maglett Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Hi, I am looking into the possibility of going down the chicken / Eglu route. I've read all of the info on the website and a fair amount of the forum. Can anyone answer a few questions for me: 1. House is semi-detached, decent garden, houses above, below and behind. Will be at work all day. Are the chickens likely to make noise which would annoy the neighbours? 2. If the run is placed on grass, what state will the grass be in? Will they scratch it up and turn it to dirt? Should the run be relocated regularly? If so, how often? 3. Weekends away... do they manage on the food and water that I leave for the weekend? And does it matter that the Eglo would be left open overnight? 4. How much is it costing people after the initial purchase? It's a good idea/design, but rather pricey when one could be made out of wood. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 we live in a cul de sac, house is a semi and there is a house at the back of our garden. We've had chooks for 2 years this year. They DO make noise - but mine make most of their noise after they've had laid an egg. This is not a bothersome noise and we've had no complaints, but I am a worrier and as soon as 1 starts im out there to shut them up. But dont worry the noise is no worse than dog barking/children playing in garden/lawn mower - I think it seems louder than it actually is! Weekends away - we have a caravan so we go away 2 nights at a time, as long as they have plenty of water and food they will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 forgot to say - yes they will eat the grass, but grass does withstand well in the summer as it grows better. We have a permanent site in the corner of the garden and we dont move the eglus ( a lot of people choose this option) and put log roll around the perimeter of the run and you can fill the run with wood chips or hemcore/aubiose (which is an excellent horsey type bedding - comes highly recommended by me) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Hello and welcome to the forum. Hi, I am looking into the possibility of going down the chicken / Eglu route. I've read all of the info on the website and a fair amount of the forum. Can anyone answer a few questions for me: 1. House is semi-detached, decent garden, houses above, below and behind. Will be at work all day. Are the chickens likely to make noise which would annoy the neighbours? They will cluck and mutter all day long. A very gentle pleasant sound. They only Bok Bok as a rule if the are startled,...or sometimes as they lay an egg. 2. If the run is placed on grass, what state will the grass be in? Will they scratch it up and turn it to dirt? Should the run be relocated regularly? If so, how often? They will turn it into dirt in a matter of days. If you move it every couple of days, it will be fine. You will need a biggish garden for this to be a total success. Most of us eventually put them on a permanent base. 3. Weekends away... do they manage on the food and water that I leave for the weekend? And does it matter that the Eglo would be left open overnight? Yes and ...they will be fine with the Eglu open over night. 4. How much is it costing people after the initial purchase? It's a good idea/design, but rather pricey when one could be made out of wood. I haven't had to spend anything on my Eglus after purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maglett Posted February 18, 2008 Author Share Posted February 18, 2008 thanks chelsea. And Eglutine. Sounds good so far. Another question is: Does anyone regret getting chickens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 ABSOLUTELY no regrets, I would say its one of the BEST things we've ever done . I have a very stressful job and there is nothing nicer than after work coming home and just sitting and watching the chooks for an hour or so. They are SO under-rated, very comical, they have us in stiches! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 me again! Its a fab design, our first eglu is 2 this year and it still looks like new (im a bit of a clean freak so it is cleaned regularly) I reckon even if I sold my eglus now I would get near enough what I paid for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maglett Posted February 18, 2008 Author Share Posted February 18, 2008 what do you do when you get home from work and it's dark, or raining? They'd have to wait until the weekend for a run around provided it's not pouring (is that correct?) Checked them out on e.bay... no bargains to be had on there as far as eglus are concerned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 im lucky cos hubby works nights and I do days - so my lot are out all day. But lots of people have their chooks shut in all day and if they can manage it they let them out for an hour of an evening or at weekends. Of course now the lighter nights and summer is coming our way your chooks will have a lot more time to be out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Just go for it! Can anyone answer a few questions for me: 1. House is semi-detached, decent garden, houses above, below and behind. Will be at work all day. Are the chickens likely to make noise which would annoy the neighbours? Ours make a noise after laying, or only if they our under threat - made noise for the first week when the cat looked at them, but now ignore him - the neighbough cut her hedge so appeared above the fence on a ladder & they made a noise 99% of the time they are quite. 2. If the run is placed on grass, what state will the grass be in? Will they scratch it up and turn it to dirt? Should the run be relocated regularly? If so, how often? We move ours every 2-3 days - if free ranging during the day the grass in the run looks fine. 3. Weekends away... do they manage on the food and water that I leave for the weekend? And does it matter that the Eglo would be left open overnight? I am about to do this for the first time - you do need to think about the weather - their water has been iced over for the last three days - if I wasn't here they would have been without water - but you could get a neighbough to check for you in return for eggs. 4. How much is it costing people after the initial purchase? It's a good idea/design, but rather pricey when one could be made out of wood. A wooden house can be viewed as a cost - once purchased it will only go down in value and has a low second-hand value. Eglus seem to be trading on Ebay at about selling price (minus delivery) - so if after 6 months you gave up you could get most of your investment back - this wouldn't apply to a wooden house. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maglett Posted February 18, 2008 Author Share Posted February 18, 2008 The eglus do look rather funky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 One of the best things about eglus is that they are SO easy to keep clean - no small consideration, especially if you are working. Also, they are totally foxproof, so you don't need to worry about your chickens if you're out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 thanks chelsea. And Eglutine. Sounds good so far. Another question is: Does anyone regret getting chickens? Absolutely not - it's one of the BEST things I've ever done. I spend much more time in the garden, I am much more aware of environmental issues, I have lovely fresh eggs to eat and give away, and I have so much entertainment! You can spend as much or as little as you want, after the initial Eglu purchase - obviously you need layers pellets and grit, but you don't need a lot of supplements and things. There are all sorts of little extra bits and pieces you can buy, but most of them are totally unnecessary (and I speak as one whose garage is full of chicken-kit! ) Chickens are really, really easy to look after. I work 9-5 and have an hour's commute each way, so in the winter mine were in the run all day, every day with only a brief outing at weekends. They survived, and I can't wait for next week when I think it will (just) be light when I get in from work! You truly won't regret it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Does anyone regret getting chickens? Never in a million years! I dithered and lurked on the forum for months before I took the plunge....and was a little nervous about "had I done the right thing?" for a couple of days when they first arrived........but that soon passed. So much so that I got a second Eglu and 4 more hens 3 months later! Go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catsareus Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Hello, Just to tell you that my friend bought a wooden chicken house 2 years ago and has since had to buy another one and so has actually spent the price of a cube, but a cube would still be in great condition, last much longer and keep it's value. So an eglu every time for me. Just bought a brand new cube and a secondhand eglu on ebay (actually got a bargain!) and think they are just great! I have also found them easy to look after and just love the eggs. No regrets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Woo Hoo. Shout it loud Catsareus! It was the ease of cleaning and the red mite issue that sold the Eglu to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Welcome to the forum, Maglett . I don't regret getting my eglu & hens either. In fact, I agree with everything Olly said (couldn't have put it better .) I'm in a housing estate with neighbours either side and noise isn't an issue apart from the occasional squarking. One side didn't know we had them for the first month (and their small girls screech much louder than my girls) . I've left mine for 8 days and had friends popping in every 2 days to refill food/water. They were fine! The eglu is SO easy to clean and you don't have to worry about maintenance ..... ever . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chili pepper Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Ive never regretted getting the hens and my OH who was a little less eager shall we say now speaks very highly of them to everyone we meet, and admits he likes nothing better than sitting in the garden watching them, he says the effect is a bit like watching tropical fish, very calming. I too worry about neighbours, one side we get on brilliantly with who will give us their garden vegetable waste and in return we give them eggs, I even caught the man next door trying to get grapes into the eglu run from over his fence! The other side we dont really speak to but they have never complained, they have a yorkshire terrier (need I say more!) so wouldn't have a leg to stand on should they come knocking! The cost after purchase of the eglu is minimal, as Ive got ex batts I feed layers mash and I can get a bag of this from my local farm shop for less than £6 and lasts probably about a month or so (i've got 3 hens). Yes, they will reduce the grass to mud in an amazingly short period of time, we have ours in a permanent run on a bed of bark which we (meaning OH!) change every couple of months or so. I would recommend chicken keeping to anybody, its so much fun and fascinating too! Good luck Maglett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 I agree with what everyone else has said, but will add that it's incredibly easy to find chicken sitters while you're away. So many people get so excited with the prospect of being able to collect fresh eggs Go for it. We love our chickens and my father in law has just decided he wants some now and he doesn't even like animals! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkybijou Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 I've only had my two chooks almost four weeks and I definitely don't regret it at all! My eglu is fantastic - keeps them warm, easy to clean, looks fabulous and is very low maintenance too. At the weekend when it was a bit warmer me and my hubby, plus our two children, all sat in the conservatory laughing at our chooks for half an hour as they snuggled up in an old washing up bowl filled with compost (their dust bath). They were such fun to watch and are really developing their individual personalities! Kris Doris, Welsummer Dora, Wyandotte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...