shemybelle Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Hi When should chickens go to sleep at this time of year? It's still light outside, and my hens are still in the run outside the coop. I'm not sure if it's because they're not ready for bed, or if it's because they're not used to things and need some encouragement. I got them yesterday. Last night one of the kids crawled into the run and helped them in around 9pm. The kids are in bed tonight and I don't think I'd fit in the run even if I wanted to! Thanks in advance. Lx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Mine depend on the weather, when we had that lovely weather it was gone 9 pm but today they were all snuggled up by 8 pm. In the winter it was a lot earlier, by 5 when it was dark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Mine have only just gone now, which is good as I get up at 4 in the morning and am waiting to go to bed. (Bit sad when you go to bed before your chickens ) If yours haven't gone yet try encouraging them by shining a light in the coop. It should attract them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 shemybelle, you are in the same part of the world as me and as it stays light longer you may find your girls will not go to bed until after 10. That is what mine are doing at the moment. As mentioned it really depends when it starts to get dark. The girls will settle themselves then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shemybelle Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 Thank you for the replies They seem to want to go to bed now. Two of them are in the coop, and the other one seems to be slowing down. I'll give it another ten mins then try the light trick. I want to go to bed too! Lx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlisonH Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I've shut my run but left the Eglu door open tonight - it's warm enough and it saves me getting up early! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Just to update you. My Silkies went to bed about 10 and my hybrids went about 10 mins later. I have just closed the door and run Hope your girls have settled now too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 My big girls have just gone to bed, 10.10pm. They are pretty regular with dawn and dusk, do go earlier though when the weather is lousy and it gets dark with the storm clouds. Bluebell is always first, Marigold the last, I think she would rather sleep in the run, my nerves won't take it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shemybelle Posted June 11, 2012 Author Share Posted June 11, 2012 Thanks for the replies. Two were in the coop and one outside, but then they swapped and I had one in and two out. It kept changing like that for about 15 mins. I think the two were scared to be too close to the Rhode Rock (Rocky Balboa), who'd been pecking at them all day. The Bluebell (Super Ally) seemed to be getting anxious. She was running back and forth, and trying to perch on the glug. So, I fashioned some knee protectors out of carrier bags, put on some wellies and rubber gloves, and attempted to get in the run. There was NO way it was happening. I'm only 5' 2" but I couldn't fit! Luckily my eldest daughter was dropped off by her dad at this point. She's a few inches shorter than me, so after laughing hysterically at me for a few minutes, she got in and gave them a nudge. We heard a little squabble and then they went quiet. They seem fine this morning. I've had these hens for 2 day and already I've found myself lying on grass staring at one of their bums, and trying to squeeze into a poo covered run wearing arrive bags! Lx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Henkeeping is all glamour, glamour, glamour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the3lees Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I just got my chickens on Saturday as well. They went to bed all by themselves just after 8pm I think, probably due to the miserable weather. Same again last night. Likewise, I didn't close the eglu door as they are in an enclosed run. Very glad we built a full size run we can stand up in as I wouldn't fancy scrabbling about so close to all that poo! We've been planning our chikcen project for 2 years now so very excited they are finally here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kentuckyfried Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 My 3 go to bed any time between 7:30 and 9:30- I 'nudged' them in for the first few nights, but now they see me coming and do it themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowjedi Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Ours put themselves to bed between about 8.30 when it's raining and ten if it's been a nice day. They (and we) had a bit of fright last night though when they tried to get in the eglu about 9ish and found it already occupied by the cat! We have been opening the door any time between 5am and 7am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Figgins and Yellowjedi you do get up early for your girls. I'm afraid I'm lazy and don't wake them til 8am, sometimes though I do wake them at 7 ish if the sun has woke me up . My girls tend to go to bed about 8.45 btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shemybelle Posted June 11, 2012 Author Share Posted June 11, 2012 Thanks for all the replies, it's all useful info. I've been letting them out at 7 am. I have a baby who doesn't wake until 8.30 am, so I'm up before him to let the hens out and that seems early enough to me! So far the hens are harder work than the baby :-/ Lx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickchick2012 Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I think you're really lucky if your chooks put themselves to bed - I've had mine for two and a half weeks and I'm still lifting them into their Eglu at night. Clara once went in by herself but it was only to try and bags the nesting box (I normally put a flower pot into it to stop them sleeping in it), so the next night I put the flower pot in earlier and she went back to not bothering to put herself to bed. Oh well - never a dull moment with chickens eh? (two lots of de-lousing has even made them go on strike in the egg laying department). Stressy creatures!!! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shemybelle Posted June 11, 2012 Author Share Posted June 11, 2012 Hi chickchick2012 You said you de-loused them twice. I did mine as a precaution when I got them home. Should I do them again soon or are you doing yours because you know they have lice? Lx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowjedi Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 The other cat - it's a hard life guarding the run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowjedi Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Ours have put themselves to bed from day one so we must be lucky. Re. early start - I'm normally up by 5 for work so I open the door for them as it's light. They both come charging out straight away. Once the mornings get darker I imagine OH will let them out when he gets up a couple of hours later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowjedi Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 A Columbine and a Blue Haze - I'm told that's the same as a Bluebell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shemybelle Posted June 11, 2012 Author Share Posted June 11, 2012 My girls put themselves to bed tonight! They went in the Eglu at around 10.20 pm. Lx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Good news I was thinking about you this evening as I was closing my girls run up at 10.15. It won't be long until it's the longest day (21st) then they will gradually start going to bed earlier as the days shorten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickchick2012 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Hi Shemybelle - I only did it twice with a week apart because the vet found lice on one of the chickens, a few days after I got them and suggested that's what I should do. Normally though I think it's every 6 weeks. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shemybelle Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 Thanks for the reply. I don't want to do mine again unless I have to as I don't want to stress them any more. Today my neighbour has decided to cut down his conifers with a chainsaw. My poor girls look terrified! Lx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowjedi Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 Figgins and Yellowjedi you do get up early for your girls.I'm afraid I'm lazy and don't wake them til 8am, sometimes though I do wake them at 7 ish if the sun has woke me up . My girls tend to go to bed about 8.45 btw. I didn't open their door until 8.45 this morning as I had a lie-in. Boy did they give me a mouthful. We have created monsters! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
