maryeadrian Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Our eglu is attached to a WIR and my 3 girls have been sleeping there for about a year. The last 2 nights, however, they're sleeping outdoors on a roost in the WIR. Anyone else have there girls do that? I'm sure it's fine. Just wondering.... Oh, and I checked the eglu. I cleaned it 2 days ago...it's still clean! And there doesn't appear to be anything different in there. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennydavies Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 It's funny you should say that....Blanche has taken to sleeping on the perch in the WIR for the past three nights, our other two girls go to bed in the hen-house ????? mind you "Blanche" has taken to answering the local coqs early in the morning, but with a very croaky voice ?? we are wondering if Blanche is a bloke ? I think if the weather is warm and you have no fear with foxes etc. it's ok, I am sure someone with lots of Chicken know-how will be along shortly and let you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 As long as you are confident that your run is secure from foxes at night, then they will be OK. I have a cube and nine chickens. 8 of them sleep in the run on the high branch perches. One girl has the cube to herself. Some of them even did it throughout the winter. Mine is a large, secure walk in run. They roost in the corner with their backs to the fence and away from the sides so I think they are very secure at night. If you check where yours are rossting - could a fox get a paw through and take a swipe at one of yours while they were sleeping? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Just check and then check again that there are no red mite in the house as that can make them reluctant to sleep in there. They may also be satisfying their need to roost as high as possible if the perches in the run are higher than their sleeping quarters. If you don't want them sleeping in the run, then make sure the perches are lower (or remove them) to discourage them. I don't blame them for wanting to sleep outside at the moment - it's beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 My five have been sleeping al fresco for a couple of months now (Molly occasionally sleeps by herself in the eglu). They do indeed perch high up, as Jools says. Makes for a very clean eglu so I'm happy . Also means you don't have to get up early to let them out . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildeWoman Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Think that's the best part of these long days - less to clean up in housing! Was gone 10 o'clock last night before my ducks toddled off to bed and the chucks weren't too bothered about the cube last night either. Odd though, my Silkies always put theirselves away early - maybe something about the breed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryeadrian Posted May 22, 2010 Author Share Posted May 22, 2010 Thanks, everyone! No foxes here. Golden Gate Park has some, but where I live it's too dense. Haven't seen a racoon in over 20 years. Did see a rodent, but I hear they just want the food. Plus I have dog who doesn't care for those rodents. The back and side of the run are solid wood. The eglu's attached to one side with 1/2 inch hardware cloth. The the front has the hardware cloth, too. It's built on cement slabs with bricks around the edge. The perch is maybe an inch higher than the eglu. I'd just cleaned the eglu and the fresh paper and DE is still in there so nice and clean. I checked for mites. So far I haven't seen any, but that doesn't mean I couldn't have missed them. I'll check again. The nights reach about 47 degrees. Yeah, I don't blame them for wanting to sleep outside! I"ll check the eglu again, but I think this just may be what they want to do right now. Great to hear others have girls doing this, too!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildeWoman Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Yup - just have to train my husband to sleep outside now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryeadrian Posted May 22, 2010 Author Share Posted May 22, 2010 You and me both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 I suppose if you 100% sure it has no foxes, they will be fine, and warm! make sure they dont cook! Haha I visited california, its an amazing place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryeadrian Posted May 23, 2010 Author Share Posted May 23, 2010 Yeah...too warm! And it's been really windy the past two days, too! Where in California did you visit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 I wasnt expecting to get an answer as its 03:40am! Well i went with my family to watch my brother play inline hockey, we went all over america, Rhino to start with, then to San francisco. It was a very beautiful setting, i can only remeber a bit.. Including me nearlly drowning someone in the swimming pool.. I was only about 9.. (Im 13, by the way). Do your girls like the heat ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryeadrian Posted May 23, 2010 Author Share Posted May 23, 2010 No, my girls don't particularly like the heat. It may be 3:30 am over there...why are you awake??? But it's only 8:00 pm here. My favorite niece is 13. Great age! Even better that you're 13 and like chickens!!! You rule! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 I dont sleep well, at all My chickens love the heat, i got them when it was once snowing.. they ate the snow! I recently lost my favorite girl, my 20 pound turkey hen. We saved her from being dinner, the fox shocked her and she died.. you may have read about her before? she was a lovely girl. Im thinking about getting ex battery hens, 3 or 4. so im reading up on them before i get some. How many girls do you own? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 *going to sleep now. nice talking to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
