Used Omlet outdoor rabbit run Width 2.2m Height 2.05m Length 3.1m vgc.

[penelope]

Hi There

 

My girls are nearly 1 year old. We hatched them ourselves & they are laying an egg each nearly every day.

 

They have always put themselves to bed in their eglu every night,I just shut the door later when they are asleep.

 

All of a sudden they have stopped sleeping in the Eglu & they just sit on the floor of the WIR. They are perfectly happy to lay in there during the day.

 

The only thing that is different is I wormed them last week ( finnished on Friday which was the first night they did not sleep inside).

 

They are a bhrama, Cochin & a cochin battery cross so they are pretty big with very fluffy knickers.

 

The only thing I can think of is that they are too hot?

 

Do you think it will be ok just to let them do what they like or should I carry on stuffing them in the Eglu after they have gone to sleep on the floor.

 

I am tempted just to leave them to sort it out as I am pretty sure they will be too hot in the summer. I guess I just feel happier with the extra security of the door being shut.

 

Help...........what would you do??

[keyhole kate]

It might be worth checking for Red mite chooks are reluctant to go in at night time if there are red mite in the house worth checking at night with a torch as that's when the little blighters come out of the nooks and crannies. It is still a bit chilly at night for them to want to stay out but not impossible they dont read the chicken books on what they should do

[Olly]

I was immediately going to say Redmite - that's a classic symptom. Take a look at the FAQs, there is a description there of redmite and how to check for it.

 

If they insist on staying out, I wouldn't worry too much as long as the run is secure - they will do what they think best!

[Roobaloo]

Mine did that in December. If I put them in, one would stay but the rest would just leave again.

I checked for red mite, sprayed and powdered every crevice just in case...but they still weren't happy to be put in. So now they have a perch and all sleep on that!

 

I gave the elgu to Oscar and his ladies in the WIR...and they're very happy with it!

[penelope]

Hi there

 

Thanks for the advice.

 

I take the eglu out every saturday & take it all apart & scrub all of the parts with poultry shield. Once its all dry i put it back in the run which has been cleaned out & sprinkle diatom powder around.

 

Their eglu has the "nest" bedding changed every day & the tray emptied. I have searched the eglu & found no evidence of mites ever.

 

Only 1 of my girls will go up on to the table which leads to a long perch in the run...the other 2 are far to huge & far to lazy to bother even for food. None of them perch in the normal way,they are just asleep on the floor.

 

It just looks so odd. I am so used to the hens & cocks at the yard all roosting up high that mine just dont look comfy sitting in the middle of the floor of the run.

 

I have left them there tonight as it is mild.

 

Any more advice!!

 

x