What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[OllieNLucys Mum]

We are new chicken keepers so please excuse all the basic questions.

 

Our 3 girls and ollie have been happy in their cube all summer they free range behind electric netting during the day and at night I shut them in the cube run when i leave the stables and then they put themselves to bed. I have had the cube door open all summer and as it has started getting cooler closing it just that bit more.

 

Last night i thought I would close the cube door but even after having done that the cube still seemed so open and drafty. So I left the door open enough for them to be able to come out when they want in the morning.I know that ventilation is important but they just didn't seem very protected, how will they cope when it gets cold.

 

They don't seem to sleep in a huddle either. Ollie is on his own and the girls vary sometimes together sometimes not.

 

I have to say they don't seem to mind, its me actually one of them seems to like the doorway

 

I have these horrible visions of coming down one morning in the winter to a row of frozen chickens. I am thinking maybe I will put the cube and the run in an empty stable when it gets colder and let them free range on the yard in the day.

 

Our horses are growing thick winter coats already do the chooks get more feathers?

[..lay a little egg for me]

Clearly you need more chickens to fill it up!!

[Jools]

They will be absolutely fine, don't worry! They don't grow extra feathers for winter but they have plenty to start with anyway. You're right about draughts, that's not good at all for them, but ventilation is essential for their good health. I'd be inclined to close the door at night now, but even if you left it wide open, you won't find chicken ice lollies waiting for you ..... unless we have an overnight ice age lol!

[Rhapsody]

If it makes you feel any better I only ever shut my eglu doors when there is a hard frost and I havent lost one overnight yet.

[Chucky Mama]

I used to keep the door open all year even in the coldest weather (shut it not as it keeps them quiet in the morning). I shut it half way so that they could squeeze in and out in the morning (amazing how small a gap they can squeeze through!), it also meant that if windy they could shelter behind the door. They were quite happy and one used to sit guard in the doorway for part of the evening. They fluff feathers to trap warm air in so they are well equipped for the cold.

[Olly]

I only close the door if it's extremely cold - probably only three or four times last winter. It may seem draughty but they really don't seem troubled by it, and after all in the wild they would roost in a tree, which would be a lot more draughty!

[poachedegg]

A chickens body temperature is higher than ours, so are warmer than us.

[rabbitfluff]

Slide a hand between a couple of roosting chickens at night and you'll see how warm they are, even if it's freezing out. Also very handy if you want to warm up cold hands.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I am sure I read somewhere that a cube was too big for 3 in the winter as there is such a huge airspace.

easily solved though, few card board boxes with shredded paper in to fill the gaps till you get more girls

Though I would guess thet would all huddlew together in the nest box area if they got cold, wouldn't they?

[Jools]

Trust me, there isn't too much airspace in a cube for three chickens. Three in a full height shed would be a problem, but in a Cube, they'll be just fine. A little too much space is always better than not enough.

[Redwing]

They will be fine. they are wearing duvets after all

 

I dont shut the doors on any of my Eglus or wooden houses, some of them dont even HAVE doors

 

I personally wouldnt put the boxes of shredded paper in as although its a good idea in theory you would only be adding in ideal habitats for red mite

[sandyhas3chucks]

Trust me, there isn't too much airspace in a cube for three chickens. Three in a full height shed would be a problem, but in a Cube, they'll be just fine. A little too much space is always better than not enough.

you know I just have this idea that it was Omlet themseves that told me that?

We were talking really freezing temps like last winter.

You know I just cannot recall......

it will come to me!

[OllieNLucys Mum]

Thanks for replies. it seems the consensus is they will be fine even with the door open

 

Why then do I still feel the need to bring them in for the winter I will get some more girls in the future hopefully some ex bats but want to have a bit more of an idea what I'm doing first so possibly next year.

 

If you do remember Sandy let us know as what you say goes along with my own gut feeling.

[Jools]

Trust me, there isn't too much airspace in a cube for three chickens. Three in a full height shed would be a problem, but in a Cube, they'll be just fine. A little too much space is always better than not enough.

you know I just have this idea that it was Omlet themseves that told me that?

We were talking really freezing temps like last winter.

You know I just cannot recall......

it will come to me!

 

 

Haha, that wouldn't be a marketing ploy to sell more chickens would it!

[Olly]

Well my 3 all sleep in the nesting-box anyway so no chance of 'too much airspace'!

 

I haven't ever heard that - they need company during the day, and they generally huddle together at night, but I've never heard of a minimum level of occupancy required for the Cube. Although come to think of it, perhaps there should be a law that says you need at least five hens ...

[Seagazer]

I've only got 3 but they do all sleep in the nesting box, usually on top of each other. I don't close the door either. They've been alright so far.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I've only got 3 but they do all sleep in the nesting box, usually on top of each other. I don't close the door either. They've been alright so far.

hmmmm....

perhaps that is precisely why they do it?

My disabled girl shivers in her piglu even now (she puts herself in there in the day(I realise this IS different) At the moment they sleep 2 to an Eglu, but there has been some bed hopping especially if one in particular was feeling under par.

It was def too hot for 4 in a huddle during the heat wave(the other disabled girl has breathing difficulties) but am thinking encouraging 3 or 4 to an Eglu if they don't do it themselves might be best for the winter.

I am still trying to recall, I am thinking someone spoke to them at a show and was told this, now gotta try and think who to confirm.

In any case last year i put thermometer, in the Eglu, there is quite a thread about it if you look. Can't recall if anyone did it with the cube.

[Jools]

What are the inner dimensions for the cube? I can't find it, but then I haven't looked that hard either lol.

 

Think about it. All those chickens crammed into broiler sheds, very little floor space, but oodles of head room above them .... how high is the roof on those god forsaken places? I bet that proportionately they have more air space than three chickens in a cube. Commercial free range laying set ups use the same kind of buildings but with a lot lower stocking density.

 

Chickens need dry, well ventilated, draught free sleeping quarters. If you put three chickens in a typical garden shed, there may be too much air space for them in the depths of winter, but a cube isn't a garden shed. They are much better off under-stocked in a cube than over-stocked. Honestly!

[Redwing]

I agree with Jools

 

Chickens used to roost in trees, cant get much more airspace than that

 

If your chooks have underlyng problems then yes keep them warmer but most chooks dont

[Seagazer]

Oh no - I hadn't even thought of it like that

 

I'm going to get a couple more in Spring so there will be a few more to fill up the space.

[sandyhas3chucks]

yes & must not forget I have ex bats, last winter with varying problems and NOT featheryness!

and this year I have concerns only with the 2 disabled girls in the Piglu.

You can always pop a snugglesafe in the nest box as some do, they can then choose to be on it oir not. In the end you have to do what you feel comfortable and happy with, and read all last years threads.

Loads of people actually put covers over the top of there Eglu's and cubes, so clearly many are also overprotective chicken parents