2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[PapaJuliet]

After having been infested by a fox a "while" ago (longer ago than I care to admit) we have finally built a walk in run (6m x4m) and bought 4 new chickens, which arrived on Friday.

 

We built the run around an existing mature bush (buddlea + something else) and used the Eglu as a hen house.

 

We've had them 3 nights so far and the sleeping arrangements were:

 

Day 1 : 1 in Eglu, 1 on top of compost bin, 2 in the bush (a good 3 feet off the ground)

 

I "posted" the 3 stragglers into the Eglu through the door so...

 

Day 2 : 4 in Eglu (hurray... success)

 

Day 3 : 2 in Eglu, 2 in bush. Hmmm

 

last night I posted the 2 stragglers into the Eglu again but the problem is that, when I do this, they don't end up very far into the Eglu and end up sleeping in the doorway.

 

So does it really intrinsicly matter whether they sleep in the Eglu or in the tree? I'd prefer them to get used to the Eglu so that they lay in there and also I can shut them in when it gets colder to protect them from the weather. But is it "safer" (for a given definition of "safer")?

 

Do you think it is because of alliances forming and changing and the 2 lowest in the pecking order are not "allowed" in the Eglu? Or are they just as happy in the tree?

2 came from one breeder, 2 from a different one, although they all arrived on the same day and the 2 from the second breeder may not have been housed together. Also, one of the 2 found in the tree twice is a couple of weeks younger than the others. This is why I wonder whether it is dominance games. There have been no real "fights", just a couple of squawks, mostly between the oldest 3 (the little one keeps out of the way, although she more readily seeks human company and she's not that little size-wise compared to the others) and there seems to be an order appearing.

 

Am I worrying about nothing or should I persist in posting the stragglers into the Eglu?

 

PJ

[jaspersmum]

I really wouldn't worry.

 

5 of our 7 girls roost on outdoor perches about 5 feet up in their WIR - only two of the ex-batts actually bother to put themselves to bed in the Eglu these days. They do look up whistfully at the other girls but I don't think they have the muscle power to get themselves up there now; one ex-batt still manages it.

 

I would say they slept al fresco for a good 10 or 11 months last year, and only begrudgingly 'properly' going to bed when the snow and freezing temperatures arrived. All are happy and healthy despite sleeping out in all weathers!

[sparkysmum]

several of my lot sleep outdoors on perches. When she was a bit younger my araucana slept high in a tree. Used to worry all the time but she was always in the garden the next day. When you think about it, its nature's way of avoiding Mr Fox. Alli x

[PapaJuliet]

Thanks for your replies... I'll stop worrying (none of my previous girls were tree roosters, although we had a different set up)

 

I must say, I actually think it's quite nice to see them in the tree.

 

PJ

[PapaJuliet]

2 of my girls in their tree...

 

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Byt8gz4l7bTRcnlIa3V5Ylc1bTQ

 

Not the greatest picture but they came down before I could try again (and I can't figure how to post a picture properly from my tablet so I hope the link works)

 

 

PJ

[jaspersmum]

Oh how sweet!!

 

I do think that if you give chooks a choice they'll do what feels right for them - even if that is camping out in gales and torrential rain

 

We tried 'putting ours to bed' for a while but the little monkeys used to creep back out once we'd gone indoors. As long as they're securely sectioned off I'd leave them to it if they seem happy enough.

[auntielizzie]

Oh I want a tree in my run now