Sarattie Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 In the summer months when it is warmer and lighter for longer, have any of you left the coop door open overnight to let your chooks out earlier? Only recently got my eglu and thinking further down the line, but wondered if anyone has done so? With the colder shorter days and wind and rain, obviously not practical in the winter, but I don't get to open up til about 9am so the y will be missing a few hours of day in the summer when the sun gets up early? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Hi Sarattie, Personally I don't leave my cube door open unless we are away overnight. The one time I did was because I wanted a lie in but the naughty girls woke up at 5.10 and made a right racket, and then again at 5.30 and the 6.00. I never got my lie in and was woken even earlier than I wanted to be. I tend to let mine out between 7 and 8 but try for nearer 7 in the summer. They seem quite happy with this. Others leave their doors open but I think the choice is really up to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly1979 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 We keep ours shut as Marilyn and Connie have a im going to lay an egg argument too early, really hope its only been me that they have woken dreading summer as the cube doesnt seem as 'noise proof' old house. Luckily my dad has adapted my cube so I have an automatic door opener on it but I also can close the cube door too so on occassins like new years day I can keep them in a bit longer without changing the door times Mine were very quiet this new years day wonder if they were having a party the night before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I never close the door, mine are up about 5.15 which is fine on work days but at the weekend I like to lay in a little. Never had any problems and if they get too noisy I just shout at them out of the window When I first had hens years ago I did shut them in but then used to panic if I overslept, so much easier both ways. Of course you do what is best for your own peace of mind, but this works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennydavies Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I think the problem may not be noise, more concern for fox attack ! If, like us, there is no fox worries you can leave the door open at night during the summer and your girls will get up when they want to, ours get up around 5.30 - 6.00 and sometimes don't go to bed until 10.30 - 11.00 at night. If there is the slightest worry about foxes, take no chances and shut the door at night all year round. I would rather have to get up and let the girls out than lose them all to a fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 My cube door is always open, I have closed it maybe twice on the absolute coldest nights, but my girls are all wrapped up in lovely cosy feather duvets, some even have slippers too (Pekin clan)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I close the cube and eglu doors at night. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I close mine mainly for safety reasons but in the summer they are up and out to early if not shut in ...except when we go away ,just in case the chicken minder is late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I would love to keep the doors to my coops open, so the girls can let themselves into their runs - but we have foxes and a rat or two that currently finds a way into the eglu area I'm sure the fox couldn't dig in either run, but it's a risk I couldn't take - I wouldn't be able to sleep! The rats are only after the food, so sometimes find a way in, and thankfully the problem is being sorted (they can no longer burrow under the coop and stay there now ~ whoop! ) The girls in the wooden coop did manage to get into their run before sunrise not long ago...their door was closed, but some bedding obviously made a gap so they managed to push the door open to let themselves out! Was a bit of a weird site to see them digging around when they should have been in their house I have to say though, I don't mind getting up at 4.30am in the summer - I quite enjoy letting them out x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElvisFan Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Personally I never close the door, the girls don't like it shut either, if on the coldest nights (minus 4 or 5) I shut it I get a telling off when I go to let them out about 7am. Mine must be quite good as I have never heard them make a racket in the summer and they get up at 4.30-5 am some times. My OH has said he has seen them wandering around in the run at 1.30 in the morning so I wonder what they were up to at that time of night - sneeking back in from a night on the tiles ! Don't worry about leaving the door open but you must do what you think is best especially if you have a fox risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarattie Posted January 14, 2013 Author Share Posted January 14, 2013 Thank you. I am not concerned too much about foxes, we have always had bunnies and never seen a fox in the garden, although i know there are some in the open spaces nearby, but never seen near the houses. Rats is one of my concerns, but i bring the food in at night and take out again later. rats could easily get into the coop itself if it wanted to, they can squeeze though the teeniest gaps and the eglu door isnt sealed shut. plus the hole in the egg box. I never put food in there though. they seem happier having left it open for the last few days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckfest Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Do those that leave the door open, also leave food available? Up until now I have always closed the door and removed all traces of food to deter rats and mice. When it gets a bit warmer I'd like to leave the door open but think the racket that would ensue when they realised that the staff haven't served breakfast would really upset the neighbours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Always leave food and water in run, fill up when I get in from work. As dont have time in the mornings. No problem with rats etc as on a solid concrete and run is completely covered in mesh. Mind you has taken years to make it so and many adaptations from my beloved to make it so. Once we were inundated with vermin in the WIR but is all mine now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christyrose12 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 I always shut mine up at night throughout the year. We must have foxes around as I live in Cornwall but have never seen them in the garden. I like them to be tucked up in bed though for peace of mind but I do have an open run. If you have the eglu run then they should be safe to leave the door open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarattie Posted January 17, 2013 Author Share Posted January 17, 2013 Yes i have noticed the added noise in the morning as they call for breakfast! Cant risk attracting rats though! I don't understand why they didnt design the run rat proof too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
