

I have noticed how they eat more as they come into lay, especially if it is cold. Until very recently, cautious Gerty held back and never seemed as hungry as the others. But the couple of days before she started to lay she was going for it and seems perkier now.

 

More Carrots

Good point about it being too dark to see the grub, which is always in shade and probably dark quite early. If they come out after dark and I shine a torch into the food, they go for it!

 

The shade helps keep water out of the food and gives them shelter, but maybe I need to change it to a see-through one, so there is more light for longer... Hmm. Or spray the inside of the grub container white!

[Guest]

Mine are doing this too!

 

Personally - I just think they miss the contact with us and are pleased to see us - however dark - and just want a little chat and some company!

 

Louise

[bokbokbok]

The evening routine of coming out to play when I go to shut them in has been happening to me too. I always open up the coop to count them (just in case . . ) and sometimes on or two will come out - sometimes all. They fuss around and eat (even though I haven't added anything to the containers since the last time they saw them!) and sometimes have a wee free range.

 

I really enjoy the extra time with them but have always felt very guilty at allowing it in case I am seriously interrupting their night time routine.

 

In the past couple of weeks I have noticed that when they go to bed they collect on the shed floor to sleep but after I have been in and turned on the light they hop up to the roosting bars. I think it is too dark for them to see the bars if the light isn't on so I have been thinking about putting in a low wattage dusk-to-dawn baby light but have resisted so far because I know it is frowned upon to prolong their days similar to the way battery are handled.

 

Do you think it would be ok for this purpose or is it just me being silly?

[Forge Cottage]

There definitely seems to be an issue with finding things in the gloom, especially in the darker months.

 

Maybe this is just nature? Rather than illuminate food, drink and bed with glow sticks and lights, which will just extend their day, perhaps they should just eat, drink and go to bed earlier!

 

But they obviously know when the food provider is coming, and I enjoy seeing them anyway...

[Sandychick]

Mine are doing the same! I used to be able to get the eggs and fill up the grub without disturbing them at all. The last few days they have all taken to trotting down the run making strange noises - they don't really sound too happy about it. They also have a late night snack

 

I thought it might be the light from my headtorch which was encouraging them out of the eglu, but I tried scrabbling about in the dark last night and they still all came out. I am worried that I am disturbing their nights sleep and confusing them. I also don't like them out late when it's that cold - prefer them to stay snuggled up in the warm eglu.

 

I'm just about to go on my nightly egg collecting mission, so I'll see what happens tonight................

[Forge Cottage]

I thought I was the only one with a head-torch...!