4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Chiccadees3]

With the nights drawing in and the hens goin gto bed earlier and earlier I would like a bit of advice as this will be their first exbatt winter.

 

They sleep in their nesting box full of straw and never really perch. They floor is covered in newspaper as the summer has been good. I tried putting a small quantity of woodshaving in to get them used to them but they wouldnt go in even after an hour . So took them out and peace was restored.

 

When I get home at 6ish I let them free range for an hour or so as they will have been in their run all day. I then sort out their house so it is cosy for them at night as they have a habit of moving things about! Soon I am not going to be able to do this due to it getting dark earlier.

 

First what can I put on the floor of the house? Is extra straw OK. I like the newspaper because I can just take away the soiled sheets easily.

 

Secondly if I have not had chance to tidy them up will they sort themselves out and get cosy?

 

And they will not be able to free range until the morning is this OK?

 

I think I have spolit them somewhat since we had them

[Plum]

Isn't it horrid the thought of it being dark in the evenings. Seeing as they are 'supposed' to sleep on the bars with nothing I would say they will be fine carrying on the same. After all newspaper is insulating. Don't worry they will sort the nest out how they want it.

 

It makes you get off work prompt!

[C&T]

I feel a bit sad that come winter I will only really see them at the weekend, rather than laughing at their cheeky antics in the weekday evenings as well..

 

I haven't got exbatts, but I plan not to treat them very differently. Newspaper will still be lining the poo tray (as I agree, makes it very easy to empty) and Hemcore will still be in the nest box.

 

Their house never gets a daily tidy up - they make a mess, they can live in it

 

The only change will be they will get 30mins aprox free ranging in the morning (before I go to work), instead of being out in the evening. This simply because it will be dark when we get home in the winter, and if they are used to being let out early in the summer, they make lots of noise until they are let out!!

 

One thing I do remember from last year though is I will need to empty the poo tray more, as they spend more time in the eglu due to longer nights.

[Sarahsausage]

Aaah, ex-batts deserve to be spoilt after all they have been through In winter I put a thicker layer of newspaper in the bottom of the nesting/roosting area and about 2-3 inches of soft sawdust. I use a product called snowflake as it's softer than normal sawdust and is, of course, dust free! I know what you mean by making things snuggly for them as I do the same before they go to bed, plump up the sawdust! I've found that straw gets a bit smelly and damp as you can't pick out the poops easily so maybe try and wean yours off it?

 

There isn't much you can do if they've gone to bed by the time you get home, I tend to pick out the overnight poops from the nesting box in the morning, fluff up the sawdust and that's it really, it gets a bit flattened when they go in to lay but as long as they are warm they'll be fine so try not to worry too much. They keep each other warm as well

[Margaret]

Not sure how I will manage

Having to wake girls up now as I leave at 6.30 and is still dark so lots of muttering going on early morning but in a few weeks will be dark both day and night , so wont have any time outside the run during the week and not sure when I will de poo, suppose just lift up there bottoms when they are asleep

 

+ WIT

Lavender

Mabel

Posh Marjorie

[Plum]

Go down with a torch, they'll soon get up Don't feed them grapes inside though, I did that and there was a right to do when they went down under the bars

[Chiccadees3]

Thanks everyone Feel much better knowing that other people have the same concerns. They will still get their 20 minute exercise in the morning depending on the weather before I go to work but like you say it is the not seeing them properly until the weekend I am not looking forward too.

 

They are my relaxation therapy after work

 

Lets hope we have a nice dry winter