stoice Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 I'd popped out to see my girls before I went to bed (To close door to house inside WIR as the weather was ropey) and as I ventured out I was surprised to see my mabel in the run. I think she had just laid a softy as she was standing in yolk but I was so surprised to see her at that time of night. As soon as i came over to her, Gladys wakes up and joins her. They must've both been thinking it's morning time as I usually wake them in the dark at about 6.30. I put my torch inside the house and eventually came back in, where upon i had a thorough look over their house to see if i could see any red mite that might cause such odd behaviour in Mabel. I sprinkled diatom about just in case. What do you think? Was it just Mabel being uncomfortable from her softy or maybe they often venture out at night and i had no idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Hi, was there a light on? Quite often mine get up for a midnight snack too. It's usually if there are lights on in my bathroom, kitchen or neighbours security light... I'm overlooked by houses so if they all have lights on or the moon is out it can be like dawn. I read somewhere that mites can die off in winter? Not sure if that's possible though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Yes it could have been light, mine will often come out even if a light in the house goes on and certainly do when the security light sparks up She could have been feeling uncomfy too Red mite are about in winter, I found some in one of my coops the other day, the cold certainly knocks the numbers back a bit though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted January 22, 2010 Author Share Posted January 22, 2010 No neighbours lights were on and with my curtains closed the only light was from the garage the instant i came out. Odd eh? It must be from her softy, bless her. Will thoroughly clean out the house and run tomorrow anyway so hopefully ruling out the red mite theory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Could well have been the softy. Several months ago I heard whingeing and rattling around in the long after they'd all gone to bed, so went out and opened the pop-hole to see what was wrong. Hope immediately came down the ladder, laid a softy in the yard and went back to bed, not making another peep . The upside was the egg was in a whole membrane, though no shell, so I was able to have it for brekkie the next day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beulah59 Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 One neighbour has some lights in his garden, they're quite bright. Another has a security light that is really powerful. Our existing birds have learned to go to bed anyway (although they sometimes mistakenly get up while it's still dark) but the new girls are really struggling to settle at night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
