Chickabee Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 I very rarely close the girls in at night. It's going to be -3 tonight anyone else closing the pop hole ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursula123 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 I have only ever closed mine once and this was when we had the hurricane winds a couple of years ago, I only did it then as I was worried the wind was so strong it might have lifted the classic and the chickens would be out in the open and a fox may have got them. I has been really cold here today and chooks have been out and about but checked temp under wings and they were toasty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolly Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 I usually close the eglu door when it gets to around zero, not sure if they really need it closed but it makes me feel better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Was minus 6 here the other night and its been freezing every night since and I never shut the pop hole - they seem warm enough in the eglu and the run has a corrigated plastic cover on it and it is cosy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 I close all my pop holes but I keep the windows vents open the window in hose one only got partly closed beginning of the month when the wind started blowing in from the west as it comes straight at it as it was blowing the rain in fully open but it's still open about 2-3 inch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Rain, wind, frost, sweltering heat: pop hole is closed every night They are just too loud in the morning and my porch light gets their clock all wrong and they end up waking up at 4:30 in the middle of the winter... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 I always shut the pop hole in the winter, in fact have just closed off one cube completely as only a couple of girls were sleeping in it, now they are back together in the other cube which is also in a more sheltered position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 I shut the pop hole 2 nights last week when it was below 0, but that was the only time since I've had them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Nope - I've closed it about three times in the last five years, when it was snowing hard and I thought it might drift in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Rain, wind, frost, sweltering heat: pop hole is closed every night They are just too loud in the morning and my porch light gets their clock all wrong and they end up waking up at 4:30 in the middle of the winter... The same for me, I would happily keep it open but they will be creating chaos at 5am or earlier in the summer I also have a rat problem at the moment so I don't want that little blighter happening into the coop. ( notice I use the singular...I'm in denial !) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Ours is open all year round and always have been. When we started out and had wooden housing that was shut up every night to keep predators out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 19, 2016 Author Share Posted January 19, 2016 Decided to them all open. Rewarded with 6 eggs today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Ours got shut last night but only because like gavclojak, we have had ratty visiting. It was -6 here at 7am this morning so I was pleased I had shut it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Nope - I've closed it about three times in the last five years, when it was snowing hard and I thought it might drift in. Me too. Actually, perhaps a few more times than that when it's been -9 ish, but not many at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 I currently close the cube door as there are only 4 girls in there and they huddle in the corner. Once the newbies are in with them I will leave pop hole open when temperature is above freezing. I close and lock the pop hole when high winds are forecast though just to be safe from foxy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 Ours is left open, I think with 9 chickens in there including 2 larger girls it will be toasty and they need the ventilation. It's probably warmer than our house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 Currently closing doors as some of my ex-commercial ginger ninja's are feeling the cold - they're getting to that nearly 3 age where they start dying off! They've reclaimed 'their' eglu from the big babies so everyone else is in the cube, but I don't want one household to monopolise the shared run hence big babies and posh girls also get shut in for the night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sil-El Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 I've never closed the pop hole at night regardless of the weather and the ladies all seem fine no matter what happens. I did debate doing it on Bonfire Night last year because my neighbour had a fireworks party, but decided that it would be better left open because that is what they are used to and they were perfectly fine next morning. Plus their house is in quite a sheltered spot so it would have to be really horrendous weather for rain or snow to get in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 I close the door on the Eglu every night, always have done. Sometimes in Summer there can be a right kerfuffle going on behind the door until it gets opened, but I've always wanted to keep them safe and a little quieter. Now we are in the countryside and I only have two old banties left (lost Duck the copper black maran on Christmas Eve at the grand old age of 6 and 3/4), I keep them shut in at night for safety and warmth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...