Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[neeleyt]

Morning all

 

new cube deliverd on saturday which I love! one problem:

 

1 - night one left door open and had noisy chickens saying hello to the neighbourhood at dawn

 

2 - night two left door closed and they were even more noisy wanting to be let out

 

Our previous coop was wooden with a run which had an automatic door opener which meant we didn't have to get up early every morning

 

Really grateful for any suggestions as would ideally just love to keep the door open and have quiet contented ladies

 

shall i just leave treats or something out for them to keep them busy when they wake up in the morning?

 

sorry for ramble but lack of sleep last two nights and neighbours who have already moaned about the noise - all rather stressful

 

[Chucky1]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

I'm sure others will reply with advice about noise if they have come across that problem. There are a couple (at least) of threads on here about opening or closing the door. Its a long running debate.

 

Just on the leaving treats/food out at night, you may attract vermin

[Patricia W]

Close the door - they'll get used to it. Also, if you vary the time you open it, they won't get into a habit of clamouring at a certain time.

 

Extending the night by covering the cube also can help if noise is a problem.

 

Tricia

[chelsea]

Noisy chickens here. We always close the door.

 

You need to show noisy chickens who is the boss! Try not to give in and pamper their demands. We use a black plastic backed picnic rug over the top of the cube to make it appear darker inside (not covering the front ventilation holes) which comes in really handy in the Summer when the mornings are lighter. If I left my door open, my lot would be out at 5am and bored by 6am and shouting to come out their WIR.

[Chucky Mama]

I use to leave mine open so that they could let themselves out for breakfast. All that happened is that they got up early, had breakfast and then yelled to be let out I stopped rushing out to let them out and now keep the door closed - much quieter.

[docsquid]

Ours have been jolly noisy the last couple of mornings, particularly this morning for some reason they were bokking loudly at about 10 to 7. However they did settle down and I didn't let them out of the cube until the normal time of 10 past 7.

 

I think some of the noise is when they are laying eggs at that time, and they want to announce.

 

I do close the door, as if you let them just wander out they are still noisy, and the cube does contain it a bit. Mostly they aren't noisy.

 

Even when in full flow, they are much less noisy than the neighbours' teenage son's little moped firing up at about 6.30 every morning!

[BarbaraJ]

My door is left open, they don't seem to make much noise, well i don't hear any and no more than motorbikes, kids, dogs etc. They never get let out into the garden until after 12-1 ish so that may help! if they are noisy shut them in and keep them there until you want them up, mine would happily stay in their wooden coop until 9 on the odd weekend and 3 when i thought hubby had let them out !!! hence leaving the door open though that was long time ago!!

[coco]

Mine are shut in their wooden house and stay quiet until they hear me in the morning. I think it must be dark in the. I also let them out a bit later on a Sunday as I don't want to wake the neighbours too early.

[neeleyt]

Thank you so much ladies

 

I took your advice and placed a picnic blanket over the cube and didn't hear an ickle cluck from them all night and morning! they were most surprised when I took it off and let them out into the run at 7!

 

I may as you say, vary the times that I let them out, so they don't get too used to a set time.

 

I do hope I can get to the stage of leaving the door open some nights, so it'll be ok when or if we go away at weekends.

 

Thank you all so much - i think i must feel like a new mum when a baby sleeps all night for the first time