farrowy Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 My 2 girlies and my eglu are arriving in 19 days - I'm nervous but excited - can't wait! Getting lots of info from this forum to help me when they arrive. It's another rainy day here in worcestershire - and just wondering about what to do with the run in bad weather. When it rains should I put a cover over the whole run? and what about if it rains during the day while me and my hubby are both away at work and there's no one there to go out and put a cover on? Also another quick question (actually woke up this morning thinking about this!!!) When I'm at work the two chickens will be confined to the run that comes with the . Is this OK? Is this what other people do when they are away all day? When I get home after work and at weekends/on days off I plan to let them out onto a fenced off area in the garden. Just wondering how other people cope balancing chicken time with work time? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Hi Farrowy Most people use something like a plastic shower curtain and bungees to cover the run - when I had my eglu run it was on all winter! Keeps the girls nice and dry. Your girls will be fine in the run all day while you're at work - there's plenty of room for them in there (some people never let them out). I'm sure they - and you - will enjoy a bit of free range time when you get home . Mine get to come out as soon as I get home from work then get put back in the run about half an hour before "bedtime". Of course in the winter free range time can be a bit short - sometimes not at all when they're in bed by 4pm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 I got this tip from others on the forum - get a 99p clear Ikea shower curtain, it's just big enough to cover the run. I keep mine on with bulldog clips, but other people have used bungees. The Omlet cover will give them some protection, and I must say that sometimes mine deliberately stand in the rain - they don't seem to mind being a bit bedraggled! However the run got very muddy and soggy, and I am much happier since I got the shower curtain over it, it stays a lot cleaner. Like Laura, I let mine out for a bit when I get in from work - I can't leave them unsupervised for a minute because of foxes, so I find things to do in the garden. They might just get 20 mins while I water the greenhouse and fill up their feeders, longer if I have time. In the winter they won't get this, because they'll be in bed before I get in They'll be fine, though, don't forget that Omlet designed the run for people like us to keep chickens in the back garden - of course they like free-ranging but there is enough space for them in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 We let ours out all day to free range. But we appear not to have a fox problem. So we take the risk. But if you only have 2 chickens then they'll be fine in the run all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 I used to let my girls have free run of the garden, now they are in a bit at the bottom we have fenced off. I have not let them out at all today as it is raining SO HARD (Pet Shop Boys )& they are fine.... They will try & con you into thinking that they are demeted polar bears when they are in the run & see you in the garden, but when you spy on them there they are perfectly happy in their run all day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menagerie Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Mine seem happy enough in their run - I try toget home sometimes at lunchtime to check on them and sneak them some sweetcorn. Often they sleep in the middle of the day anyway and then get more active in the evening, when I let them out to play. At the moment I leave a shower curtain on most of the time (tucked under the omlet shade) - even when its sunny they like having it as extra shade, and when rainy it gives them more dry space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 I use the Omlet winter shade all winter, and this summer I have had it on most of the time too -- and mostly not to keep off the sun, which is its other purpose. Because my hens are in the run nearly all the time, I like to keep it dry, as we have light soil and it is then like a giant dust-bath for them. Also I have a Cochin, and they must not get wet feet. I found that the Eglu run was big enough for two chickens to live in most of the time, but not big enough for more than that. Most of us keep our chickens in the run when we are out, and for most of the time in winter. Letting them free-range when you are not around is risky -- and lethal if you know that you have foxes in your vicinity. Omlet are supposed to be producing a better shade, so it might be worth hanging on a bit (but they can be very, very slow at turning their plans into reality). I think shower curtains are fine in winter, but I suspect they get a bit hot in summer, while the official shade keeps the hens cool as well. But the latter is expensive and soon starts to look tatty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 Ours seem to really enjoy the rain, they where out free ranging yesterday in the pouring rain......I picked betty up and she was dripping wet......Will this do them any harm???? They could have course gone under the trees, the tree fern, the summer shade or in the eglu itself if they had wanted, im assuming they are not totally stupid and will move if they dont like it...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 Mine would rather free-range in the rain, than stay sheltered in the run, I've found! I assume that like most animals, they take shelter if they want it - mine don't seem to mind getting soaked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 my girls hate the rain, just hate it - wont even go out in it! Our 2 are spoilt because we leave the back garage door open and then wander in there and sit in front of the warm tumble drier if its raining I am lucky enough to let my girls free range a most of the time. I work days and hubby works nights so there is always someone here. We have secure 6 foot fence all the way around and large german shepherd to warn us of any predators. If we go out/go away - they are always shut in the run. I wouldnt worry though if your girls are confined to the run - even if its all of the time, if you compare your chickens lives to that of a normal chicken - they are truly living the life of luxury - so dont fee guilty !! I bought a GARDEN PARASOL for the girls 2 weeks ago (yes im mad ) I've put this at the end of the run so it covers the door and the bottom end of the run and it works a treat as a shade for the rain and the sun. (it was a large wooden parasol with cast iron base on offer from homebase) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
