SueSteve Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 So what time is bedtime?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshire Chooks Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Dusk basically. Takes our 5 about 15 minutes from the first jump on the cubes ladder to the last entering the door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 About now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Bed time is whatever time the light level falls to in order to activate my security light on the patio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 I have to go out about 6pm at the moment and put them in the run because otherwise 2 of them decide to roost in the nearest tree. Tonight I was busy and didn't get out there. The OH had to pluck one from the tree and shoo the other one out. They disappear into the Eglu at dusk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 About 7.15 at the moment - when I go out to lock the eglu door at about 8pm I can here them snoozing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueSteve Posted September 27, 2007 Author Share Posted September 27, 2007 Mine gave me a lovely show, climbing up (and falling off) the ladder. They were all in at 7.10. The end to a wonderful first day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 My lot are going to bed really early now. Free ranging ends at 6.30pm and they are shut in the run. They seem to go to bed between 6.30-7pm. It's getting earlier each day. Depressing thought nights drawing in..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Clever Chooks SueSteve Mine took at least 3 nights to work out what to do - but they were 3 extremely funny nights to watch them Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueSteve Posted September 27, 2007 Author Share Posted September 27, 2007 Right, my bedtime now. Night all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Wait til they slide down the ladder in the morning, just as if they were firemen. Firemen..... !!! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Oh Emma, we have so much in commom!! Dislike of all things froggy and............... Firemen..... !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 The end to a wonderful first day I can see that you are besotted already! Mine go to bed at dusk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Ours have been going to bed between 6.30 and 7, it seems so early and we try to get home and let them have a run around in the garden but we don't usually get back till 5.45 - it'll be really sad when the clocks change and real winter gets here, I doubt we'll hardly see them till the weekends, hope they don't get too lonely - maybe I'll see if my boss would mind me leaving work early every once in a while, don't think he'll be very sympathetic if it's to let the chickens play in the garden!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 I think I've said this before so I'm not too ashamed to repeat it but I have been known to leave the garden spotlights switched on so that the girls are still up and about in the early evening - have a dimmer switch to simulate sunset for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woffle Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 so - not sure if this is a daft question but do people shut the eglu door at night or leave it open? We've had a 2nd hand eglu and chooks since Tuesday and they've been kept in the run for a couple of days to get 'homed' - they'll get the run of the garden this afternoon. Currently we just leave them to it and they take themselves off to bed about 6:45 - the door stays open throughout - should we be shutting it? Once they've got the range of the garden my wife'll be opening the run about 9am and getting them back in around 6pm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 I'm a softy with mine and I worry about draughts, extra-wily wire-biting foxes etc, so I do shut the eglu door for them after they've taken themselves off to roost - I usually pop out after dinner at about 8 or so, and it means I get to see if they're peaceful and comfy as well We open them up again at around 6.45 during the week and 8 at weekends. I know that plenty people don't shut their door though - it means you don't have to get up to let them out at weekends if you want a lie in! There was an interesting thread on here I read about people 'training' their chooks to open the eglu door for themselves in the morning... something about gradually closing the door more and more each night for them to push it open... I've yet to hear about a chicken who was clever enough to unlock an eglu door though! Skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 We had so much fun watching ours go to bed the first night. We watched from an upstairs window as one assumed the role of mother hen and kept popping in and out of the eglu and then trying to round up the other two. As soon as one went in another popped out again, we laughed until it hurt. Ah memories Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 The past few days my girls have been taking themselves off to bed at about 7.25pm. However, last night I popped around to my next door neighbours and left the girls roaming the patio at 7.20pm. The whole time I was in the neighbours back garden I could hear the girls really grumbling over the fence and by the time I got back at 7.40pm it was pitch dark and they were all stood on the patio just glaring at me LOL They obviously wanted to come with me and were annoyed that their bad mum had disappeared out of sight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgeman Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 My girls are currently have been going to bed at the same time as the dusk time on my hand held GPS reciever ! clever girls They are also laying the eggs first thing in the morning at around 7am, they used to lay at 11ish. I assume this change is due to the time of year and light levels ??? Any ideas anyone ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woffle Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 no idea - our three lay between 3.30 and 5pm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 ours were in bed at about 6.30 last night!! and they've been taking it in turns laying eggs the last 4-5 days so we only get 1 egg a day off our 2! they are up literally at the crack of dawn (we've managed to train them to push open their door so don't have to get up early at weekends) - I was up at 6.30 this morning and it was barely light but they were already up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 They are also laying the eggs first thing in the morning at around 7am, they used to lay at 11ish. I assume this change is due to the time of year and light levels ??? Any ideas anyone ? Same here. Since Chikki sleeps in teh nest box, we're not sure how Boo manages to lay her egg under her, but she manages somehow !! H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badfizzgig Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Mine take themselves off around 7pm-ish - I go up and shut the door at roughly 7.15pm-ish. Depressing thought that only a few weeks ago they were going in an hour later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktdot Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Mine went up to bed at 6.25pm this evening. What happens when the clocks change? Do they cope with their door being opened an hour earlier or later depending on the time of year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...