ChickNic Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Hi all, Please could I ask your advice. I have had my girls since Thursday, and have been shutting them in the eglu at night. I like to do this as I know there are a lot of foxes that prowl my garden and don't want the girls to be scared. Also, in a terraced building in London I want to make sure that they are not up bawking in the early hours. I am fine doing this on weekdays, as I just let them out when I get up for work about 7.30am. However, having set the alarm early Sat and Sun to let them out, I'm sitting at my desk quite tired today and not looking forward to the prospect of no more weekend lie ins! I did set the weekend alarm half an hour later than the weekday alarm, but woke up even earlier as I felt so guilty for keeping them in the eglu! Could you let me know what time you all keep them locked in until (at weekends). I don't want to be a bad hen mum, but would love some more sleep! Thanks, Nicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Lie ins???? You don't have children then.? I leave my eglu door open at night and they let themselves out, but that's my choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James H Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 i let my girls out at 7:30 and usually open the run door at 8:15 so I definatly know that their little tummys are full :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 We did the same as you as were worried that our noisy pair would wake the whole neighbourhood if we left the run door open all night and also worried they'd get cold (unlikely but we felt very guilty leaving the door open must be ever so drafty!!) - they used to get let out at 8-8.30 each day and we always used to creep out to the run and heard no noise coming from the locked eglu at all so assume they were fine with that. Last weekend we were away 2 nights, so it had to stay open and we got home to find the girls were fine, so have left it open since as especially with it not getting light quite so early and getting dark in the evenings earlier we want them to have as much time out at possible - I think when the nights get colder and I'm back at work we'll shut the door at night as I get up at 6.30 so the door can be opened before it's light again, but for now we're seeing how it goes keeping it open. They have been very quiet in the mornings actually, and it's nice at the weekend not having to wake up early and open up the eglu. We have put heavy bricks on the run skirt though just as an extra measure against foxes and have a sonic fox repeller in the garden too just in case. I was going to ask though, we used to bring their food in at night (worried about rats) but now they get up themselves have been leaving it out - would it be ok if they didn't get their pellets until 8ish in the morning if they're up before that?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChickNic Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 You don't have children then.? No - I've only just got chickens, one step at a time!!! What time do they tend to leave the eglu if the door is left open? N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChickNic Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 Ha ha, I creep up to the Eglu and listen out in the morning too. The upstairs flat must think I'm crazy! We have already weighed down the skirt with bricks - I'm super paranoid about foxes as I see them most evenings. My next question was going to be about food if I leave the door open too. I also bring the food in at night, but don't want them shouting for it as soon as they wake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 that's exactly why i've been leaving it out, as the last thing I want is rats after it but also don't want the girls squawking in the early hours of the morning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 What time do they tend to leave the eglu if the door is left open? Mine used to leave the eglu as soon as it got light. But then one morning at about 4.15, I saw a fox on top of the run, looking down at them. No harm done, but now they have to wait to be let out. 7.15/7.30 most work days. Weekends, they have to wait - sometimes 8.30/8.45. They don't seem to mind. Hazel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing Gal Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Get your OH to go and let the girls out during the weekend, on his way back to bed he can bring to a nice bit of breakfast, a fresh egg perhaps. Then you can snuggle back down under the duvet and continue with the lie in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChickNic Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 Wishful thinking Dancing Gal! We did take it in turns this weekend, but once I'm woken by the alarm I tend to get up anyway. Hazel - what where you doing up at 4.15am?! I think I'll just leave it open every so often rather than every weekend, that way the fox won't just sit and wait hopefully. It's going to have to be left open in a couple of weeks time as we're off to my parents for the weekend I did try leaving it ajar so that they could push it open yesterday, but the dozy chicks didn't seem to figure it out and they were still in the eglu when I got up! I just think they must be quite annoyed at not getting let out at 7/8am as they go to bed about 7/7.30pm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 What time do they tend to leave the eglu if the door is left open? N Mine get up as soon as it's daylight, so the time varies depending on the time of year. In the summer they can be up and out at 5am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Wishful thinking Dancing Gal! We did take it in turns this weekend, but once I'm woken by the alarm I tend to get up anyway. Hazel - what where you doing up at 4.15am?! I think I'll just leave it open every so often rather than every weekend, that way the fox won't just sit and wait hopefully. It's going to have to be left open in a couple of weeks time as we're off to my parents for the weekend I did try leaving it ajar so that they could push it open yesterday, but the dozy chicks didn't seem to figure it out and they were still in the eglu when I got up! I just think they must be quite annoyed at not getting let out at 7/8am as they go to bed about 7/7.30pm! You need to close it gradually over a few days for them to work it out, and make sure it can move easily (with the handle up). Then there's no stopping them. They're there in the eglu run begging to freerange when I crawl out of bed. I let them push their way out every morning and they are in a chickenwire run with foxwatch on. I did wonder if they were using Megan as a battering ram at one point when none of the chickens liked her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 That's a good idea about closing the eglu door and letting them push their way out in the morning, at least then they wont get cold when it's windy or rainy and it means I wont feel guilty about then being locked in if I oversleep! I would also think the fox would stay away if its shut all night and only open when they wake up, at least they wont be terrorised at night that's what I worry about even though the run is fox proof I'm going to start trying it - so do I half close the eglu door tonight then just leave a smaller and smaller gap each night? it seems quite heavy to me so are they able to push it open even when it's completely closed (obviously if I leave the handle up!)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Mine all tootle off to bed at 8pm and get let out at 8am. So they get 12 hours sleep. No wonder they look so beautiful! Sometimes when they have been let out earlier they come staggering out half asleep as if to say ' what time do you call this mum'? Or they don't come out at all until they are ready. It's always silence when I go to let them out in the mornings, except the other morning when we didn't let them out until 8.15am and Rita started making a loud noise in panic! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I've had a few chickens work it out, yes you do as you said. If they don't open the closed door, go back to a tiny gap. I once put the lock down by accident. They heard me go out and I could hear a tap tap from beak on plastic. Remember there could still be foxes in the (early) morning even if they only appear at night. There have been one or two injuries through holes in the run (including my Beth ). To be really safe shut the eglu door. I'm relatively happy with my one or two extra defences, and I am not neccessarily going to be up early at the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I leave the Eglu door open slightly on both my Eglus. My newbie babies even worked out how to do it after just 2 days. The girls came out at 5.50am this morning (I was looking out of the kitchen window) Last night they were away to roost at 71.5pm. If I didn't leave the doors ajar I would be up at 2.30am in the early summer months to let them out I don't love them that much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 If you don't want them to let themselves out (believe me, you don't want too much noise early in the morning with neighbours) I wouldn't worry about letting them out late. I generally let mine out when the cats start licking my face, which at the weekend is anywhere from 10 to 12. They're always still asleep when I get to the eglu (although I blanket them up to prevent light getting in, as they sqwauk first thing). In the winter they sleep whenever it's still dark, and mine often nance about the run at night before being locked up for bed, so I like to think I'm making them catch up on sleep at the weekends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChickNic Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 Really, 10-12?! That's good news, I don't mind getting up at 10am! I was worried they would be pecking at the door to get out. I already have a lean-to style tarpaulin attached to the top of the fence covering the run (which I fold back in good weather). If I extend that to cover the eglu that should keep it nice and dark and then they can enjoy weekend lie ins like me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Lie ins for the chooks are all very well, but remember that the less food and daylight they get, the fewer eggs you'll have. It's worth getting up early to let them out - you can always go back to bed afterwards. They would appreciate the extra play time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 That's the other reason I wouldn't mind them being able to let themselves out in the mornings - our 2 are going to bed when it's still light in the evenings, as early as 7.30, I think cos the temp is dropping now If they can get themselves out as soon as it's light then hopefully egg laying over winter will be at a max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I have to shut the eglu door as Ella is a very noisy chicken. If we didnt shut it she would have the whole village up at 5am During the working week my girls are let out at 7am just before I leave home. On weekends (to allow my neighbours a lie in) we open the eglu door 7.30-7.45am. My chooks are perfectly fine and quiet in the eglu until we open the door. If we go away - we leave the eglu door open but the run door closed, of course they come out when they want but im not home to worry about them bothering the neighbours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 If you've got noisy chooks then it's a different matter, as Chelsea says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menagerie Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 I like to shut mine in for saftey and warmth - generally let them out 7.30 on weekdays and 8ish on weekends - but whatever time it is they are generally making a pecking at the door, chuntering, shuffling noise - so I feel a bit guilty at not doing it earlier. I tend to wake up 8ish on the weekend, dive out to let them into their run, and throw food at the cats, then go back to bed with a cup of tea and some more sleep. It seems to work OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChickNic Posted September 6, 2007 Author Share Posted September 6, 2007 Thanks for all your comments, you certainly have put my mind at ease. I have resolved to lock them in whenever I can, but to train them to open the door as well, just in case I'm away for the night. I am usually up at 9ish at the weekends, so not a complete disaster to let them sleep an hour or so longer I think! If they prove to be quiet when they let themselves out I might think about doing it more regularly. After all, the run is fox proof, so they should be ok I reckon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 After all, the run is fox proof, so they should be ok I reckon. No - I don't think they claim that. The eglu is fox PROOF - the run is fox RESISTANT. I personally doubt a fox could get in and I leave mine during teh day, but I wouldn't risk nights unless I had to h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
