Jules. Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 This has got me thinking. I am due to pick up two new girls at the end of May - a SLW & cream legbar to go with my two . Now I have my run convertor I'm tempted to get another one, making 3 new girls in total, & 5 in an eglu with a convertor. They will have lots of free ranging time down at the bottom of the garden behind the Omlet netting..... Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 I'm not sure what size the converter is, but the general consensus seems to be one hen per 1sqm of run, and the standard run is only about 2sqm, so you might be pushing it with 5 hens. Free-ranging time is good, but you have to allow for bad weather, holidays, etc, when that might be severely limited. Perhaps someone with a converter and extension will let us know how many hens they have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 I had 4 in an eglu with converter - it was only just enough really Jules. I was like you Jules, desperately wanted another one, but it wouldn't have been fair on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 I have 4 per eglu with extension and converter. If they were going to be confined for any length of tme I wouldn't put another hen in. They need to be able to fully stretch their wings and take more than a couple of steps. When I got my Eglus the received wisdon was one 1 metre piece of run per hen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted April 7, 2008 Author Share Posted April 7, 2008 It'll have to be 4 hens & a convertor then, or 5 hens+ and a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 I have 4 hens + eglu run + converter. Think 5 might be pushing it though. Isn't it more to do with the eglu size as well. Sure I read somewhere Omlet say up to 4 medium chickens (or 2 heavy chickens, or 6 bantams) in the actual eglu part? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 Five used to sleep in my eglu but it was inside a walk in run. There was a queue for the nestbox though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 My 11 have both eglu and cube in a big run and are not confined to the omlet run in any way. It was their choice to pack all 11 of them into the eglu (silly things). They were all beak to tail and not a feather space between them...... It reminded me of the party game "sardines" we used to play as children! Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farrowy Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I have 5 chooks in eglu run + converter + extension. Although 2 of my chooks are bantams and not that big. I've just popped outside and here's a picture - excuse all the various covers - it's from the snow at the weekend! Also couldn't resist a quick pic of the girls (and henry!) enjoying the sunshine! Does that look like enough space? Mine free range most if the week - but when they are in the run they seem OK..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Farrowy, I think yours is just right - you have a converter plus extension, so double the run length, plus two of yours are banties, so you have the equivalent of 4 big hens in yours. I think more will often squash into the eglus together (I know, I had 7 in an eglu one evening!) but it isn't ideal all the time, and it is better if they have an option to spread out. It is more important in summer when ventilation and over heating might be bigger problems. I have a cube and a large walk in run - last night I noticed two of them in the main run roosting in the branches! Just remind me why I bought them a state of the art orange cube will you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farrowy Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I think more will often squash into the eglus together (I know, I had 7 in an eglu one evening!) but it isn't ideal all the time, and it is better if they have an option to spread out. It is more important in summer when ventilation and over heating might be bigger problems. I've notice that on the milder nights they spread out and have their own space but on the very cold nights they all seem to sleep on top of one another! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I've notice that on the milder nights they spread out and have their own space but on the very cold nights they all seem to sleep on top of one another! Yes I think that is true as well. In the summer they sometimes even petch on the rungs of the ladder and sleep there but in the winter they just pile on top of each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I tried 5 hens in an eglu run with converter, but it really was very squashed. Fine while I was around and they could freerange but not if I was out. Also, when I covered the run in the wet weather it was a bit like a polytunnel and not very accessible. It was easy for the old hens to bully the new ones and keep them away from the food as they daren't go past them in the tunnel. We ended up building a big covered run and they are much happier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Jules, what I really think you need are 3 new girls and a walk in run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted April 9, 2008 Author Share Posted April 9, 2008 Jules, what I really think you need are 3 new girls and a walk in run I know I do Tell that to my credit card Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...