Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[PhilipCaldwell]

Went out to the eglu this morning to let Edith into the run and it is so cold today that even the dish of water I have been keeping in the eglu is frozen solid!Poor Edith must have been freezing!what extra protection can i give her from the elements as even with the rglu door closed it is still too cold, perhaps i should start knitting chicken jumpers

 

Brrrrrr, poor cold chook

[Cinnamon]

They are tougher than they look & will snuggle up together & fluff up their feathers to keep warm.

You could throw an old duvet over the Eglu if you are really worried,but many,mine included,have the Eglu or Cube door open all year round with no ill effects

[PhilipCaldwell]

unfortunately, Edith lost her buddy brenda last week, she will be getting some company this weekend wheni get more chooks.they must be pretty hardy then chickens, its so cold!

 

Is it ok to leave the door open all night then?I have been shutting mine at night since about November, will start leaving it open when it gets a bit milder

[Cinnamon]

Leaving the door open is a personal thing,& many don't do it,but mine are in a secure run so I know that they are 100% safe from predators,so I am confident to leave it open.

 

I didn't realise you had a lone hen,who will feel the cold more than one in a flock,so maybe some old towels,a duvet or blanket over the Eglu to keep the chill off will help?

[chelsea]

Why not get a hot water bottle and cover it in a carrier bag and pop in the poo tray?

 

We've been doing that for our girls in extreme cold conditions and we had some ex-batts staying in our eglu over Christmas and they even moved from sleeping in the nestbox to above the poo tray as soon as we put the hot water bottles in!

[PhilipCaldwell]

Hot water bottle, I like that, will try it later or perhaps i will microwave a lavender bag for her, i know the missus has one somewhere

 

[Egluntyne]

How about a **Snugglesafe** ?

[sandyhas3chucks]

How about a **Snugglesafe** ?

they are brill, stay hot longer, after 3 hours gradulally lose the heat, so no sudden brrr factor, giving off heat for approx 10 hours

[chelsea]

Yep, snugglesafes are fab - the big girls have 2 in their cube tonight .

 

Handy for rabbits and convalescing pets too.

[docsquid]

Where do you put the Snugglesafe - do you put it in the poo trays in a plastic bag, or in the nest box?

[chelsea]

When we had the eglu we put it in the poo trays. Now we have the cube we put it directly onto the roosting bars (it comes in a fleecy protective cover), Ella (my old girl) likes to sit/lie directly on it.

[sandyhas3chucks]

It is a solid plastic but does have a fleece cover, a naked snugglesafe in the pooh tray would be fine if yours roost

Have you got easybed or auboise in the tray? if you use notthing you could put several laters of newspaper on the bottom 1st (excellent insulation)

I have my rear vent covered in this weather

[sandyhas3chucks]

When we had the eglu we put it in the poo trays. Now we have the cube we put it directly onto the roosting bars (it comes in a fleecy protective cover), Ella (my old girl) likes to sit/lie directly on it.

mine snuggle so no roosting bars at all!

Last night one of mine was sat on it(inside the bedding) like a huge tea cosy

I was a bit worried there would be roast chook this morning

[PhilipCaldwell]

WOW, they look great those snugglesafe gagets!!!I want one for myself!!!

[Egluntyne]

The fleece cover and chicken poo don't go well together.

 

When I've used the Snugglesafe, I've put it under the roosting bars.