My eco solution to rat problems

[One_Box]

I received my Eglu yesterday in the morning via courier and these are my first impressions : -

 

Negatives first :-

 

Run needs to be packaged better. One end of the box was open to the elements as the sticky tape had broken away although luckily no parts missing. On assembly I noticed that one panel had been damaged (plastic abraded away and starting to rust) over about 25mm - email and photo to James just before I wrote this.

 

I tried to fit the roosting bars but they were too big and were distorting the body of the eglu. The quality of construction of the bars leaves a lot to be desired (poor stapling and gluing). Lots of TLC with a plane, hammer and nails to get an acceptable result.

 

Positives : -

 

The kind people at Omlet are sending me a replacement set of roosting bars (new design coming soon I believe).

 

The eglu itself looks really nice and the door and egg hatch work without problem.

 

The substantial run went together well following the very clear instructions although it did take me longer than 45 minutes for the whole job!

 

I have secured the skirt all round with tent pegs, and now all I have to do is introduce the chooks to their new home

 

[Christian]

Congratulations One Box!

 

What colour did you get?

 

I do agree about the roosting bars! I had to hammer a couple of short nails into the corners of mine, but they are still ok after nearly 2 years.

 

Where are you getting your hens from?

 

I picked up 3 'new' girls from Beaulieu in November last year. Lots of choice!

 

Are you getting 2 or 3 newbies?

 

Sorry, far too early for all these questions!

[Janty]

You are luck. Omlet refused to send me new roosting bars despite the fact that mine fell apart when I took them out of the cardboard. I was told to glue them.

[One_Box]

Hi Christian,

 

Just got back with the new chooks

 

I have a Gingernut Ranger named Maggie and a Pied Suffolk (Sussex hybrid) named Bonnie. They are lovely birds only 16 weeks old and already seem a lot tamer than the wife's bantams.

 

They came from Foxfield Fowls in Ringwood which is a lot nearer to me than Beaulieu although I'm thinking of making a visit to the other side of the Forest to see what their set-up is like.

 

It is tipping it down at the moment and the chooks have taken refuge under a temporary tarpaulin I have draped over the Eglu (I don't think they have seen rain before!).

 

Janty, perhaps they have changed their policy, how long ago did you have the problem?

[Christian]

Wonderful news that you have your new girls One Box!

 

hope they settle in well and you don't have to wait too long for some eggs.

 

Pictures?

[One_Box]

Hi Christian,

 

Hope to get some photos of the girls soon, just waiting for the torrential rain to stop!!

[Egluntyne]

Congratulations One_Box.

[Blackrocksrock]

congrats on the new eglu - I bought new roosting bars in December and only used them 2 weeks ago - they are in bits already - really shoddy workmanship for what you pay for them- over £12 with postage for a few bits of broken wood!. I am going to ask a joiner friend to sort mine with a nail gun. Also they broke on the joining piece of wood just like the original ones which came with my 2nd hand eglu.

[Janty]

I got my eglu bars last November so they may have changed their policy as a result of the complaints that they have received.

[Jules.]

The roosting bars I got with my 2nd hand eglu are still going strong.

[Christian]

Hope to get some photos of the girls soon, just waiting for the torrential rain to stop!!

 

Ok, we will let you off, this time!

[druids57]

Hi New Box we got our girls today too. What a blow about the weather I dont think ours had seen it before either and Im so glad we bought a taupalin just in case. I hope for sun tomorrow so we can both get snapping and we dont get so wet and cold sitting out watching them

I bet you did!)

Druid

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Congratulations One Box . I've got a Pied Suffolk too so will look forward to seeing a picture .

 

I had to put a couple of tiny nails in my roosting bars but since then they've been fine.

[Blackrocksrock]

 

I had to put a couple of tiny nails in my roosting bars but since then they've been fine.

 

 

Don't you think we should not have to put in nails or glue them for the money we paid for them? I personally think with postage for £12 plus its quite appalling that they fall to bits so easily.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I quite agree but since mine only needed 2 nails I didn't do anything about it. I know others have had bars that literally fell apart . I would certainly have complained then.

 

The rest of the eglu and run has been perfect so I'm about 99% happy .

 

I think they're are looking into making plastic bars which presumably would be more sturdy. The trouble is, those of us with bars already aren't going to fork out yet more money for those .

[Blackrocksrock]

I would also love the plastic bars but I have 2 wooden sets so would need them to be completely trashed before I fork out again. I love the eglu but I think the run is rather small and I feel that adding on a convertor makes it even more difficult to get into - I woul rather a large enclosure I could walk into so I will have to save the pennies and learn to resist the forums usual money spending ways.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I woul rather a large enclosure I could walk into so I will have to save the pennies and learn to resist the forums usual money spending ways.

Me too also .

[andrewandcarly]

we got our second eglu on friday and the roosting bars were in bits when i opened the eglu. I phoned them and they are sending me some new ones. I have managed to nail them together, but they are a poor fit compared to the ones that came with the first eglu!

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

It's a real shame that so many people have had a poor experience of the roosting bars. Ours are fine. They fit and are firmly stapled together. A couple of natural splits are present, but this is to be expected in the wood. We've filled them with wood filler just to stop them being a potential haven for mites.

[One_Box]

Tried to fit my replacement roosting bars this morning (thanks Omlet!). Again I had to spend about an hour with file, plane etc to get them to fit properly. This is really disappointing, I will definitely make my own should I need any more in the future.

[ubereglu]

Well the set that came with my second hand eglu have been fine and haven't fallen to bits-these were from one of the first Mark 2 eglus. However I made a new set with wider perches further apart so then the poo drops through them more easily and thus helping cleaning!

[One_Box]

That would be my intention too ubereglu. I believe the bars should be of greater size mainly for the health and comfort of the chooks. I have an ark designed for bantams and that has a perch 2" square used by even the smallest rosecomb!

[Hen Watch]

I will definitely make my own should I need any more in the future.

 

Have you seen this post about home made eglu roosting bars.

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7877

 

I have 2 sets and both are wobbly where they are stapled gunned with short staples instead of nails. But the rest of the Omlet package/service is first class.

[One_Box]

Yes Hen Watch I've read that thread, probably just as well Omlet don't attempt to make conventional hen houses. The service however has been excellent.