tomdeane Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Hi there, I am thinking of getting a small eglu to keep 2 chickens in. I live in a mid terrace house and my garden is about 15ft wide by 20ft long. It is mostly grass but it has a small patio in it too. There are 6ft high wooden fences all the way round the garden. Would I need a run on the end of the eglu as the garden is completely sealed off from the outside world by 6ft fences, so could they just run free in the garden, then shut them in the eglu at night, no run needed? I have neighbours either side (as it is a terraced house) will the chickens be too noisy / smelly in this close proximity? Is my garden big enough to keep chickens in really? any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateP Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Hi, Our garden is small - about the same size as yours. We have had two chickens since August and they have been no problem. As long as you keep the eglu and run clean they won't smell and they don't make much noise. It's not a horrible noise anyway and certainly not as loud or annoying as a dog barking. Our garden is pretty well enclosed by fences but we have got a run and I only let them out while I'm at home - for peace of mind really. Also, if you leave them out all of the time they will probably destroy any plants and your grass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I don't know about the space - that's bigger than an Eglu run, so in principle I don't see why not - but do bear in mind that they will, as Kate said, eat everything edible. They will poo everywhere. If you want to sit out in the garden at all, then you are likely to have a greedy chicken waiting eagerly beside you. I'm not trying to put you off, you understand, just pointing out some of the issues! Poo can be cleared up or hosed away, and chickens really bring your garden to life, but effectively your garden will become a chicken-run. You might want to go and see an Eglu-owner to get an idea of this! I don't think noise or smell would be a problem though, provided you keep them clean. My other point however is that 6' fences may not be a protection from foxes. My last garden was surrounded by 6' fences, and with terraced houses on either side and at the back, most of them having no access to the garden other than through the house. I still had a fox regularly visiting and sleeping in the garden (I didn't have hens then). You may never see a fox, it depends where you are - but I wouldn't rely on the fences myself, having seen how easily they are jumped or climbed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I would get a run as foxes can very easily scale a 6ft fence....especially if they can get onto nearby walls or sheds and then jump over the wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flo Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 It sounds like you are describing my garden! I live in a mid terrace with a smallish garden and my two girls are fine. I would think about getting a run, as everyone has said you have no idea about foxes, but also peace of mind that if you are not there they are ok. I never let ours out unless I am in the garden with them or can see them from the kitchen window when I am washing up. They will take over your garden (I can send you some pictures if you would like?) but they are great and two little eggs everyday makes up for any mess they make Flo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomdeane Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 thanks for all your advice everyone... i think I will get a run for it too. apart from foxes, what other issues may arise from bringing them up in such a little garden? also, the vaccination that the chickens come with against diseases etc... do you need to get this done every year, if so how much does it usually cost at a vet? Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 (edited) My garden isn't a great deal bigger than that, and my eglu is fine on a permanent base. As others have said, the main problem is that any grass, plants, etc will be more vulnerable because there is less of them to attack! I've switched to having bantams in an effort to reduce the damage - a full-sized chicken can rearrange gravel, compost, etc very efficiently! They don't get terribly smelly in an eglu - adding garlic powder or bokashi bran to their food in summer, and/or a couple of drops of citronella in the poo tray, does the trick! Edited January 29, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Omlet chickens are fully vaccinated and they don't need repeating. Have a look **here**. Page 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Your garden is only a tiny bit smaller than mine and I have 10!!! I just have a large walk in run built for them, so I still get a bit of untrashed garden to myself, and I have hemcore in the base so I can clean them out easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 just a thought - if you can give up a section of the garden, it could be an ideal spot for a built-in run - you'd have three sides ready-made by the fences, although you'd have to be sure nothing could get under/through them. Wall it off with some small-gauge mesh, which won't be too visible, and roof it with plastic or more mesh - you could make it look like a pergola, train some plants up it and put a few pots outside. I am no expert, but I'm sure if you look at the 'run inspiration' thread, there is one that looks something like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 My garden is pretty small and we have 4 chooks a greenhouse, summerhouse & pond. It is not about how much space you have but how you use it I would keep them in some sort of covered run on a permenant base, so that you can have the garden to yourself sometimes. You also have to keep and eye on what you have near your fences because mine have started to jump onto our picnic bench which is up against next doors fence partly to protect the fence from high winds and from there it would be a short hop to his veggies. They can jump and flap quite high even with clipped wings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bondinho Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 My garden is only 12 foot wide and 20-25 foot long. My 2 bantams and Bluebelle were absolutely fine in the eglu, and if you let them free range whenever you can then even better. I've got a 6ft fence one side and 4 or 5 ft the other side and not once did any of them try to get over. I found that once they knew they belonged in my garden they were happy just to potter around without ever looking like they wanted to escape. I had to re-home them on here though as I was in the process of buying a place with a tiny garden - i.e. 6ft by 8ft or something similar, I personally think that is too small to have chickens and have a place for your barbecue/sitting in the sun etc. Now the purchase of that place has fallen through , I'm tempted to get 4 or 5 bantams for this garden again as it is big enough for 5 banties at most I think, just need a converter for the eglu to add some run space... Have you seriously thought of getting bantams instead of 2 big hens? Supposedly quieter, better for your garden/plants and their poos aren't anyway near as big as normal sized hens from what I noticed with mine! Neighbours are the only possible issue - maybe talk to them beforehand?? Although mine never complained once and I'm mid terrace too - with flats on one side so even more people who might complain but none of them ever have. I used to hear 1 girl talking to them in the mornings from her window I say go for it, you can always return the eglu within 30 days if you change your mind (if you buy new anyway). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toastedblue Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 My garden is only 12 foot wide and 20-25 foot long. because part of our garden is a slope we only have about 3.5m x 4.5m of flat space at the bottom and there's already a playhouse taking up 1.2m x 1.5m of that I plan to build a full height coop similar to xScrunchee's, that'll be 1.6m x 2.5m, with the Eglu on a stand to make use of all the floor space. I think rasing the Eglu off the ground is a good solution for small gardens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomdeane Posted February 1, 2008 Author Share Posted February 1, 2008 yea bantams sound good, what are he main differences with them to full size chickens? do they lay the same amount of eggs? also, with regards to poo... I work from home so really I wold liek to keep them free range all day from morning opening the hen house to locking them away at night, but will my garden be covered in chicken poo from 2 bantams? how much poo do they produce? i would like a garden in the summer! lol. also, will they turn my lovely lawn to mud? Thanks for all your help, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 my grass was fine in the summer, its just died now in the winter, I suppose its continually growing in the summer so it can keep up with the hens eating it! Poo is controllable, they do poo a lot, but if you go out once or twice a day and just hose it up it is fine. In the summer its much easier as its warm and it dries all hard anyway and you can just brush it up. Dont let poo put you off chickens - it aint that bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 If they have continuous access to your lawn in winter it will look the worse for wear (bantams are gentler on the ground than big hens). I have 10 in a large run so I can limit their access to the lawn. They are lucky if they get an hour a day at the moment - lawn is hanging on by the skin of it's teeth! But through the summer, they are out nearly all the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 I think a visit to another eglu owner would be a good idea. There's a section on this forum of people you can visit. An eglu plus run is much bigger than it seems in the catalogue, so would be good to see one. A permanent site maybe best in a small garden and they definately need a run (the eglu can be bought with a run) and you can put a fence around it. There are some great pictures on the Omlet gallery of other peoples set ups. In summer it's easy to clear up poos by blasting it with a hose and the grass doesn't suffer much. However, you may want to restrict them to their own area in winter. Mine are in their own patch and they have trashed the lawn (it's a mud bath). I spoke to my neighbours before I ordered my hens. They were fine about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomdeane Posted February 1, 2008 Author Share Posted February 1, 2008 From what everyone has suggested i will get a run too, as well as the house. But I have decided that I cant afford an Eglu at £395 or anywhere near that much, so I am going to make my own hutch and pen and as i only have a little garden im going to build a fixed pen and hutch and put wood chipping down. So... for the run is 3 1/2 ft x 7 ft too small? What is the minimum height it should be? does anyone know how high the eglu run is? On the end of this will be a hen house, that will be about 3 1/2 ft wide by 2 ft long, is this big enough and how high would it need to be for them to stand in it comfortably? Thanks, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 But I have decided that I cant afford an Eglu at £395 or anywhere near that much, so I am going to make my own hutch and pen and as i only have a little garden im going to build a fixed pen and hutch and put wood chipping down. So... for the run is 3 1/2 ft x 7 ft too small? What is the minimum height it should be? does anyone know how high the eglu run is? On the end of this will be a hen house, that will be about 3 1/2 ft wide by 2 ft long, is this big enough and how high would it need to be for them to stand in it comfortably? Tom I would have a look at some of these for an idea of size and then build someting similar. http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/acatalog/Hobby_Henhouses.html They look about the same size as an eglu with an extended run to me You could probably make one for well under £100 even less if you can scavange some unwanted wood. Of course blow by blow pictures are mandatory! Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomdeane Posted February 1, 2008 Author Share Posted February 1, 2008 yea something like that was what I was thinking of Kev... i will draw up some plans and take a trip to my builders merchants and see what they have. I am thinking of getting green wire for the run, how big would you say the gaps in the wire is on the eglu run? Thanks. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...