arowland17 Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 I've done the shutting the door and leaving a gap training for the last 2 nights now but my stupid chickens don't seem to be getting the hang of it! First night I left a fairly large gap but the door was more than half closed, and they both squeezed out of the gap and didn't touch the door so I came and opened it fully for them when I was up. Last night I left a 'smaller than a chicken' sized gap and they both got out but shut the door behind them so I had to go and open it or they wouldn't of been able to get back in to lay their eggs later. Is this my 2 being especially silly??? am I expecting too much of them in hoping they'll push the door open!? It's fine when I'm around to check door is open once they've got themselves up, but if they keep closing it again after then it'll have to stay open when we go away for a weekend in a couple of weeks - don't think I trust them to not lock themselves out of the eglu after the 1st night!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChickNic Posted September 6, 2007 Author Share Posted September 6, 2007 Is that right Hazel? What do you do if you ever go away for the weekend then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 (edited) Mine are going to bed around 7.45 to 8 at the moment. I let them out at 5.30 normally, but sometimes I don't have to go to work that early and they wait until after 7. In the winter it will be later as it is dark in the mornings. I leave my Eglu door closed but unlocked and they just push it open when they want to come out - so I close it at night and they would be protected, but I don't worry about the morning as they can get out themselves. The Cube isn't so handy as the door slides. I wish Omlet had made the cube door the same as the Eglu one - and I've already had some trouble with the sliding mechanism, but I think I'll do a new thread about that! Edited September 6, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 According to the Omlet brochure " The run is made from strong steel weld mesh impossible for predators to break". I can't imagine how a fox could get into the run without some serious equipment, so I leave the door open all night and my girls get themselves up whenever they want. Luckily they are very quiet. I will probably start closing the door as the nights get colder and longer, but only because I don't like to think of them shivering all night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 My OH is regularly up at 4.30am on his early shift and our girls are always up. I therefore have no intention of getting up to let them out. We keep the run door closed and the eglu door open so they can get up when they want but I still have my lie in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 We have only had our 3 chickens and Eglu for two weeks, but already my very clever husband has devised an automated Eglu door opener which can be used without leaving the bedroom. We are both retired, our children are grownup so there is no need really for us to be up at the crack of dawn. He has made a wooden device which clamps on to the door opener this is attached to a rope which is slung over the tall trees in our back garden and leads to the bedroom window which faces the garden. All we need do is get out of bed, yank on the rope and the door opens, check to see all three come out and feed and then back to bed until a more civilised hour when we let them freerange. It means we can't lock the door at night, but he is currently working on another idea which means the door can lock and will respond to light, a bit like those security lights which come on when it gets dark, so we won't even have to get out of bed. I don't really mind getting up on a lovely summer morning, but in mid February when its raining and freezing cold, no thanks. Tessa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 He has made a wooden device which clamps on to the door opener this isattached to a rope which is slung over the tall trees in our back garden and leads to the bedroom window which faces the garden. All we need do is get out of bed, yank on the rope and the door opens, check to see all three come out and feed and then back to bed Tessa. What a man - brilliant! Any chance of a picture? Whatever, I think he deserves a medal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 I like your husband's style - alternatively you could teach your chooks to push their own doors open - thereby bypassing the need for you to get out of bed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 or.......tie the rope to your toes!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
