Henergy Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Its my first winter with chickens & I have to admit I'm feeling a bit guilty tonight about them being out in the cold ! I know the cube is meant to be insulated but the ventilation holes worry me. The 4 of them love to cuddle up together in the nest box & up till now I usually turf them out last thing so that they don't poop in the nest. But in order to keep warm, should I leave them in the nest box or will they be just as warm on the roosting bars ? I guess if there are lots of them then they'd be snug there but its a large area for 4 ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 They'll be fine on the roosting bars. But then you may wish to ignore my advice as my girls have started sleeping in the nest box in the last couple of weeks and I haven't had the heart to turf them out either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 They will be fine. Remember, chickens in the wild roost in trees - a double-insulated Eglu or Cube is sheer luxury! they're also (when not moulting! ) wearing the equivalent of a winter tog duvet. I never close the door on my Eglu, and they survived last winter. Being too hot would be much worse for them, the ventilation is really important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 when you open the eglu in the morning and the steam comes out, you won't worry about them being cold any more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I too was feeling very sorry for my girls on Sunday, Hailstorms, wind and rain, they have shelter in the run but not in their "paddock" (Omlet netted area). There was me, freezing, moving perches food and water containers under the shelter, and there was the girls playing out in the paddock without a care in the world Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 My girls all sleep al fresco in the WIR even thought they have a lovely cosy eglu . They did this even through the 4 feet of snow we had last year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Know what you mean ANH (!) I don't think my leghorn has slept in her house yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banus Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 A great question Henergy as there must be quite a few of us just about to go into our first winter. I too were concerned when I heard the hail beating against the bedroom window in the early hours of this morning and was going to ask if the was a chicken house heater on the market. I wont be asking that now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calamity Jane Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 My girls all sleep al fresco in the WIR even thought they have a lovely cosy eglu . They did this even through the 4 feet of snow we had last year! WOW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debsygooch Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Not getting home until the girls have gone to bed and having to put my hand in the nest box to collect any eggies I can assure you that they build up lots of heat in the eglu/cube to the point that they are even a little bit sweaty in there Hope this puts your mind at ease, it certainly did mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
