Rob Thomson Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 Hello all, Just curious whether or not people close the inner door of the Eglu at this time of year? We have an Eglu classic. We always close both the inner and the outer doors (i.e. the plastic flap and the run's mesh door) at night, but we're wondering whether it would be a problem if we left the inner door (plastic flap) open so the little girls can let themselves out in the mornings. We currently keep it closed for a couple of reasons: 1) Maximum security from predators. 2) Draft exclusion (and water-proofing when it rains). However, they're pretty safe within an electric fence (they get to free range from dawn til dusk) and the Eglu run has about 18,000 pegs holding down the skirt. Basically, what I want to know is whether I can have a lie-in tomorrow? Cheers, Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 I think the consensus is if the run is secure then leave the door open. Lots of omleteers leave the door open all year round, even in the winter x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Thomson Posted June 27, 2014 Author Share Posted June 27, 2014 Thanks! I'm happy they're safe from foxes etc, but what about mice nibbling on their tootsies...?! I reckon I'll give it a try tonight. Leaving the door open I mean, not nibbling on their tootsies. Cheers, Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I leave mine open. However a couple of times this week I have had to get up at 4 and 5am to give them some treats to keep them quiet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choo-chook Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I'm in the door closed gang, I take the food in at night and last time I left the door open they were up at 5 making a heck of a noise. I let mine out at 7ish (I can't do lie ins ) I have very close neighbours who are lovely and like a lie in so I tend to let them free range first thing as it keeps them quiet. They have me well trained.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Open all year round here, but they are within a secure roofed run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 Thanks! I'm happy they're safe from foxes etc, but what about mice nibbling on their tootsies...?! I reckon I'll give it a try tonight. Leaving the door open I mean, not nibbling on their tootsies. Cheers, Rob. To be honest mice will get in the tiniest of holes so if you Leave the door open or closed it will make no difference. Have never heard of nice nibbling the feet, there was a thread about a possible rat attack but not sure what the outcome of that was. I understand there is a huge amount of people who leave the door open and not had any problems with vermin. I would put the food away at night but that's just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 I only just started leaving the door on my cube open in March after 5 years of getting up early. Last Summer though, even though I had covered them up they were still grumbling earlier than I wanted to get up. So this year I took the plunge and left the door open. It is SO nice not getting up early, apart from the couple of times something has frightened them. Why not give it a go for the Summer ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 I've been leaving the door open for a while now and the girls can really appreciate it. They are much more relaxed in the morning and have less scuffles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 Open cube door here too with food left in the run. The run is 1inch weldmesh, including the floor so I know rats can't get in but I know mice could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JellyBean2605 Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I experimented with leaving the eglu door open, sadly mine insist on a loud egg song at 6 am so I went back to closing it. I set an alarm for 7.30 at the weekends, stumble down and let them out, then go back to bed , all without disturbing the OH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Thomson Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 Hello, Thanks for all your replies. It seems I get up really early - I've been letting them out at about 5:30am! I've always had the impression that any serious pecking occurs while they're bored waiting to be set free in the morning, so I've been getting up at dawn when I can. When dawn got before 5:30 I decided that was early enough! Anyway, I left their inner door open on Friday night. Typically I woke up at my usual time on Saturday morning and when I looked outside there were three bored looking chickens looking slightly forlorn in their run. They looked a bit perplexed when I let them out into the garden, and then spent quite a lot of the day standing around looking unusally sleepy/p*ssed-off so I'm not convinced they like their new sleeping arrangements! So it was back to normal on Saturday night, and another early start on Sunday morning. The power these three little chickens have over me is ridicuous! I'm glad mice nibbling on tootsies isn't a problem, I'm sure I read that it was quite a common problem but perhaps that was a dream... Cheers, Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choo-chook Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 At the weekend I wait until they are 'asking' , well moaning to get out, around 7/7.30 ish. Try waiting until you hear them, bet it's not that early. 5.30 sheesh, you must be knacked, chicken keeping is supposed to be fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Thomson Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 I'm pretty well trained at staggering downstairs, sorting out their food, letting them out, changing their water, checking the voltage of their fence, staggering back upstairs, climbing into bed and falling straight back to sleep. My better-half always sleeps through no matter how loudly I slam the doors in protest at our one-sided chicken keeping relationship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I leave mine open a lot of the year as well. As for mice nibbling on tootisies, I think if a mouse got close enough to nibble on one of my girls tootsies, it would soon regret it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
