What are these l brackets for

[squidsin]

None of my three pekins have laid for a couple of months now - they are wormed, de-mited, deloused, and very well fed so I am assuming this is down to them being a temperamental breed?

 

My other question is - we're going away for 3 days over Xmas. Usually when we're away, we leave the Eglu door open so the chooks can put themselves to bed and get up when they feel like it, but I am a bit worried about leaving it open at nights if it's going to be freezing cold outside. I've read the winter weather advice - it doesn't say anything about this. Is the Eglu going to be warm enough or can I do anything else to insulate it? I currently just line it with paper and put straw in the nesting box.

[Snowy]

It is unlikely that pekins will lay through the winter months. Most hens will take some sort of break from laying at this time of year.

Your girls will be fine in their eglu with the door open while you are away. If you have the eglu run, you could cover the section of run nearest the eglu right down to the ground on both sides. This gives them a protective porch over the entrance and should reduce draughts.

The other thing to take into consideration though is access to unfrozen water. You may be lucky and get some frost free days away, but if it looks likely to freeze, is there someone who would pop round and defrost the water for you?

[squidsin]

I'm going to ask the lady we pay to come round to feed the cat just to keep an eye on the chooks for me and check their water and feeder is topped up.

 

Thanks for your help, that's put my mind at rest.

[madchickenlady]

My pekins stopped laying in September as they went in to moult. They usually start up again in January. I leave the door to my coop open throughout the winter

[squidsin]

One of mine laid brilliantly all year - rare for a pekin I know - then she had an operation in Sept to remove an abcyss from her face (cost me a fortune, didn't work anyway) and hasn't laid since! I was going to let Nature take its course as the vet said he'd done all he could (and I couldn't afford any more treatment for her anyway) but she managed to get better on her own! My hardy chook! So hopefully will pop out some lovely eggs and repay some of the fortune I've spent on her next year!