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

[Paula-Chicken]

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.

[Purplemaniacs]

I think I have the gap I will check in the morning when it is light.

 

Chrissie

[mimi5]

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

[Paula-Chicken]

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?

[Guest]

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.

[LunaKiw1]

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.

[Paula-Chicken]

Are Eglu cubes totally rainproof? It's lashing it down here. Don't want my girls getting wet!

[chuckmum6]

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.