Andrls Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Hi, I'm new to keeping chickens. Just got an eglu cube with run. Can I leave the eglu house door open at night or must I close it every evening and then open it the next morning? I work unusual hours which will make it difficult for me to open and close the door with the sun rise/set. Can you buy an automatic door opener that works with an eglu? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I never close my run doors, even in the harsh weather, and they have been fine. My Eglus and runs are weighed down with boulders and are on paving slabs so a fox would be highly unlikely to be able to get in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 In a cube (as you've got more hens) they should keep warm themselves. You should try and shelter the entrance, so wind doesnt blow in and make them cold. As long as their run is closed and fox-proof, they should be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 People's views on this vary but I am another who never closes the Eglu door - I think I closed it twice this winter when it was snowing really hard. As long as your run is foxproof the hens will be fine, and with an Omlet run they should be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sari Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I closed the door in the very harsh weather, but I have a very secure (so far ) WIR so don't tend to close the door. I think its a personal decision, and I know that one day a fox may find a way in, and that I'll have to live with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Mine refuse to use the eglu at the mo...have done for 6 weeks or so now. They're in a well sheltered, secure WIR (it used to be a shed and only one third of the Walls were opened and wired) ...they choose where they sleep and seem happy with it!! When they did use it, I left the door open...but only because I knew my run was as fox proof as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Mine refuse to use the eglu at the mo...have done for 6 weeks or so now. They're in a well sheltered, secure WIR (it used to be a shed and only one third of the Walls were opened and wired) ...they choose where they sleep and seem happy with it!! When they did use it, I left the door open...but only because I knew my run was as fox proof as possible. Same here (except my WIR wasn't a shed and it's been months rather than weeks ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I always close my door, I did when they were in the eglu and now I have got them all together in the WIR with the cube I still say goodnight to them and close the door Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripeybunny Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I have always closed the cube door but this week I've left it open so the girls can let themselves out in the morning. I was worried they might get cold but after reading that others do the same I'm now feeling less guilty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I always close my door, I did when they were in the eglu and now I have got them all together in the WIR with the cube I still say goodnight to them and close the door Chrissie I'm with Chrissie on this one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I've recently started leaving the door open and they are always out when I wake up... must get boring waiting for someone to come and let you out! The eglu run is fox proof so I can't see any negatives to leaving the door open. Saying that, I've never seen a fox in our area but I wouldn't at all risk leaving it all open, I've read too many horror stories on this forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I always close my Eglu door at night. But I lost two hens to a fox, when the run door wasn't secured properly and the eglu door wasn't shut. I've always thought that perhaps if the door had been shut I might not have lost my girls, and so close it every night as an extra precaution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 I always shut mine, too - not for the cold (as I think they keep each other warm) but more for security against foxes. Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 I have never in 5 years of keeping hens in Eglus & Cubes,shut the door at night. But we do have a totally fox-proof walk in run,& have never seen a fox near the garden anyhow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Nearly always open in the winter - but sometimes shut in the summer, when they feel the urge to remind the world what a fantastic morning it is at 4.30am... If they are not let out until 7am, they don't wake me up! (But run door is always securely shut, sides are weighted down, and not had any issues with foxes to date... ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjagraham161 Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Have only had the chooks for 3-weeks now, but I have always closed the run and the Cube door every night and then let them out and roam in the morning....However, I can see the benefit of leaving the door open in the Summer evenings (but this could be cancelled out by them awaking at an un-Godly hour!!) but will have to play it by ear . My OH has just mentioned that the girls are now into a routine which is working well - they are laying and seem to be very happy - so I may just keep on closing and opening the Cube door to keep the routine going....its down to personal choice I think... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
