chick wiggle Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 (edited) We have just moved our girls into their new WIR, 5 of them have the cube and 6 of them have a wooden coop and every night have gone to their own beds. Tonight, however, the 1st night in the new run, have just gone to check on them and all 11 are in the cube!!! This has never happened before, do I leave them or move them. I will be up early in morning to let them out but what to do????? Edited August 19, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legend21 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 chick please leave them but perhaps leave the cube door open, how fab, if they need out they will pop out in the morning, they will all feel sleepy right now Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Thats fine, I will be having 10 in my cube. When I look in on my 7 they only seem to take up about a third of the space because they all huddle together I know that some forum members have said that 15 have been in the same one, through choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 18, 2009 Author Share Posted August 18, 2009 Should I leave the door open for them all night, Its normally closed all the way. I will be getting up especially early to let them out just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 I keep my cube door open all night, as I know they are secure in the WIR, also they can please themselves then, as they do like to get up early Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 18, 2009 Author Share Posted August 18, 2009 Sorry to go on about this, but the door is normally shut, and I thought with the strangness of a new run maybe the strangness of having the door open as well might be to many changes at once for them. Oooooo I dont know what to do for the best, what do you think?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 I think they will be fine with the door closed - unless it's especially hot where you are tonight? I have two cubes and normally 5 go to bed in each, strangely 9 went in one tonight with one in the other! It must be the night for it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Personally, they have chosen to mix things up themselves by all piling into the cube, so I don't think the arrival of the WIR has phased them. Therefore, I would leave the door open, also it will allow them to get up when they wake up so less likely to cause issues early morning. I am NO expert, but I had a stress over whether to put my new girls in with the oldies, and they made the decision to sleep in the cube themselves, so I have had a bit of experience (albeit not a lot), so very similar to your girls decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 18, 2009 Author Share Posted August 18, 2009 Oh gosh, decisions decisions.......Ok, Im gonna leave the door open about 3inches so they get a bit of extra ventilation, not all the way open because they are not used to that. I suppose they all decided to go in there anyway and could have got out anytime until i closed the door. Im planning to get up at 6.30 ( they are normally let out about 7.30 ) and if neccessary i will sit by the cube for a while listening until i let them out. Worried chicken mummy or what On the up side, this leaves me with a spare coop, mmmmm.... wonder what on earth i could do with that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 I've had 14 in the cube before now....admittedly with the door open, and they have been fine. They did have the option of an Eglu in the WIR too, but they didn't want to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Mine used to all pile into one cube as well. Interestingly, since we have had the walk in run, they spread themselves out a bit more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Well, how did it go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 19, 2009 Author Share Posted August 19, 2009 Well.... I was up at 6.30 this morning after a very restless sleep, I cant believe chickens affect me like this I crept down the garden and all was quite, but they have amazing hearing dont they and i heard some shuffling about inside so I opened the door. Out they all spilled, the newbies negotiating the ladder with some difficulty. Only Belle held back, I think she is really stressed out as she hasnt eaten and is just sat down very quite. Gonna have to keep an eye on her Funnily enough though, 3 of the newbies have gone into their own house to lay, waiting the outcome of that Thanks for you advice and comments. After this first night I can appreciate how cute they all are squished together in the cube. I'm gonna keep leaving the door open a tiny bit more each night too I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3364ib Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Hi, this is going to sound stupid! but do you leave the door open in the winter too? Hoping other half is secretly planning to get me a cube, so this seemed a good idea for the summer so they can do as they please. would it not confuse them having the door closed through the winter though, i dont want them to get icicles!! x Personally, they have chosen to mix things up themselves by all piling into the cube, so I don't think the arrival of the WIR has phased them. Therefore, I would leave the door open, also it will allow them to get up when they wake up so less likely to cause issues early morning. I am NO expert, but I had a stress over whether to put my new girls in with the oldies, and they made the decision to sleep in the cube themselves, so I have had a bit of experience (albeit not a lot), so very similar to your girls decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Some people do. But I close it for reasons of safety and controlling the morning noise. I n the very cold weather last winter I had an eglu and it kept cosy all through the worst -12 temps I think we had here ( that sounds impossible on a day like today!). Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3364ib Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 thanks for that Tricia Viv x Some people do. But I close it for reasons of safety and controlling the morning noise. I n the very cold weather last winter I had an eglu and it kept cosy all through the worst -12 temps I think we had here ( that sounds impossible on a day like today!). Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 19, 2009 Author Share Posted August 19, 2009 Hi 3364ib (what sort of name is that? ) I'm sorry I dont know cos I havent been through a winter yet. Up til now I have always closed the door at night but as i said I;m going to start leaving it open bit by bit. As for the winter, I think most people leave the door open only closing it on the very coldest winter nights. I am sure someone wiser will be along soon to advise us more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3364ib Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 ha ha hi chick wiggle. i know the names naff just cant think of anything to change it to. app if i go to a moderator theyll change it for me. Will change it as soon as i can think up something!! viv x Hi 3364ib (what sort of name is that? ) I'm sorry I dont know cos I havent been through a winter yet. Up til now I have always closed the door at night but as i said I;m going to start leaving it open bit by bit. As for the winter, I think most people leave the door open only closing it on the very coldest winter nights. I am sure someone wiser will be along soon to advise us more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 19, 2009 Author Share Posted August 19, 2009 Im a fine one to talk arnt I 'chick wiggle'? My excuse is it was kindly chosen for me by Cookiemonster, and I quite like it If you did want to change your name, I had to email Barbara at omlet, shes the only can do it apparently. If you do change it dont forget to tell us so we know who you are still Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3364ib Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 ha ha i just thought mad ferret, but that has nothing to with my chickie girls does it X Im a fine one to talk arnt I 'chick wiggle'? My excuse is it was kindly chosen for me by Cookiemonster, and I quite like it If you did want to change your name, I had to email Barbara at omlet, shes the only can do it apparently. If you do change it dont forget to tell us so we know who you are still Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 thanks for that Tricia Viv x Some people do. But I close it for reasons of safety and controlling the morning noise. I n the very cold weather last winter I had an eglu and it kept cosy all through the worst -12 temps I think we had here ( that sounds impossible on a day like today!). Tricia I now close my door to control early morning noise but when I did leave it open last winter I shut it about 2/3 of the way so that they could comfortably squeeze in and out but could shelter behind the door to stay out of any draught. I didn't experience any problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 I think it's a good name, it doesn't have to be chook related!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3364ib Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Oh ive just had a brainwave (doesnt happen often) I think ill change my name to Vivihen!! What do you think? Viv x Im a fine one to talk arnt I 'chick wiggle'? My excuse is it was kindly chosen for me by Cookiemonster, and I quite like it If you did want to change your name, I had to email Barbara at omlet, shes the only can do it apparently. If you do change it dont forget to tell us so we know who you are still Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 I think there is already a vivihen oh, back on the main topic... we keep out cube door open all the time, throughout winter and summer, one of our girls likes to sit in the door so we actually cant shut it without her being on the wrong side of the door I also wouldnt worry about the number of chooks in a cube, if its only for sleeping purposes, as long as they have space during the day to mooch about they will be fine cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3364ib Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 nooooo, its not often i have a brainwave, that would have been brill!!! Hmm back to the drawing board!!!! x I think there is already a vivihen oh, back on the main topic... we keep out cube door open all the time, throughout winter and summer, one of our girls likes to sit in the door so we actually cant shut it without her being on the wrong side of the door I also wouldnt worry about the number of chooks in a cube, if its only for sleeping purposes, as long as they have space during the day to mooch about they will be fine cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
