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

[impis]

Hi, We have an eglu, with 3 ex - batts, in a sheltered quad area in our school. I hope you don't mind but i have a question.

 

Until the cllocks change, in a couple of weeks time, it is still light when people go home, and the chickens are still filling their beaks with food. [My, how they eat!!]

 

They are being left to take themselves in and out of the eglu, when they're ready - but its not that cold just yet.

 

At weekends, following the advice on this site, they are being given enough food to last a few days, and then they just look after themselves for a couple of days, til I get back.

 

i'm worried about:

 

1. the chickens getting too cold in the winter as there will always be a couple of days per week that they will not have their eglu door shut behind them. I know that they'll cuddle up [or at least, i'm hoping so] but worry just the same.

2. If the water freezes on a saturday, i can't gain access to their area til a monday morning. - Will they survive til the monday?

I have a site key, but not the key to the school itself, and as the chooks are in an internal garden, I cannot get to them.

 

Bigger holidays are not a problem - already had a couple of parents willing to let them stay with them.

[Redwing]

They should be ok with the Eglu door left open, I used to open and close mine each day but to be honest that novelty quickly wore off and now I have many chooks none of whom get their doors shut, some of my coops dont even HAVE doors

 

The water thing is hard, yes they will survive but it wouldnt be particularly good husbandry to make them wait till Monday for water

[Lewis]

Its not ideal to not check them for 2 days, but if its an enclosed garden it might be a bit warmer if its not windy so water may be ok.

See if the water freezes on school days and if it does you may need to do something with them over the weekend

[TAJ]

Chickens can go downhill very quickly without water - water is a basic need and it would be against animal welfare legislation to leave any chickens without a freely available supply of water by day. You will have to make arrangements to check water in freezing conditions - last winter some days the water could refreeze during a day, so it will need checking.

 

Tracy

[Egluntyne]

I agree...it would probably be only for a very few days each year, but would be harmful to the chickens, and against animal welfare legislation. Can you take them home at the w.e or arrange for access?