Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Janey4]

Hi

 

I am returning to hen keeping after a little break and as our last girls were kept at my Mums house, where she was most of the time, I haven't had to worry about letting the hens out in the dark before.

 

Both myself and my husband will usually be leaving for work before it gets light and returning home when its dark, as I'm sure if the same for alot of people, so does everyone just open the door before they leave and the hens come out when they are ready and just shut them in at night when they have gone back in?

 

Thanks

Jane

[Olly]

I don't even bother to open and close the Eglu door, because my Eglu is inside a secure walk-in run. Otherwise -yes, they will get up when it's light and put themselves to bed when it's dark. It means you sometimes have to fish the eggs out from beneath a warm feathery body and there may be some disgruntled clucking when you open the egg port!

[Plum]

I open the cube door when it's light and they still stay in mumbling at me to leave them alone In winter they've always bounced out in the dark. I've got movement sensitive lights in the run so they've got some light if they move

 

If they are free ranging then it's a vulnerable time for foxes so you may consider an electric opener

[kinsk]

They'll come out when they are ready and put themselves to bed when they are ready. In the winter I barely see mine from Monday-Friday!

[Janey4]

If they are free ranging then it's a vulnerable time for foxes so you may consider an electric opener

 

No unfortunately they are going to have to stay in the run when we are out, but will be allowed to free range at weekends/if my husband is working from home/at night before the cloaks change.

[Janey4]

In the winter I barely see mine from Monday-Friday!

 

I think this is going to be the same for me! O dear!

[Plum]

Hate dark winter days and lack of chicken time. I try to work some longer days to have chicken time off in the week

 

On the plus side Janey they are less sociable in winter when not laying and moulting so they're not so keen to see you anyway!

[PoachedPlease]

I have always left the eglu door open permanently. They can suit themeslves. Eglu run as proved to be fox proof so far, but I have tent pegged the run all around the edge!

 

Xx

[LottyJ1]

I don't see mine very much during the week in the winter. I let mine out in the dark in the morning into their WIR and I find because of the garden light they sometimes do come out so I check there all ok. I think once the light goes off they go back to bed for a bit. The shut them up when I get home also in the dark.