Vix_Chicks Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 Hello all! Well finally got Henrietta (Hetty) and Sheldon (a boys name i'm sure, but chosen by my other half!! lol) and have settled them into the and their hand made run - have tried posting photos, but that is another topic in itself!! As we are new to keeping chickens, and I can't find any information about it else where, just wondered if there is a set time of day that the girls should go to bed?? - should I let them go on their own accord (I could be waiting up all night!!) or should I give them a helping hand? The past couple of evenings I have tried to usher them into the eglu but they have been quite determined that they aren't ready to sleep yet!!! Please help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieD Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 congratulations on your new arrivals! as long as they are in there run area (not free ranging) i would just let them go on their own accord- just check them before its too dark to make sure they are in. mine stay out until its practically black good luck x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zmurffi Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 I have had my chickens 2 days so they are still confined to the eglu run. The lady I got them from said they usually start pottering off to their house at about 6.00 to 7.00. Last night at 6.30 I ushered them up to the Eglu and clucked at them until I got them to go in. Tonight I thought I would just leave them as I want them to find it on their own. I went out at 7.00 and they were still pottering around the run. At about 8.05 they had gone to bed on their own so I just shut the door. It may be a different story once they get a taste of free ranging in my garden. "The Convent" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vix_Chicks Posted August 9, 2009 Author Share Posted August 9, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vix_Chicks Posted August 9, 2009 Author Share Posted August 9, 2009 Thank you to you both. I think I will try letting them do it by themselves then. They venture in the eglu during the day.. so they know where it is and what it's for!! I think they just think its funny to see me on all fours crawling around after them!!! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gem_Seb Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 mine go in on their own between 9 and 9.30 depending how early it gets dark, i just go out and shut the door about 9.45.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 Congrats on your new girls, they look lovely. Mine seem to want to eke out every minute of light before they take themselves off to bed. So long as they are in a secure run, I'd just let them decide when to go to bed. As long as you go out and lock them up before you go to bed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Tilytinkle Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 hello ours go to bed once the sun goes down, always never late evn if free ranging. Its soo sweet to watch as they line up & go in one at a time - always in the same order. Ms Tillywishesherteenagerwasasgoodatgoingtobed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeggySue1 Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Hi Vix-pics, congrats on your lovely girls. We have only had our three ex-batts for one week now, and they have settled to going into their eglu at 9.00 each evening, in fact I can almost set my watch on them. We also were not sure about beddy-time and spent the first two nights physically carrying them individually from the run to the egg port and putting them in that way We did start to wonder if this game of carry-me-to-bed was becoming a nightly routine, but all is settled now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkl Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Hi there. One of my garden destroyers goes in 5 minutes before dusk without fail and always on time in spite of the fact she hasn't got a watch whereas the other goes in at dusk. I think they're sulking with me though as I have put a small box in the nesting area to stop them sleeping in it (am I mean or what!! ) Cheers JKL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vix_Chicks Posted August 10, 2009 Author Share Posted August 10, 2009 Well everybody, after all your helpful comments, I sat and waited it out this evening (mum knows best!!) Low and behold, when i went out to check them just before 9pm, they were all settled in for the night!! Yey. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 I make sure that mine are safely back in the run for 7pm at the latest at this time of year.....always well before dark. Re the photos.....have a look at **this article** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Tilytinkle Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 "I make sure that mine are safely back in the run for 7pm at the latest at this time of year.....always well before dark." Actually since our fox visit & attack, I agree with Eglutine ours are put away now always from 6pm onwards never ranging later than , but what I meant by 'even when free ranging' - meaning our chooks have a natural bedtime - same time every night - once the sun sets, off they waddle towards their perch - the white & grey chooks always the first into their cube. (white first ). Even when they used to free range always they would naturally return to forage right next to their cube & always put themselves to bed before it was dark - natural inherent survival instinct I guess. MsTillyoncemistakenlyleftthedoorclosedaftercleaning/hosingcoopandbless thepoorchickencouldntgetinsidesotheyallwereroostingontheperch,luckliyi checkthembeforegoingtobedandwashorrifedtoseethemalllinedandhunched upasleepontheirperch...haveyouevertriedtowakeupchickensandencourage themtoclimbintothecoopwhendark . .ha..nightmare! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 congrats on your new chickens ours go in about 830 -900 pm but they are only 7 weeks old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 I got home last evening just before 8.30 & Buffie had taken the Bufflings to bed already....not convenient as I hadn't given her her medicine before taking DD swimming , so out she was hoiked & made to sit on my lap whilst I syringed Baytril and more slop down her throat........and the big girls were in the midst of their "go to bed/get out of bed" routine, as soon as they heard me talking to Buffie they all thundered out to see if I had any offerings for them, I didn't so they went to bed!! I don't shut the cube doors at night as they are in a secure WIR ( ) but I do shut the eglu so the babies keep warm & snuggly. In the winter my chooks come knocking at the back door for their tea about 1 hour before dusk, then go to bed once they've eaten.... Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
