Janty Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 At the moment I have three pekins and a buff orp miniature in the eglu. I have just bought a converter and a run. We may be getting two Rhode Island red bantams at the weekend and I was hoping to house these with the other bantams in the eglu with extensions. My girls do free range as much as possible but I was wondering if people think that the girls would have enough room in this set up. Please excuse me...I feel guilty enough leaving the four bantams in the eglu when I go to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 You could comfortably get 5 or 6 in the Eglu itself......The run size is really the clincher, ad with an extension it should be OK as they will have the opportunity to free range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 I'm the wrong person to ask Janty - I have 10 bantam babes in an eglu with an extension on the run . I have to add that they freerange all day, and on the very odd occasion that they need to stay in the run for a bit, they are fine and have plenty of things to play with in there. I have an RIR bantam and she is the friendliest bird I've ever had, follows me around, joined at the hip and handbag and is a brilliant layer. Wonderful nature too and very bright... good choice Janty! can we have some photos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted March 27, 2008 Author Share Posted March 27, 2008 Photos will be posted. Kop boy has got all the books out so that he can do his research. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Good for him! That encyclopaedia of poultry bu the Dutch people (sorry, can't remember the right name) is brilliant for advice etc. And has good pictures too, a sort of mail order catalogue for chooks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Claret I can see why you do it. I could easily have all 7 of mine in the egly and double the amount. In fact when I finally build the run I am going to get more without feeling bad about the hous espace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 They all sleep in the smallest possible space at night and there' sstill room for more, but I shan't increase my numbers - 10 is enough for the housing and the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 My 4 all pile in the nest box at night so I can see that 10 would easily fit in to the eglu. But there must be a limit to the number you need? What a lot of beaks to feed. My bantams eat more than my big girls when they are not broody. I notice that 3 are piled up in the nest box today Better get out these with the ice pack... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Three of your ones friends are broody here too. they have eggs but I dont think theyre going to hatch. when I check theres often an egg left out. Bad parenting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Bad parenting. 'Vikki Pollard Mums'! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Bron - do you still have a cockerel or did you acquire the eggs? These girls' mums and aunties were forever hatching chicks - that is why there was so many of them in that barn. All gone now though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 I bought a cheap batch of 6 assorted bantam eggs. I thought the odds on all six hatching being low and I have space for a few more anyway. I tried candling them a couple of days ago. Two were maybes but will have to see. I dont hold ou tmuch hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Fingers crossed you will get one and it'll be a girl... If I had known you wanted to hatch I could have grabbed you some eggs before the others went off to the farm...mind you it was still a bit cold then (they had already hatched one lot, but lost them - our man did not exercise any control over them) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted March 28, 2008 Author Share Posted March 28, 2008 But there must be a limit to the number you need? What a lot of beaks to feed. I know what you mean. We get through 4 bags of layers mash with bokashi in just under a month plus pellets, etc. I don't mind though. The chickens have become part of the family and although we have 15, the ex-batts don't really lay and the rest give us about 6 eggs a day on average. However, it was our choice to go with pure breeds and the hens have been the best pets for teaching son about responsibility, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...