EileenH Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Advice desperately needed! I let my chickens out of the run to free range as usual today and they wouldn`t go back at roosting time! They usually run in enthusiastically when I put their supper dish into the run but today they wouldn`t go in at all. I tried everything, including scattering their favourite mealworms inside but they just took the ones they could reach from the door. In the end I left them and watched from the window. They didn`t go in until it was almost full dark. They ran neurotically up and down looking worried and then in the end tentatively scuttled in and went to roost. I had a good look inside the eglu but couldn`t see anything that could have spooked them. I`d be grateful for advice. I`ve never had this problem before and I`ve had them for nearly three years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 if they are avoiding the Eglu the first thing I'd suggest is check for mites Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EileenH Posted January 3, 2011 Author Share Posted January 3, 2011 Thanks for that - I`ll have another check as soon as it`s light - but they were avoiding the run, not just the eglu. It seemed as though as soon as they dare go into the run they went into the eglu all right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 A rat in the run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EileenH Posted January 3, 2011 Author Share Posted January 3, 2011 Thanks Patricia, but I don`t think it`s a rat as our dog would go berserk and he was just ambling around the run ignoring the chickens as usual. I had a really good look when it got light and took the eglu apart to examine it. I couldn`t see any sign of mites but the roosting bars were covered in muddy footprints as usual. The ends of the bars were quite clean. However, the whole eglu got a real spring clean - you could eat your dinner in there! - and a good spray of diatom all over. I usually have to close the eglu door to clean as they keep wandering in to have a nosey but they stayed in the run this time, even though the eglu cover was off and they could have walked out into the garden! So summat was up all right! I put the eglu together again and they peered through the door to have a look but they`re still in the run - however, they wouldn`t usually be in the eglu at this time in the morning anyway. So what now? I`ll keep a close eye on things of course, but will they avoid the eglu even if it`s squeaky clean? As this was the first time they`d refused to go to bed does this mean it was an early attack? D`yer think I`ve foiled it? Oh dear - what do I do now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
