Part 0800.0005

[jjmack]

Hi,

One of my girls has become a tad vocal over the last few days despite covering the run at night to block out the light. I remember seeing somewhere that some one had made a black out cover for the eglu itself but I have trawled through the noisy chickens posts to find the post but can't seem to find it. I have some black out lining which I have put over the top and that seemed to do the trick this morning but could do with making it a bit more of a permanent feature that the kids can put on quickly and that it won't blow off in the night. If any one can find the pic I would be really grateful.

 

Thanks

Jane

[The Dogmother]

is she just loud in the morning, or during the rest of the day?

 

Covering the run for any lenght of time will inhibit their egg laying. I woudl be tempted to go for the water pistol approach first. A face full of water usually stops them kicking off.

[jjmack]

Hi, Florence is quite loud in the morning (no complaints yet but comment from neighbours that their 24 year old has heard them on a sunday am and wasn't too chuffed). She does toot during the day usually to sound her annoyance that I have fenced them in to keep them off the grass due to kids and have sussed their escape route! Not too bothered about during the day as there is enough other noise around for it not to be a nuisance. Its just the loud bokking in the morning. Mildred, the other one just quietly goes about her business

[The Dogmother]

Are you shutting them in the eglu at night? That ought to muffle most of the noise.

[C&T]

I have found shutting them in keeps the noise level right down till after an accceptable time in the morning (i.e. not 5.30 am.... ). We then let them out about 7, then by the time they have eaten, had a drink, and had a bit of a dig around the run, they have often forgotten to make any early morning noise. Sometimes they have even laid before they are opened up, and a lot of noise is when Fred is laying, and Ginger is telling the world by herself in the run and vice versa, so that avoids that problem too.

 

I have resisted covering the eglu, as we only have this problem in the summer (when tends to be warm) and I dont want to cover up the ventilation holes in the eglu, that could then cause problems for the chooks.

 

Good luck!

[jjmack]

Yes, I am shutting them in the eglu at night, but you can still hear Florence from inside our house with the window shut! I did give them pasta at about 6.30 last night and this morning it was better, who knows why?! Florence does lay before I let her out which is about 7.30, so maybe she is just announcing.

 

I have covered the eglu with black out lining but only top and back as it is attached to a run, so the ventilation holes are completely clear. I have then put a heavy duty tarp over the actual run to reduce the light. When I open the door I then pull the tarp back. I also chucked some grit down on the floor of the run today to give them more to do when they were let out.

 

I am going to try the pasta / rice trick again tonight. To see if it was a coincidence.

[sandyhas3chucks]

It was me!

The ventilation does not get blocked.

I find the green and purple Eglus are dark enough the red and pink are VERY light inside!

[bigmommasally]

Hi jjmack

 

We've got a purple cube and have problems with our girls waking early now the mornings are getting lighter. Last summer we covered them with a M&S picnic rug and held it down with bungee cords and found that worked quite well and kept them quiet until 7am ish. I just need to search the shed and garage to find if for this year.

 

We've also been experimenting with giving them corn later in the evening in the hope that if they stay up later they will sleep later, (bit like when the kids were babies ) but that hasn't really seem to have made much difference.