Part 0800.0005

[Dizzy-Deb]

Just been out to close the door on the Cube and goodness me the chill in the air... brrr!!

 

Does anyone cover their cube when it starts to get truly wintery ? if you do what do you drape over it ? xx

[Dolly]

When it gets really cold ie. hard frost/snow, we drape an old sleeping bag over the eglu, not the front though as you need to keep the ventilation holes clear. My DH did this last year as he was worried about them getting too cold, having said that I've heard other more experienced omleteers than me say the hens don't really need it - I guess we just worry too much!

[chickenlicken72]

I thought the same thing tonight - I could not see the usual faces in the doorway... As I am currently introducing hens and they are only on night 4 of sleepovers, I did wonder where all 8 had gone. Five including the two new big orpingtons were in the nest box and the other three were close to the entrance to the nest box - plotting how they could fit in there tomorrow. There is nothing like a cold snap to help bonding...that is until it gets light and they realise they are cuddling up to their daytime mortal enemy!

 

I don't do too much when it is cold - apart from shutting the door. However, during the really cold spell in Jan/Feb, I did heat up a couple of snugglesafes and add those to the house.. and I also used a heatlamp to help keep off the chill when it was really snowy. I think they would have been fine without these - and was just me worrying over nothing.

[migsy]

There is nothing like a cold snap to help bonding...that is until it gets light and they realise they are cuddling up to their daytime mortal enemy!

 

 

I have closed the door on the eglu for the first time tonight. There are 6 in there (plus an empty ) so they should be warm enough. Bless!

[MadWelly71]

'Evening All,

 

Same here; you can almost smell Winter coming *sigh*

 

And I thought I am the only one worrying about my little chucks. Last year, when I picked up my 4 ex-Batts back in late September, they were in a bad state and despite loads of protein & TLC were still pretty feather bare in December/ January, so not really equipped the way nature had intended.

I actually have the big Granary Style Coop from New Timber Products, which is very sturdy but despite loads of straw, wood shavings and a closed coop door, the temperatures would still drop below freezing inside the coop so I got them one of those heat lamps with a timer.

Just be aware: you should get the NULL emitter porcelain lightbulbs and NOT the Infrared ones , as they can actually see the light and it will keep them awake.

I only figured that one out after they seemed to have a non-stop party every night and were all in high spirits chatting away way past midnight and then totally knackered the next day.

 

I just picked up another lot of ex-batt ladies a few weeks ago, all threadbare again so I am sure the heater will be put to good use again until my girls got at least some feathers.

 

My 2 Black Rock chicks on the other hand have the most beautiful dense plumage already and are apparently very weather hardy, although I've only had them for a few months now so I am curious how they fare compared to the ex-batts.

 

As for us humans, time to stock up the biscuit tin, a few good movies and a big snuggle blanket for the couch

[coco]

I just put loads of straw in the house when it was really cold last year, so far this year they have just got a thicker layer of Auboise in the house. EX batt Lily spent last years cold weather moulting and was nearly bald for most of the winter. As the sun appeared so did Lilys new feathers.

[scarlettohara]

My ex-batts have loads of straw and the door closed but I have bought a snugglesafe for really cold nights

[Redwing]

I dont cover my coops but then I dont shut the popholes either

 

Some of my coops dont even have popholes!

[beach chick]

I'm with Redwing on this one. if you stick your hand in when they are all cuddled up together its better than a 15 tog duvet in there!

[Angie]

It is going to be Cold tonight down to 3 deg c

My cube has an off cut of carpet over it with a clear tarp on top of cube and run.

The top and bottom vents on the back and front are clear for ventilation, and the

cube has a sensor inside that tells me how cold it is out there. The girls are spoilt

but i got them as small 7/ 8wk chicks and they are 16/17wks now and much bigger.

They are bantams and i only have three of them, at the moment. I admit i worry

about them being cold at night , and later when the really bad weather comes .

[beach chick]

well with just 3 of them in the cube, and being young banties I think you are probably wise Angie - I have 10 in mine, so they create their own microclimate!