Luvachicken Posted October 27, 2018 Share Posted October 27, 2018 Gemma is my oldest girlie and is looking a bit pale at the moment because she is moulting. She has been a bit quiet today, but then most of them have as there has been a cold wind. I usually cover the lower 10'' of the cube run with bubble wrap to stop the wind blowing in but just wondered if there is anything else I should do for my 6 year old. They have tonic in their water and sleep with the cube door open. Do you think I should close the door now it has suddenly got cold ? I've never had an old girl to look after before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 27, 2018 Share Posted October 27, 2018 You're doing everything you can to boost them; they will all be fine. A chicken's physiology is very different from ours (no surprises there) and they don't feel the cold the way that we do. You don't need to do anything more, they will be warm enough all roosting together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted October 27, 2018 Share Posted October 27, 2018 I have two who are 10+ and seem to cope well with the winter. They find a sheltered spot during the day or a spot of sunlight. One is completely blind. Lack of ventilation is more likely to be a problem than cold temperatures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 27, 2018 Author Share Posted October 27, 2018 Thank you both Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted October 28, 2018 Share Posted October 28, 2018 Hello luvachicken i have a single old girl now in a cube! ...I leave the door and she has taken to sleeping in the nest box. by my calculations she is 5 1/2...not bad for an ex working lady! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 28, 2018 Author Share Posted October 28, 2018 She is doing well gavclojak I know Gemma is not that old in comparison to some. I just wanted to check if there is anything else I should be doing. I think it's because I'm always cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natspringy Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 On 27/10/2018 at 8:09 PM, Luvachicken said: Gemma is my oldest girlie and is looking a bit pale at the moment because she is moulting. She has been a bit quiet today, but then most of them have as there has been a cold wind. I usually cover the lower 10'' of the cube run with bubble wrap to stop the wind blowing in but just wondered if there is anything else I should do for my 6 year old. They have tonic in their water and sleep with the cube door open. Do you think I should close the door now it has suddenly got cold ? I've never had an old girl to look after before. Love the bubble wrap idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 Squirt is also sulking big time - it is quite breezy here and I have thought she is blind several times - this evening she swiped a grape from Tufty, so I guess it's selective - if she sees food she doesn't want she ignores it. But while I have put plastic shelters around the run, there are gaps for the air to flow. She flies down in the morning and walks up the ramp in the evening, so while it looks like she's at death's door (which she's done many a time) she does perk up in the sun. I have been putting a snuggle safe in at night when we've had the frosts though. With 2 in the cube I was worried about not enough warmth in there. I might pop them in the eglu instead at some stage until others arrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 One of my oldies is blind and struggling with the cube ladder in the evening so I’ve got the old eglu classic out again and put it in their enclosure in case she’d prefer that. But no, she’s still struggling into the cube. But at least she now has a choice. I’ve noticed that the oldies are going to bed earlier and earlier these days as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 Poor things eh. I think if you keep the food in the same place then they get used to it. Squirt is just being a pain in the bum and being very picky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 1, 2018 Author Share Posted November 1, 2018 Mine all seem to like bundling into the egg laying compartment, silly things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Best stop that - they'll get too hot and be like lice magnets. They need to roost properly with the air circulating around them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Big flowerpots sorts that out Luvvie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 If you have the cube mark 1, then the smallest tub trug fits neatly into the round hole between the roosting area and nest box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 2, 2018 Author Share Posted November 2, 2018 19 hours ago, The Dogmother said: Best stop that - they'll get too hot and be like lice magnets. They need to roost properly with the air circulating around them. I've never thought of that 18 hours ago, The Dogmother said: If you have the cube mark 1, then the smallest tub trug fits neatly into the round hole between the roosting area and nest box. I can never remember which cube I have Mine is lilac and was bought almost 10 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 10, 2018 Author Share Posted November 10, 2018 I am such a wally It says under my avatar that I have a Mark 1 cube 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...