Laura & CTB Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 I'm feeling very guilty I have to leave for work at 6.45am so am opening the eglu door at about 6.30am. The girls always get out of their nice warm snug bed and come out to say hello and greet the day - except it's not day - it's pitch black outside and this morning was also raining buckets.......... I do try and sneak down to the eglu (tip toes in my wellies) and open the door as quietly as possible hoping they'll stay in bed but they wont. Are they going to end up with bags under their eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 Don't worry! They don't have to get up after all. And at this time of year they are going to bed early too. In a week's time or so, it'll be an hour earlier at bedtime, but lighter in the mornings too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 I also go out early to open the eglu door (6.30 ish) before work and I always hear a bit of "stirring" but they never appear in the run....dont worry they will be fine...once the sun comes up they will come out of their own accord. When we go away (we have a caravan so go off at the weekend sometimes) we leave the eglu door open day and night so they go in and out when they want and they've been fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freak29 Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 if you unlock the door, and leave it slightly open, they can be trained to open the door clever ey there was a post a while back on it...but they do need a while to learn...might this help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvonne Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 Hi I am a new eglu owner and not a morning person ! My chickens were laying when I first got them last month, but have stopped now and I think it's due to the shorter days. I have been locking them in at night, but I'd like to try getting them to let themselves out to maximise their access to daylight. I'm interested to know how other owners have propped the door open (the handle seems to drop down and close itself unless you do something to stop it, obviously without damaging the eglu). I was thinking about putting a tent peg in the ground to stop it closing fully ? Any suggestions gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley H Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 I too go away some weekends...I leave the door wide open...I was worried that if it was propped part open that they might inadvertantly push it closed and lock themselves out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted October 23, 2006 Author Share Posted October 23, 2006 .I was worried that if it was propped part open that they might inadvertantly push it closed and lock themselves out. This is what my two did when I tried it They are still coming out at 6.45am but now I just think about what Ginette said - they dont have to if they dont want to!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cute-chickens Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 We got our girls on the longest day so they were up really late (after 10 p.m.) but ready to go again at daybreak. To make sure we got some sleep we started leaving the door very slightly ajar (about an inch) so they could open the door themselves. They did this very well and we eventually closed the door completely (but left it unlocked). It worked fine. When it got very hot we started leaving the door open all night - and still do at the moment. However, with the colder nights setting in we will start re-training them for the winter months. Trying experimenting when you are around over a weekend and see what happens. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 6.30 ? early ? we get up at 5.10am (yup, there really is a 5 0'clock in the morning!!) In the summer we leave the eglu doors open so they just come out when they are good and ready, but in the winter we shut their doors but have put a block on them so they have a small gap so they can push the doors open if we ever get the chance of a lie in (yeah right ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 6.30 ? early ? we get up at 5.10am CTB has to leave for work at 4am . 4am, 5.10am - both still the middle of the night as far as I'm concerned I can just about pull myself together at 6am (still have to check my make-up when I get to work in case I missed a bit - like only having one blushered cheek etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 I have been known to go to work with one black stocking and one blue one on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 I have a 0505 stand by on Sunday and have to be up at 0245!!! Yes 0245 Christian x x x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 I have friends that havent even gone to bed then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 I have a 0505 stand by on Sunday and have to be up at 0245!!! Yes 0245 Christian x x x omg how do you do it??! even worse now winter's coming and we're all tucked up cosy under the duvet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 I haven't yet! I used to live in Farnborough, which was only 24 miles to the airport, which meant i could lie in a little longer, but this is my first very early shift and its 61 miles now. AND we've been invited to a Halloween Party on Saturday!!!!! Christian x x x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 Don't forget the clocks change! And luckily for you there's an extra hour (so 0505 would have been 0605 the day before!) Still too early though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 So pleased to hear that some people get up earlier than me - I get to lie in until 5.45am! Feeling a bit blue at the mo as don't see chucks in the morning when I open the eglu door cos it's still dark and by the time I get home (about 5pm) they're about ready to go to bed Makes me look forward to weekends even more (only two days to go!) Lorna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy-Mama Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 some people at my work think I'm mad getting up at 6am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 I almost never close the Eglu door, only when it's REALLY cold; they are fine and can let themselvs out when they want to. The baby chicks are in the Rablu, and I have just started closing the door at night now that it's getting colder. They just snuggle under their mum anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted October 26, 2006 Author Share Posted October 26, 2006 I almost never close the Eglu door, only when it's REALLY cold; they are fine and can let themselvs out when they want to. I would do that but when they go to bed Gucci leaves her bum sticking out of the door so I have to go and close it - dont want her getting piles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 Bless her! Have you tried reaching in through the egg port and moving her further in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted October 26, 2006 Author Share Posted October 26, 2006 Doh why didn't I think of that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 Easily done. I sometimes have to rearrange my 7 as they always huddle on top of each other Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted October 26, 2006 Author Share Posted October 26, 2006 went out this evening to prod Gucci's bum back inside but didn't have the heart bless them, Prada was resting her head on top of Gucci's back - both just inside the nest - well could YOU do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
