jackian Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 I was reading a thread on here yesterday where people in the know were saying that they always leave there coop door open at night... I felt guilty as I have mostly shut mine at night and thought about those poor girls shut in and not being allowed out till 7 am so as not to wake the neighbours.. The reason for this was also to get them into training for when we go away at Christmas and our chicken minder won't always be there first thing .Last night I left it open and they were out at 6 when it was still fairly dark and they were screaming their heads off ..was it the excitement? They always go straight for their food in the mornings first thing and as I always bring their food in at night it was not there I quickly rushed out in pyjammas and slippers , took their food out ,stepped in some poo ,straight onto my new carpet now all pooed When I do let them out normally as 2 of them sleep in the nesting box I scoop out the poo before egg laying So...by the time i had remembered this bit Florry had dived in the nesting box and now by the time i get home from work I am going to have pooy fluffy knickers So you Experts with world wide experience ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 it's a personal choice thing, I leave mine shut in, because they do make a right racket if the food isn't out (I found this out when my OH forgot to close the door one night), and I think 6:30 when I'm up and about is a reasonable time for them to come out. Their breakfast time should be on your terms, not theirs, otherwise they'll have you round their little fingers! It's a good idea to get them used to the idea of not making noise early in the morning. Of course, if they weren't little terrors, then you would be able to leave the door open all the time, but not all hens are well behaved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Hilarious!! It's the sort of thing that would happen to me! We don't shut ours up, but do leave their food out, so they've got it as soon as it is wanted. If I were you I would go back to shutting them up - if nothing else it will save your carpets!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanTheDiver Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 I used to shut them in the Cube at night when I first got them 2yrs ago, but for the last 18 months I have only shut the cube door at night when it gets to -10 or less; but like C&T I always leave their food out. If I do shut mine in then that is when they make a noise but they are usually quiet otherwise apart from a little low complaining to be let out into the FR run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueandwhite Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 I shut mine in once they go in (around 7pm now ) and always check they are both in there. Luckily, as one night Phoebe had decided to fly over into the 'people only' bit (extra fortification now added!) but didn't have the run as a launch pad and couldn't get back. It was dark and being grey she blended in well, thankfully when we called her name she made a noise and we were able to locate her under a bush. Phew! I let them out between 6.30am-7am depending on when I get up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
