Sazzle Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 Nervous mother hen tonight Am having a trial run to see how the girls cope with the eglu go door being open overnight. We're away for a long weekend soon and don't want to rely on anyone to open up and close up at bed time. Have been reading lots of posts re this but seems to be mixed opinions. The run is well secure and the side skirts pegged and covered in rocks and heavy planters. Fingers crossed they stay safe (and warm). Bad or ok idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 I feel your pain. I did this about 2 years ago for the first time and haven't looked back since. I have a cube with 12 chickens at the moment, so very full!! But I can leave them for one night and they can sort themselves out without me having to ask my neighbour. Also, no getting up at the crack of dawn to let them out. Also, they go out in the run when they want to, so all round I'm very pleased I took the plunge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sazzle Posted December 29, 2016 Author Share Posted December 29, 2016 Thank you for the vote of confidence. I must admit with having a few festive days off work my opening up times have been getting quite late so I think they will enjoy the early start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 Another vote of confidence from me. Mine have their door open and they're fine. I sometimes don't see them out of bed from one day to the next while I'm at work, so I may as well have not been there. I only know they've been out of bed because the food and water go down and there's lots of poo in the run Try not to worry, they'll be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roksteddie Posted December 30, 2016 Share Posted December 30, 2016 I wouldn't have it any other way. I used to worry that they'd be too cold overnight but they huddled together and always seemed happy enough in the morning. With the coop door open they can get in and out as they like and get on with feeding and drinking etc. I'd say go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 30, 2016 Share Posted December 30, 2016 I only ever close the door on my housing when the temp goes below -5 at night - they are fine. If your run is secure, then the decision is yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sil-El Posted December 30, 2016 Share Posted December 30, 2016 Yep, I agree, I never close the door, they just come and go into the run as they please. The run is secure so they are quite safe and as they huddle together at night there's no worries about the cold. We had a really severe frost here the other night and they were all perfectly fine in the morning so I'd just go for it - you'll find it works well in summer too so you don't have to get up at silly o'clock in the morning to let them out, they'll get up and have breakfast when they feel like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted December 30, 2016 Share Posted December 30, 2016 Yep, I agree, I never close the door, they just come and go into the run as they please. The run is secure so they are quite safe and as they huddle together at night there's no worries about the cold. We had a really severe frost here the other night and they were all perfectly fine in the morning so I'd just go for it - you'll find it works well in summer too so you don't have to get up at silly o'clock in the morning to let them out, they'll get up and have breakfast when they feel like it If I didn't close the door, they definitely wake me up at silly o'clock... demanding their breakfast... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
