TheChookKeeper Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 I religiously (although sometimes a little late!) open up my girls at about 8am, and close them again some time after they go to bed, usually about 7:30pm. Does everyone close up the eglu door (the sliding one) every night? I was thinking it would be better if I could leave it open all night, so they could come out of their own accord when they wake up. I'm not worried about foxes, as I don't think we have too much of a problem with them, and the run is always attached, and I would always keep that door closed and locked, the whole thing is pegged down too. My only concern would be the weather - with the door open I guess it would get pretty cold in there at night. Maybe this is something to do come spring, what with the longer days then too? What do you all think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 Some people do, some people don't I do now I have taken the run away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 I tend to close the doors at night esp in the winter but i do leave the doors open in the summer as the girls go to bed later then me and get up earlier too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 We are leaving our door open at the moment because we are away over half term and will have to leave it open then as a young teenager will be checking on them and I wouldn't want her to have to come after dark. They have been fine upto now. Our white star goes to bed at about 6pm then gets up for a wander around the run and a snack in the wee small hours we often here here pecking at left over corn in the little pot we have attached to the run, then she returns to bed only to get up usually around 6am when it is still dark so I don't know how she will feel when we start to shut them in on the cold winter nights. They all are usually up before dawn, but we will shut them up at night from the end of half term until the spring and they will just have to get up when we do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 I don't close the door except in the coldest weather.ie in the minuses. I do make sure however, that the run is well weighed down with boulders to prevent Monsieur Renard trying to nudge his way under it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 We have concrete blocks under the run skirt and rocks on top. The whole lot is then in a bark chipped area surrounded by planks that come right up to the run skirt nd the garden is enclosed by a high wall with extra trellis on the top. The concrete blocks are as much to stop Egzeena tunneling out as to stop mr fox tunneling in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheChookKeeper Posted October 11, 2007 Author Share Posted October 11, 2007 We have concrete blocks under the run skirt and rocks on top. The whole lot is then in a bark chipped area surrounded by planks that come right up to the run skirt nd the garden is enclosed by a high wall with extra trellis on the top. Talk about Fort Knox! Crikey - still, good on you! I decided, after trying to move the run with all the pegs still in the ground, that Mr. Fox didn't stand much of a chance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 We have always closed the door. Im a worrier and I would worry that they'd get cold (im sure they dont!) and also Ella is such a noisy chook that if we had the door open in the summer she'd be out at 5am waking up the village Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocolatedog Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 We got our hens at the end of August,and I've always closed the door at night and let them back out in the morning - usually somewhere between 7 and 8 am. I didn't want them out any earlier even if it was light as I didn't want my neighbours disturbed too early!! The girls seem fine........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 I too keep the Eglu door closed at night. (I'm a born worrier too ) I let the girls out between 6.30 and 7 am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 if they get spooked they're more likely to make a run for it and end up in the run where they possibly may be more vunerable than nicely cooped up, pardon the pun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 I too keep the Eglu door closed at night. (I'm a born worrier too ) I let the girls out between 6.30 and 7 am. exactly the same as me......not for long though....We'll get a lie in when the clocks change !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 We close our door every night and hubby opens it when he gets up at about 6.30am. We're going on holiday for a week on Saturday and are leaving the door open so the chicken sitters don't have to come twice a day. It's not too cold yet so I hope they'll be OK. They are very quiet girlies so shouldn't disturb the neighbours. i'm a bit of a worrier too - when it gets really cold, I've got an old picnic rug with a waterproof backing that fits perfectly over the eglu (well, we don't want them getting chilly in the night do we?) Over-protective chicken mum? Not at all ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 mine have a king sized duvet that my sister was throwing out placed over their eglu during the cold winter months!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 I always leave the eglu door open, then they can go to bed and get up when they choose. If the weather got really cold I might close it, but at the moment they are very happy and healthy with it open. I have paving slabs round the outside of the skirt, so there's no possibility of the fox getting in - or not without a mechanical digger! Birds just fluff their feathers up if they feel a bit cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 mine have a king sized duvet that my sister was throwing out placed over their eglu during the cold winter months!! does that not defeat the object of the double plastic layer thingy on the eglu? or does it make you feel better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing Gal Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 Well I've had my lovelies less than a week - and they we so clever first night they took themselves straight to bed. I will always shut the door - I like my bedroom door shut at night I'm sure I already make too much fuss - with the rain we had the other day I now put a tarpaulin over the run area as well. Don't want the ground to be soggy when they get up in the morning. soft I know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 We never close any of the Eglu doors - they are facing away from the worst weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
