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Eglu performance in snow

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Hello, I live in Canada and am seriously considering purchasing an Eglu. Does anybody have an Eglu where you receive snow throuout the winter? How does the Eglu perform in winter temps averaging -10 degrees Celsius? Does the Eglu stay warm enough without additional heating?

 

Thank you for any information provided.

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Hi Canadian - welcome to the forum!

 

Have you tried the US website? Nowhere in the UK has the kind of climate you describe, though we have had night temperatures down to -6 this winter, even in the south of England. That said, most of us don't even bother to close the eglu door at night unless temperatures drop below about -2, and our hens seem to stay warm enough. A few extra calories (maize or mixed corn) before bedtime helps as well!

 

I've seen photos of US eglus buried in snow - I should think the snow itself affords insulation, turning the eglu into an igloo :)

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Hello and welcome Canadian. :lol:

 

I think you are our first member from Canada....although we have a few from the USA.

 

We seldom get temperatures as low as minus 10C in the UK......although it did reach minus 6 here a few weeks ago.......and the Eglu was fine.....my girls were as warm as toast.....and I don't close the doors!

 

If you pop over to the US Omlet forum, there is a thread called "Winterising my Eglu" **here** which shows some intriguing modifications made by LindaN to cope with very cold weather in her area.

 

Also there is something called a **Snugglesafe** Which you heat in the microwave oven.

 

Usually available on Ebay.

 

I hope that helps.

 

Let us know if you do get one. :lol:

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Hello Canadian and welcome to the forum.

 

 

We had temps down to -9 a few weeks ago and the girls and eglu were fine! :D

 

They cuddle up together and fluff up their feathers to trap air. Their body temp is higher than ours too.

 

As others have suggested, take a look at the US site as they have more extremes of weather than we do.

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Thank you so much everyone for such a warm welcome!!

 

You're right about the US site not having much of a forum....I actually haven't even located the US forum...if there is one. I did read about the winterizing of the Eglu some folks did. I just thought that obviously there would be many more Eglu users in the UK, and for a longer period of time, thus greater feedback information.

 

My husband and I have basically decided to go ahead with the Eglu. And my gosh is it complicated to get one in Canada! We will have to have it shipped to a US city and then drive 6 hours into the US to pick it up and come home. It would be fabulous if Omlet could expand to Canada! I only with the company further success so they may do so.....and bring the Eglu Cube to Canada as well!! :wink:

 

I did locate a source for purebred Chantecler chickens (both Partridge and White), and will be picking up fertilized eggs from there and incubating them. A neighbor and I will be dividing the chickens once they're hatched and older. I am fascinated by the history of the Chantecler being Canada's only breed, but mostly I chose this breed for the winter hardiness and greatly reduced comb and wattles. Does anybody else have any Chanty's?

 

Both my neighbor and I grew up with chickens so we are returning to our childhood love! :D

 

I am absolutely thrilled with the Eglu design and look forward to eventually getting it here!

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Egluntine....that's super info on the Snugglesafe! I'll probably pick one up on ebay. I think with the winter hardy Chanteclers and the Snugglesafe for backup, things should be fine. Should things really be cold, I can always get them to a heated pen at my neighbors.

 

I'm so thrilled to have discovered the Eglu and the forum. You've all been so helpful!

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