Single hen

[CannyCat]

As with most of the country, we're experiencing very cold weather right now.

 

I have put two blankets over the eglu, there is a shade on the run to keep the snow out (although I dont think we'll be having more) but the garden gets very little sun (north facing) and the ladies are not their usual clucky selves

 

(Infact, they refused to leave the run today, even for corn - they must really dislike snow!)

 

Is there anything more I can do to keep them warm and well?

[Martin B]

Hot water bottle. If they've had corn then that will also warm them up whilst they digest it!

[chelsea]

I had this quandry when the weather 1st started to get cold. I worried constantly if my girls would be warm

 

I have a king size duvet doubled over on top of the eglu covered by a waterproof camouflage tarpaulin

 

I always shut the eglu door.

 

I think you are doing more than enough so dont worry, some people dont put anything on their eglu and their girls are fine!!

[CannyCat]

Hot water bottle. If they've had corn then that will also warm them up whilst they digest it!

 

Oooo I'll have to see if I have one in the cupboard......

 

edit: no - can I tie some corn in some fabric, and microwave it? Does it work the same as barley? (How long do I zap it for?!)

[Chicken Licken]

It has gone down to -8 here recently and the girls have been just fine in the eglu with the door shut. I give them porrige for breakfast to warm them up and this seems to do the trick - this morning I added some natural yoghurt, and grapes and they pecked the whole lot down. They certainly don't like the snow but are quite happy when it is cold (not so keen on frost as it stops them pecking the grass so well) - and they keep on laying - fantastic. I toyed with the idea of an extra layer but decided it would probably slide off.

[CannyCat]

It has gone down to -8 here recently and the girls have been just fine in the eglu with the door shut. I give them porrige for breakfast to warm them up and this seems to do the trick - this morning I added some natural yoghurt, and grapes and they pecked the whole lot down. They certainly don't like the snow but are quite happy when it is cold (not so keen on frost as it stops them pecking the grass so well) - and they keep on laying - fantastic. I toyed with the idea of an extra layer but decided it would probably slide off.

 

Mine don't mind the frost - they can't peck, but spend their time harassing the cat through the cat flap instead

 

[chelsea]

great photo!!

 

If I was your cat, I WOULDNT be coming out !!

[CannyCat]

great photo!!

 

If I was your cat, I WOULDNT be coming out !!

 

Our cat is such a wuss

 

The first month we had him he stalked the chickens, and they would cluck and flap in terror. Then after a month or so, Matilda decided enough was enough, and darted accross the garden and pecked Fuzz on the paw! He now keeps clear of the chickens, but they do love to bully him through the flap...!

 

We think it's hilarious how our cat is at the bottom of the Pecking Order, even below the chicken with the bare botty

 

I have phoned my OH who is at his mum's, and he's going to borrow a bottle - thanks guys

[pepe]

Am I being bonkers, but wonder if they would like a patio heater

[The Dogmother]

You're being bonkers Mandy

 

They'll be fine. Mine keep warm by numbers - there are 8 of them in the Eglu - they're so nice and warm that it's steamy in there when I open the pop-hole

[Tricky]

Chickens have marvelous things called feathers

Put your hand underneath one even when it's freezing and its amazing how warm they are.

Duvets

[bronze]

I just draped some cardboard over the eglu so that the snow/frost doesn't sit directly on it but thinking about it snow can be quite a good insulator anyway so I don't know why I bothered. I bunged some extra bedding in though so its overflowing from the nestbox. I think they just huddle

[chelsea]

Chickens have marvelous things called feathers

Put your hand underneath one even when it's freezing and its amazing how warm they are.

Duvets

 

my sister was throwing it out....I didnt buy it specially

I've only got 2 chooks in my eglu - so not much to huddle against, trying to persuade hubby to buy more

[Tricky]

I went to B&Q awhile ago because the fox wrecked the winter cover( which I have to say is pretty useless considering the cost ) and I brought a tarpaulin for about 4 quid which when folded has made an excellent cover for the run. This has kept the snow off and and if fox comes back I can always replace the cover very cheaply. I wouldn't worry too much about the cold, but you may want to put a dab of vaseline on the combs if it gets really cold. I too only have 2 girls.One gets in the nest amongst the straw, and the other huddles up. I checked them this morning and they were warm as toast

[Tricky]

You're being bonkers Mandy

 

They'll be fine. Mine keep warm by numbers - there are 8 of them in the Eglu - they're so nice and warm that it's steamy in there when I open the pop-hole

 

Did i read this right.You have 8 chickens in one eglu

I have 2 and wouldn't think any more than 3 would be healthy.Perhaps i am wrong but the eglus aren't exactly designed for 8 birds.Are they

[Egluntyne]

I have 4 hens in each Eglu and so far they've been fine in the cold weather. When I open the pop hole, I can feel the warmth.

[geb0205]

Tricky, it does say in Claret's sig that she has Bantams...

 

My girls just had to make do with the ark, with no extra cover.. they have an enormous amount of feathers, and are always toastily warm when you pick them up (usually when they try to roost in the greenhouse)

[Helly Welly]

I have an old blanket over each of my two eglus, mainly so i can open the doors without dipping my hand in frezzing cold snow. My 3 only arrived on Wednesday so they can't go out but the 3 are quite happy to plod about in the snow all day. The 3 tend to eat the melting sonw off the bars of the run.

[Cinnamon]

I used to have 6 big hens in an Eglu -- no problem at all

Didn't use the Eglu run though,as we have a big pen for them with the Eglu house inside.

I have 5 in there now, & they seem nice & cosy!

[kirbyhouse]

Hi All,

 

I have just kept mine with the door shut at night and I think they're OK. Still eating well.

 

Can you really have 8 in one eglu? I thought it was 4 - I have three.

 

Has anyone found this cold snap affects laying? We have had 3 a day from my lovely girls since they started laying in mid Dec but now its usually 2 with 3 every other couple of days. Sound normal or should invest in a quilt??

 

Hope you're all keeping well. Stay warm.

 

Sal

[Egluntyne]

Hi All,

Can you really have 8 in one eglu? I thought it was 4 - I have three.

 

I think it has less to do with the size of the Eglu and more to do with the area for them to play out in.

 

I have 2 Eglus, each with a converter and extension. I wouldn't be happy to put more hens in this arrangement if they were staying in the run most of the time.

 

If they have masses of room out of the run then I think you could comfortably fit 6 hens into an Eglu with little difficulty as they all cuddle up at night.

 

With Bantams you can fit more in of course.

[The Dogmother]

Sorry to be late in picking this up. I have 8 bantams, all pure breeds and two of them are very small. The run has an extension on it, but they are hardly ever shut in the run all day,a nd when they are, there is mor ethan enough room for them. They squash up at the back of the eglu at night and leave acres of room by the door.

[Happymama]

I put a blanket over the eglu last year, but the dogs ate it, and I've not bothered this year, I just go down to shut the door when I walk the dogs at 10pm, or sooner if there's a heavy frost, only three times this winter so far.

 

I think I could easily fit 4 medium heavies in my Mk 2. I have the convertor, and an unfitted extender, and a massive grassy garden, and will consider it next year when I've moved or got rid of AXH.

[Looney]

I put a blanket over the eglu last year, but the dogs ate it,

 

this comment really made me laugh!

[jane&phil]

I used to be worried about my hens getting cold at night until I was laughed at by a chicken breeder...apparently their hens roost outside on a perch all year round (by choice, they have nesting boxes) in temperatures that have dropped as low as -10, and they're perfectly fine! The only thing you have to look out for is their combs which can sometimes get frostbite, but this is only really a problem with cockerels.

 

I did feel a bit ridiculous, so now I only shut the Eglu door when it gets very cold and we've had no problems at all. Except one morning when I'd shut the door and it froze shut and they couldn't let themselves out (they normally kick it open when they get up) - it was a while before I noticed, there was an almighty squawking coming from the Eglu!

 

Jane