numpty2009 Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Hi I've had our chooks since august and when they arrived from Omlet I remember them saying that you can go away overnight and leave them... Well I', going away for new year and a bit confused to how you do this... Every night I currently nip out after dark to shut the eglu door. Is it the case that if you go away you just leave the door open all night? They are always in their run anyway unless i am out there with them as we have already lost one to a day time fox! I only need to fill the water and food up every few days anyway so I know that they will be fine, but is it ok to leave them or should I get the neighbour involved? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 It depends on your set up, I would say. My girls are sited on concrete slabs, so I have no fear of anything digging into the run. If we go away just overnight, I leave the pop hole open. If we're going for more than a night, I ask my lovely neighbour to pop 'round and give eye to them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Hello there If possible, you could ask your neighbor to keep an eye on them for you, making sure they have enough food and water and that they are okay. They should be alright with the door left open, but maybe you could ask your neighbor to open it and close it, perhaps in exchange for a box of eggs xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 You'll either need to leave the Eglu door open, or bribe a neighbour! The hens will be fine with the door open, I never close mine anyway, and provided you are happy that the run is secure, they'll be fine for a night or two. The biggest problem at the moment is the water freezing. If you can, I'd get a neighbour to pop over and just top up the water (it can usually be done without opening the run, by using one of those houseplant watering cans that will poke through the bars). The Grub should hold enough food for a couple of days, and I usually chuck a cabbage in to keep them busy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Given the weather, you really need to ask a neighbour to check that the water isn't frozen, and to top it up with warm water/break the ice crust if it is. A couple of times a day whist conditions are harsh. A handy way for a teenager to earn a bit of pocket money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emily and Nick Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 I leave my eglu door half open so that they can get in and out if I'm not around to shut them in, and they don't get so much of a draft if the door was fully open. I'm going away too and my main worry is the water freezing every night, as other people have said here. I haven't yet worked out a solution to this. I've heard if you put glycerine in water it doesn't freeze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Glycerine isnt a good idea - there are a few threads running at the moment on stopping drinkers from freezing and Glycerine has come up a few times - its apparently toxic to chickens A check twice a day should keep things ticking along nicely if its cold otherwise you should be ok to leave them - the frozen water is really the only sticking point I never shut the doors on any of my coops - the chickens will be fine as long as they are adult, in good health and sufficiently feathered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoura Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 My solution is going to be to bring them in and give them the run of the kitchen while I am away for 1-2 nights....only way I can think of to make sure they have drinking water rather than ice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markchooksharon Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Hi can you put a coop cup in the house with a 1 litre bottle with a few holes drilled in the neck near the threaded part and a bit of wire like you hold a rabbit bottle doesn't freeze up i also put food in a coop cup works for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 I left the eglu door open whilst I was away for two nights over Christmas and they were absolutely fine [ normally I shut the eglu door ] I got very lucky with the warmish weather so no worries about the water freezing over ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 Hi can you put a coop cup in the house with a 1 litre bottle with a few holes drilled in the neck near the threaded part and a bit of wire like you hold a rabbit bottle doesn't freeze up i also put food in a coop cup works for me will still freeze if really cold. happily I have 2 neighbours that are more than happy to shut hem in at night, tho only one is up early enough to let them out. Not really a tough job for a friend or friendly neihbour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
