Chickvic Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 We've had our girls for 11 days and have gone chicken mad! Hubby is going to build a bigger, permanent run (11sq m) and we are looking at getting another 3 girls. We only have an eglu and can't afford to upgrade to a cube yet! Will 6 chickens roost together in the eglu or do we need to wait for something bigger? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 I've had 5 big girls sleeping comfortably in an eglu - also had 16 young chicks, 4 big girls + 2 big chicks + 2 ducks.....and various other combinations . 6 would be ok as long as their run was big enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Once you have got your bigger run they should be fine. Occasionally my rounding up at bedtime doesn't go according to plan and more than once I have had 5 or 6 in one Eglu and 2 or 3 in the other. There is plenty of room for sleeping. During the day though they need more room to wander about . Also, one nesting box per 4 hens is the recommended minimum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted April 13, 2008 Author Share Posted April 13, 2008 Thanks for quick replies! How can I add another nesting box? Should I get something else to fit in the eglu or something to go outside? Don't mean to be daft, but I'm not sure what's best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 i would have thought a box outside the eglu would be fine, i mean chickens will lay anywhere lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 A heavy shallow plant pot would do the trick. Someone on the forum has recently added a child's potty to the run because of queues in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 Mine quite like a washing up bowl full of straw or shredded paper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zircon Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 Hi Chickvic......We started with 2 last May and this weekend we picked up more Hens, making 8 !!!! Hens are taking over Birmingham !!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 personally, I wouldn't as the advice (we were given by the BHWT coordinator) is a maximum ratio of 3 chickens per nesting box. Someone on here had their chooks fighting over a nesting boxes. Having battery hens myself, I wouldn't consider 'squeezing' in more than the coop can comfortably accommodate as they've been squeezed in enough during their short lives. Just my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I wouldn't get more until you've had yours for a good few months. Particularly in wet wintery weather when the run is muddy, you might find fewer in a big space much easier and much more pleasnat to look after. I also wouldn't add more to the eglu than is recommended - next boxes, any squabbling, etc etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I wouldn't put more in the Eglu than Omlet recommend either because overcrowding leads to bullying. I bought a bigger coop so that I could have more hens rather than force them to squash into the Eglu. I know there looks like there's a lot of room in there but would you want to be squashed into a room with lots of others? I wouldn't. I have a Cube with 6 hens and even with the larger nest, I am having the most awful problems with them all wanting to lay at the same time and making a racket because there isn't room. I'm going to have to get some extra nest boxes made for them to try and relieve the problem. If you want to expand your flock, you'd surely be better saving up for another Eglu or buying a Cube rather than force your hens to play sardines every night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleredhen Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I often have all 4 of my ex-batt girls sleeping in one nest box (they won't use the perches). They seem to like cosying up altogether, it is a bit of a squeeze though as they are not exactly small girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...