fluffyknickers Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 My three girls are acting a little odd. At night the girls have always let themselves in the house and i go out and shut the door til the morning. For the last couple of weeks they now are out at night walking round happily in the pitch black! Even after 10pm!!! I dont know if they do go to bed then come back out when they hear the door handle or never even go to bed! I cant put them in as now have the Eglu. I cant be there watching the whole time as have work etc! Its annoying as I have to keep waiting til they eventually go to bed as now its cold feel i should shut the door. Anyone else have this? Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Mine are prompted by the security light and back door handle manys the time I have crept out the front door and in the side gate to catch them in! Also do double check for red mite as this makes chickens avoid the coop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I was going to say this is a classic sign of red mite! Also check they are getting enough food! I have only found one chook out after hours i shone a torch at the coop door and she went in chickens can't see well in the dark maybe the darknights are creaping in to quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted November 17, 2009 Author Share Posted November 17, 2009 Dont think its red mite as last wednesday just did out the whole Eglu and put down new bedding, sprayed red mite etcetc. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted December 5, 2009 Author Share Posted December 5, 2009 sorry to bring this up again but they still dont go to bed so I have no choice other than to not shut the door. I am hoping they arent going to be cold. Oh what to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 They'll snuggle up together for warmth & it's not horrendously cold at the mo............soggy & horrid yes, but not cold I'm not shutting the door on my eglus & cubes at all now as I have potential for bullying in and (with blood drawn too ) and I like to treat them all the same This evening I went out to top up the feeder on the nursery & Jasmine came out to investigate the torch which DD was flashing around ....nosy little minx soon went back to bed when I turned the torch off Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beulah59 Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Is there an outside light anywhere that's confusing them? It really does sound like red mite ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted January 11, 2010 Author Share Posted January 11, 2010 Update I checked for any sort of mites and couldnt see anything. Even in the cold frost and snow I havent been able to shut the eglu door. They do go in but the minute I need to go out ie to shut the door, the three come out to see me! They are laying still (even with this cold) and eating and drinking. I am worming them soon too. So i am not really sure what to do???!!!! Funny girls I have. michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Think you have just answered your own question. If they are going in OK, and just coming out to see you, there is not a lot you can do!! Short of shutting the door, taking them out the run and putting them in the through the egg port!! Take it as a compliment that they want to see you!! It it was mites, they wouldn't go in to start with - so sounds OK on that front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted January 12, 2010 Author Share Posted January 12, 2010 Think you have just answered your own question. If they are going in OK, and just coming out to see you, there is not a lot you can do!! Short of shutting the door, taking them out the run and putting them in the through the egg port!! Take it as a compliment that they want to see you!! It it was mites, they wouldn't go in to start with - so sounds OK on that front. Ha ha! Yes I could do that, would have to bribe them out with corn. I can imagine my neighbours watching me in my dressing gown bending over calling them out grabbing them then running round and putting each chicken to bed!!!! "she's really lost it now"!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooties Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I've been having the exact same problem with 2 of my 4 chooks!!! They all go to bed quite happily and stay there until they hear the back door when 2 of them come out and will not go back in the eglu, not for a torch, corn, knocking, calling etc. I did wonder if its because when I leave in the mornings its still dark and they have obviously got used to me waking them up, perhaps they think its morning? I've been trying to sneak out without them hearing me, but its practically impossible because of where the eglu is sited. I have to walk on the run skirt to get round to the egg port so they easily hear me. Since the weather has been really icy I've somehow managed to catch them in after about 5 attempts each night. Probably cos by then they are too cold or knackered to get up!! But last night they were not having it, so I had to leave the door open. I've been making sure they get at least one helping of hot mash a day to warm them up, but the only other option I can think of is to get my partner to stand at one end of the eglu ready to shut the door whilst I stand at the other end and push them in with a broom!! Needless to say, unless its icy I leave the door open Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I would try turning the eglu 180 degrees so it's facing away from the house and learn to creep stealthily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
