Lynn Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 Chickens haven't arrived yet, but I'm already fretting about the dark mornings and evenings. My husband and I work in London, but live in Canterbury, so in the winter leaving the house at 5am and not returning until 7.30pm ish, I'm wondering how I'm going to manage the chickens with letting them out/getting them back in. Is it okay for me just to open the eglu door in the morning, even though they are probably still asleep and close it again in the evening after they have probably long gone to bed? (They will be in the run during the week, but coming out into the garden when we're at home on a Friday afternoon and the weekend). What do I do about collecting their eggs? Can I open the egg hatch when I get home, even though they'll be in bed to collect the eggs? Maybe I should have thought about all of this before getting the eglu and the chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 Is it okay for me just to open the eglu door in the morning, even though they are probably still asleep and close it again in the evening after they have probably long gone to bed? Answer: Yes! What do I do about collecting their eggs? Can I open the egg hatch when I get home, even though they'll be in bed to collect the eggs? Answer: Yes! You'll soon get the hang of it Lynn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 Yep that about sums it up YES BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 That all sounds fine Lynn! Chickens are easy and I'm sure we all spoil them rotten! Open and close the door at a time which suits you - or not at all if you prefer. Many doors are left open all night in the summer - and a few all year round! As for the eggs, you should be able to get them out in the evening with the help of a torch. If a chicken has decided to sleep in the nesting-box, you'll be able to reach underneath her to get the eggs. Don't worry - you'll love them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 I leave my door ajar almost every night now, I haven't had a fox problem so feel happy to do it, also use foxwatch. I still get up pretty early but it means they can rise as they want to, hopefully quietly BBx ENJOY! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted April 3, 2007 Author Share Posted April 3, 2007 I'm really looking forward to them arriving - it's very exciting - This forum has been extremely useful - it's really putting my mind at rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 I'm in a similar position, Lynn - my chickens arrived in February, and I did just that. In fact, I've given up closing the Eglu door at night, partly because whatever hour it is, they seem to get up, and also because of the shameful Eglu lock-in incident (I forgot to open it and left them locked in all day) They will be fine, mine weren't laying at that point so I had no eggs to collect, but you will probably get a bit of cross clucking when you open the eggport, nothing worse. Enjoy - they are great fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted April 3, 2007 Author Share Posted April 3, 2007 Oh dear, I think there will probably be a day when I do that too - especially if we've slept in - in our house every second counts before the alarm goes off at 4.30am! Are the chickens very vocal? Do you think when we're not there during the day and our cats (we have six ) are annoying them, that it will annoy our neighbours greatly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 Mine got let out late a couple of mornings, so now I leave the door open all night, especially as the weather's a bit milder now. As for being noisy, I think that every chicken seems to be different, some are very vocal, some not so. Bella can be quite noisy, but it's not all the time and the noise doesn't seem to carry so far. Certainly not as bad as the dog three doors away - it's a pyrenean mountain dog thing that barks all the time it is out. It's voice is so deep, it rumbles round the neighbourhood - really grating. I think the chickens are a welcome change from that noise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 in our house every second counts before the alarm goes off at 4.30am! Please tell me you are joking!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted April 3, 2007 Author Share Posted April 3, 2007 I wish I was This morning we didn't get up until 5.15am - mad panic around the house, I can tell you - still, made it to work on time by the skin of my teeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 You got up for work at 5.15 and made it by the skin of your teeth elsewhere you indicated that you don't anticipate being home till 7.30ish. Has your boss not heard of the European Working Time Directive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted April 3, 2007 Author Share Posted April 3, 2007 Alas, it takes nearly two hours to travel to work - we have the dreaded Blackwall Tunnel to negotiate each day So a lovely four hour round trip each day Hoping husband might take pity on me and let me be a housewife but he's not too keen on the idea May be if I continue to add to the animals and livestock, he might see differently - that's my cunning plan !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 Blimey......... Move to Sheffield...I'm sure the journey would be shorter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 Phew I agree Eglutine. That must be really hard Lynn Definitely keep going with the plan on more livestock, make jam and bake cakes, grow your own veg - you can then become self sufficient so there will be no need to work ...hubby will surely come around to the idea then. Your chickens will be fine with the eglu door open, we go away in our caravan for 2 nights at a time and the girls are fine in the run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted May 8, 2007 Author Share Posted May 8, 2007 I think my cunning plan is working OH has agreed to me working four days a week, which means that I can have three consecutive days at home, looking after the cats, the chickens and making chutneys, jams and bread Perhaps self-sufficiency is only around the corner - here's hoping...I think it was because we sat and watched 10 episodes of Return to River Cottage yesterday that's swayed the OH !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 .I think it was because we sat and watched 10 episodes of Return to River Cottage yesterday that's swayed the OH !!! I'm glad i'm not the only one that does that! I have all his shows on dvd and love curling up on the sofa on a rainy day and watching them all! Hope the plan works! I'm thinking along the same lines as you. Will go out and get some pigs when he is a work one day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Hope the plan works! I'm thinking along the same lines as you. Will go out and get some pigs when he is a work one day! I dare you to do it next week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 They could always be a birthday pressie from me to me! Hmmm, let me find his roster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Go on, double dare you!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 .I think it was because we sat and watched 10 episodes of Return to River Cottage yesterday that's swayed the OH !!! I'm glad i'm not the only one that does that! I have all his shows on dvd and love curling up on the sofa on a rainy day and watching them all! Hope the plan works! I'm thinking along the same lines as you. Will go out and get some pigs when he is a work one day! I did that too....I never tire of watching the re-runs. I even sky plussed the chicken ones where he made the chickenopolis towers to show hubby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I need to go on play.com and order the first series again, as i've watched the dvd so many times it has worn out a bit and keeps 'sticking'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted May 8, 2007 Author Share Posted May 8, 2007 The self-sufficiency bit is great, if it's just vegetables and fruit, I'm not sure how I could cope with sending the livestock to be (you know what) I'm not vegetarian, but my OH knows that it is a very close run thing to me being one...I'm trying to reconcile owning chickens, but still eating the ones I get from the farm. I mean, we have a rabbit - I wouldn't eat rabbit when I go out. It's a dilema Am I being silly? Good old Hugh - he's an inspiration !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 your'e definitely not silly! Im a vegetarian and I couldnt keep animals for meat (I know hubby would if he were given the chance - he only has to look at a cow and he sees sizzling steak ) I love the making jams, doing the vegetable shows bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 I'm trying to reconcile owning chickens, but still eating the ones I get from the farm. I saw this somewhere else on the forum, and adopted it as my mantra - paraphrased, it goes something like this: 'Chicken is what we eat with roast potatoes - HENS are those warm feathery things that run around in the garden'. I will only eat organic, free-range meat now - which means I only eat meat once or twice a week. It's all part of the natural cycle - if you hatched your own chickens' eggs, what would you do with the cockerels? I'm not knocking vegetarians, I was veggie for 8 years - but I now think that meat is part of our diet, we just shouldn't eat it as often (and buy it as cheaply) as many people do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
