Single hen

[tania]

My girls have arrived and as good as gold taken themselves off to bed. Should I shut the Eglu door, especially as it's pouring or leave it open so they can get out into the run at first light? I'm worried that they'll be cold tonight

[scrambledhead]

I only got my first chickens on Saturday so am by no means an expert but I would close the door to keep them safe and warm.

 

First light is not too early, I've been opening up at around 7am and they've been fine!

 

[Phoebe]

Just wait - I have been letting mine out at 6.30am and by that time, they are already complaining ...!

[thewhitehouse]

There was a discussion on the forum about this a while ago. I think the conscensus of opinion was 'shut that door'. The eglu is not 100% foxproof unless you do.

[Larkspurs]

As for letting them out again, we went through a soul searching exercise about this and vowed to let them out at 8am latest.

 

As it all depended on shift patterns, days off etc, I was the guilty one and let them out at just after 9am one day. They didn't mind a bit. No noise, nothing.

 

We let them out when we get up now. Maybe we'll adjust that in the summer or look at it again but so far between 8 and 9 works for us. We are starting to think that if they get used to times, they stick to them more than we do. I got them up at 7am one morning and they didn't want to know.

[Groovychook]

I'd been leaving the door partially open for a couple of weeks but shut them in last night because the forecast was for a heavy frost. Went out at 7.15 to let them out and they were making their displeasure known at being made to wait!

[Egluntyne]

I don't bother....but there was a mangy looking fox circling round the walk in run this morning.

 

He cleared off when I lobbed chunks of coal at him.

[tania]

We did close the door in the end last night, the rain was so terrible and there was a heavy frost this morning so I was pleased. I was out before the sun was up chekcing on them and I don't think they were too thrilled. Think we'll continue to close the door and get into a routine as suggested. thanks everyone

[Electricbarbarella]

I have been closing the door all winter, I left in open in the summer (mainly because we go to bed before them when the nights draw out.

[The Dogmother]

I almost always leave the cube door open at night, however, on my courses, I always recommend that people close it if they want to be sure that their girls are totally safe at night.

 

It really is down to personal choice at the end of the day, so weigh up those options and see what you prefer.

[Carol U]

We only close ours when it's due to be very cold/frosty, but we do have a Foxwatch just outside the run to deter unwelcome visitors. This seems to work quite well and they can come and go as they please.

[helen5848]

I have tried some nights of closing the door and others of not - If you are concerned about them getting up at first light and singing too loudly then I would recommend closing it. The couple of days that I didn't close the door my girls were up bright and early with all of the joys of spring singing VERY loudly. Now with shutting the door, I hear pecking and knocking to get out at about 7.15am - my boyfriend who heads out to work at this time lets them out and puts their mash in for them and this tends to keep them quiet for a while until a more reasonable time for their singing!

 

Most people on the forum have voiced their views re closing the door for fox related reasons - just thought i'd put another slant on it! Obviously, the problem here then starts when you are away on holiday etc and what you should do then about opening and closing the door - we are only going away for one night in a couple of weeks and this dilemma has caused me all kinds of headaches!

 

[mostin]

It's always going to split opinions this one . The eglu is only classed as fox proof if the door is shut. With the door open and only the run shut it is fox resistant.

 

I still take the risk though and leave the eglu door open in all weathers. OH and I have complicated lives and work patterns, it suits us and the chickens down to the ground to be this way. Even in the winter they have never been cold.

[chelsea]

always closed here in all seasons due to early rising noisy chooks. If they are shut in then in the summer they cant be out waking the neighbours at 5am.