I've posted before regarding my increasingly peculiar sleeping habits of my lot....
Initially it was because they would not sleep on a roost, instead they liked to snuggle up together on a shelf. 5 slept together on 1 shelf and 2 slept together on another shelf.
Then....
One (Sussex cross) decided to sleep outside on the roof of the coup, which is still sheltered a little with a tarp. But it's a rotten job to clean!
Then...
Another 3 (Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte and Light Sussex) decided it looked so good they've gone up there too!
And now....
My Silkie and Cochin Bantam have decided to sleep ouside too. But being so little they can't make it to the roof, so they sleep on the roof of the nesting box! At least the nesting box is being used for something, because we are stll waiting for eggs! hahaha
But while you are all suffering with potential heatwaves, we are entering Winter. So it is around 46 degrees fahrenheit at night at the moment and will soon drop down to about 35 degrees. We tend to get a fair bit of wind and rain.
My question is, should I start putting them in the coup and locking them in at night to keep them warm? They have always had free range to do as they please. The older ones are 10 months and the younger ones are nearly 7 months. I would have thought they would prefer it inside anyway....
Apparently I don't think like a chicken or I wouldn't be asking all these silly questions!
Initially it was because they would not sleep on a roost, instead they liked to snuggle up together on a shelf. 5 slept together on 1 shelf and 2 slept together on another shelf.
Then....
One (Sussex cross) decided to sleep outside on the roof of the coup, which is still sheltered a little with a tarp. But it's a rotten job to clean!
Then...
Another 3 (Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte and Light Sussex) decided it looked so good they've gone up there too!
And now....
My Silkie and Cochin Bantam have decided to sleep ouside too. But being so little they can't make it to the roof, so they sleep on the roof of the nesting box! At least the nesting box is being used for something, because we are stll waiting for eggs! hahaha
But while you are all suffering with potential heatwaves, we are entering Winter. So it is around 46 degrees fahrenheit at night at the moment and will soon drop down to about 35 degrees. We tend to get a fair bit of wind and rain.
My question is, should I start putting them in the coup and locking them in at night to keep them warm? They have always had free range to do as they please. The older ones are 10 months and the younger ones are nearly 7 months. I would have thought they would prefer it inside anyway....
Apparently I don't think like a chicken or I wouldn't be asking all these silly questions!
