Luvachicken Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I know it's not summer yet but I read that some of you keep the door open on the eglu house in the summer. I thought that the eglus kept the chickens warm in winter and cool in summer so why would you want to leave the door open? Is it so that you don't have to get up early to let them out ? If the door is shut do the chickens wake up when they hear wild birds singing or when you open the door? - I am terrible at early mornings. coming wed x2 coming wed x1 coming wed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I leave the Eglu door open whatever the season. The only time I would ever close it was if temps were forcast below -4c. I hate getting up early and if I had to do it every day it would take away the pleasure of keeping chickens. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 yes..I think people dont like to get up to close and open it too early...which kind of defeats the the whole purpose of warmth and safety...but you must do what you think best.. I close mine when its dark, or as soon as I get home, and open it early in the morning....in wellies with a torch usually... its been freezing here every night, and my girls mutter like mad, when Im late closing them in.....it makes sense that it wil keep them warmer...and they do huddle up together for warmth its safer to close them in too, as it should prevent fox attacks.... you might want to get a large cover to cover the cube and run, and protect their run from snow too...I ahve a huge big waterproof covering over my eglu run which keeps the snow out...others use clear plastic shower curtains.....your chickens will appreciate it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMitch Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I leave my doors open all the time, Summer and Winter. I might part close the cube door if its really cold but still leave them enough room so they can come and go as they please. They just wander out when it starts to get light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I'm a door-shutter; IMO the temperature isn't that much of an issue, but the draughts are. Chickens don't like draughts at all, hence, door gets shut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I close the doors every night regardless of the season. if I don't, my girls start shouting for their warm porridge breakfast in the early hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I close the door of the eglu all year. I don't mind getting up early to let them out in the summer. I like to think that they are all cosy and safe at bedtime Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I close mine every night and open it every morning (wooden coop, though, not an eglu ) One of my girls can be quite noisy, so in the summer I think it's only considerate to make sure she's not out at the crack of down yelling! This time of year, I open them at about 8, and in the summer it's no earlier than 7. I love tucking them in at night, doing the head count, and then knowing that they're safely tucked up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I leave my doors open all the time, Summer and Winter. I might part close the cube door if its really cold but still leave them enough room so they can come and go as they please. They just wander out when it starts to get light. Ditto to this. I am as confident as I can be about the security issues in my particular circumstances, but realise that the eglus and Cubes are only totally fox resistant when the doors are closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boybeck Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 After freeranging for the day I shut the run door when they have gone into the eglu. Then, when I'm about to go to bed at approx 10pm, I go out and shut the house door. In the morning, I don't open the house door until 8am. One of them makes a right racket after laying an egg so I don't like to disturb the neighbours. The chickens seem no worse for wear by being let out relatively late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Well I normally leave the eglu door open but with the bad weather I have been closing them up warm and getting up early to let them out. I think I felt happier knowing they were a little warmer as it was very cold. On a few mornings their water was frozen solid. They are happy with this arrangement (they tell me) as long as I am up early! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I close the doors every night regardless of the season. if I don't, my girls start shouting for their warm porridge breakfast in the early hours. ditto. My girls are kept in a routine regardless of time of year, routine = quiet hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I closed the door last week because of the extreme cold, but mostly I leave it open. Closing it means going up the garden in the dark, and in the mornings they are wide awake as soon as it's daylight; I've got a new introduction who's still being bullied a bit, and I don't like leaving them shut in the Cube once they're awake as that's when she gets jumped on. Also, I go away overnight quite a bit, so the door would have to be open then - I'd rather they were used to it all the time. I've been doing this for nearly two years, with no ill-effects that I can see. Each to their own! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 We close the door each night and open each morning. I love going out first thing in the morning dressing gown, pj's and wellies.......quite theraputic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted February 9, 2009 Author Share Posted February 9, 2009 It sounds like I might not have to get up too early after all I think I might wake them about 8am as that gets all the school type stuff out of the way. Do they know the difference between weekdays and weekends? coming wed x2 coming wed x1 coming wed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svejk Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Initially we closed the door every night religiously, especially as one of our girls can be a bit noisy after she's laid "I'VE LAID AN EGG!!! I HAVE YOU KNOW!!!!" Now we only shut it if the weather's really unpleasant or likely to be frosty. I'm pretty good at letting them out early-ish (as are the kids), although my o/h once forgot and suddenly realised one day at about lunchtime, and sprinted across the garden to let them out in a panic! Fortunately neither of them seemed any the worse for wear, but I imagine they were a bit cross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boybeck Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 You will find that you will get into a routine that suits you. Everyone does something different. Before I got my first hens in September I was really unsure about door opening times, but honestly you soon settle into it and dont even give it a second thought. You soon learn how to look after them. I love my hens to bits, they are such characters. The only thing I didn't realise was how much chickens poo. Left unchecked your lawn can quickly fill up with lots of little "presents". I try to poop scoop at the end of every free ranging session. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I shut my door every night in the Winter and Summer. I like them to be shut up safe and I think they like it too! I don't sleep much anyway - serial insomniac - so makes no difference to me getting up early at weekends - I just go back to bed afterwards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raffik Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 In the winter I close the Eglu door as I don't want them to get drafty and cold. I let them out at about 8am and they are out all day, until it begins to get dark, so they've got plenty of time to scratch around In the summer, I will leave the door open or ajar, to give them some breeze and let them get at their food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binka Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I keep the door open all year round as I'm very scatty and when I used to shut the door I've been known to go to work and realise that they're still shut up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I get up at 7am to let them out, no later, if they are locked in. They would be pecking at the door on weekends I set my alarm go sort them and their water etc then go back to bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Hi luvachicken, You have to do what suits you best. I would love to keep the door open 24/7 as I'm lazy at heart. But after three mornings over the space of 2 weeks in the Summer, being woken 4am daybreak with all 4 chickens alarm calling at the top of their voices (it woke me and all the neighbours it was defening), I'm afraid they have to stay locked in until a reasonable time which for me is 7.15ish (bit later on Sundays). I've just stayed in that routine even though in Winter they don't wake up until much later when it gets light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I have been closing the cube door for the last week or so, as the temperatures have been down to -7. I will start leaving it open again when the temperature goes back above freezing. I like them to be able to get out as soon they wake, it stops them from bullying the little one. It has been a nuisance this weekend - I was seen by neighbours on Saturday and Sunday in the garden in pink fluffy dressing gown & wellies I will continue closing the eglu until Gerty & Flo have grown some new feathers though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 OPen all year round but currently closed for the nakedish ex bats..though this will change once they get some clothes and/ or the weather gets warmer...but ours are not too noisy and we have neighbours who like them and I know noise can be an issue with some folk.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I leave the Eglu door open whatever the season. The only time I would ever close it was if temps were forcast below -4c. I hate getting up early and if I had to do it every day it would take away the pleasure of keeping chickens. Tessa I agree totally. I do exactly the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
