Paula-Chicken Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 Hello. I am very new to chicken keeping. I have an Eglu cube and two chickens - Scarlett and Delilah. I have a question about the Eglu cube. Is there supposed to be a gap between the base of the cube and the base of the back door (grey door)? I don't want my ladies to suffer from drafts up their bottoms. I know the Eglu has plenty of ventilation, but should this gap be there or not? I would be most grateful for any opinions. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 I think I have the gap I will check in the morning when it is light. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 Yes the gap is meant to be there!! I know draughts!!! I worry about this too as I have pekin bantams.....and they do get the air up their bums If it's really freezing I block them up with flannels at night, but that's just me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula-Chicken Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 Hi, thanks for the reply. Another question: do chickens require a bit of extra heating during cold weather? Thinking of putting a hot water bottle (or something else) in the cube at night. Any opinions on heating? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 No extra heat is needed as chickens are hotties. During a very cold winter (possibly 2011) when daytime temperatures were minus 20 my 5 girls were housed in an old wooden wendy house. I just put a layer of cardboard down and extra straw, the girls thrived in the cold. In an Omlet house your girls will be fine they will not need anything, well maybe just a bedtime story so they don't have bad dreams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaKiw1 Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 They should be fine but an alternative to a hot water bottle is a Cuddlesafe (Omlet sell them or go on Amazon) - you stick the solid disc in the microwave to heat and it last for hours. In very cold weather we've propped one up against the door but I think some people put in under the tray. There is a fleece cover but I guess you could use it without and wash to keep it clean if pooed on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula-Chicken Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share Posted March 26, 2014 Are Eglu cubes totally rainproof? It's lashing it down here. Don't want my girls getting wet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Sadly not all, although they should be, mine gets wet under the trays. I have put extreme weather strips in mine, omlet sent them to me. The girls themselves never get wet though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
