lucywatkins Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Hi, I have not a clue what I am doing, so don't know if this posting will even work, but I have a question and would be most greatful for a reply...... We had our first delivery of an eglu cube on wednesday and are thrilled with it, only to have our bubble burst yesterday. I went to meet a poultry supplier and she initially refused to sell me chickens (even though I was only making general enquries) as I told her I had an eglu. She went into a long lecture about how bad they are for chickens and the main reason being, the subject of roosting bars. She has said that the eglu roosting bars are totally unsuitable, too low off the gound and the slates are too narrow - she told me I must build additional roosting bars to place inside the cube, 6 inches off the ground and head height of a minimum 18". Can anyone tell me how important this is? Has anyone else done it? If so what did you do? On a seperate note, the glug in an eglu cube - does anyone put in additional bowls of water or is everyone happy that their chickens get enough water from it? Many thanks in anticipation of a reply. Lucy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imo Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Hi there!! I've heard many people seem to disagree with the design of the eglu and can be quite awkward about it - I've had mine for over 3 years now, with no trouble. Easy to use, easy to clean, the chooks love it. I've never heard the roosting bar theory - as far as I can tell, the chickens are perfectly happy and healthy in the eglu. And I've never had to put extra bowls in the run - my two girls get all the water they need from the glug. Hopefully I've answered your questions, and I'm sure someone else will be along shortly to add some more info!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Hello Lucy and welcome to the forum many breeders are not fans of the eglu and I think it boils down to one thing - There are not 'traditional'! I wouldn't worry at all. My girls have been very happy for 2 years now. I love my eglus and the hens love it too. (they haven't told me this, but you know what I mean ) Enjoy your new chickens!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Well i have a woden coop which i am happy with that hubby made BUT i had a roosting bar, off the ground etc they didnt go near it even when i put them on it, so i made an eglu type roosting rack thingy and they love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 My girls love the Cube and don't appear to have had any problems with the roosting bars. When I was deciding whether to get a hen house from Omlet or a more traditional wooden house, I seem to remember reading that Omlet had consulted animal welfare experts when designing the Eglu, so I would have thought that they would have taken the roosting arrangements into account in their consultations. I think Christian has hit the nail on the head as regards hostility towards the Eglu from some breeders, and I really wouldn't worry about the roosting bars in your Cube. You have made a good choice and your chickens will be very happy living in their luxury accomodation! Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 hi, we have had our cube since May and our girls love it you could try a breeder off the Omlet list and get your girls from them (if the breeder is on the list, then maybe you could call someone and get it removed from the list if they are being "funny" ) http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4658 good luck cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Crikey. Another luddite. Omlet have done a great deal of research when designing their products. This is just another example of someone not being able to accept something new. Ignore her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 gah. Eglus have been around for ? years now (I don't know how many, but several). If the roosting bars caused problems, we would know about it by now. I know that the people who post on this forum are only a proportion of those who have bought Eglus overall, but it just isn't possible that the Eglu as a product could be dangerous/damaging to chickens, and for this not to have been discovered by now. Sorry you had a bad experience with this breeder, welcome to the forum. We may have different opinions on here but at least you will get answers based on people's own experience! Re the glug - no, I have still to see mine drink from it, despite several attempts on my part to train them. I put a spare 'peanut' of water in. Some people use bunny bottles, but I don't think mine would use that, if they won't use the Glug. I wish I could teach them to use it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Hi Lucy COngratulations on your Cube! I expect the breeder youwere talking about was thinking of the Eglu rather than the Cube.... and even then, as others have said, it seems that there are a few people out there who dislike the modern style of Omlet's products. There are plenty of other helpful and enthusiatic breeders out there, and a fantastic variety of hens to choose from. Hope you get your Girls soon, and please post pics when you do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 What I don't understand is this. What difference can it possible make how high the bars are from the ground????? They will use them in the same way,so I really cannot see what difference an extra few inches height will make? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Same here. As I said....another luddite talking through his/her hat. As for this ...refusing to sell to people because they have Eglus....I can't get my breath. I think Omlet need to be informed every time this happens, and the details of such breeders passed on to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucywatkins Posted April 23, 2008 Author Share Posted April 23, 2008 Wow, thank you all for replying and with such helpful advice. Amazed that you get such quick and helpful responses. So relieved to here what you have all said, as it was causing us slight concern. We won't bother with the roosting bars, but currently our girls are sleeping in the eggport - is this okay or should we be encouraging them to sleep on the slated floor? Lucy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 It doesn't matter if they sleep in the nesting-box, and some of them definitely prefer it (they obviously haven't read the books which say that chickens need to roost on bars!). The only downside is that they tend to poo in there, and then the eggs .... You can put things in the nestbox to discourage them from sleeping there, but then you have to whip them out quickly before the girls want to lay. Or you can just accept it and clean up every day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 I've heard this one about the roosting bars before but my girls have no problems in their eglu, my ex bat girl always sleeps in the nesting box & wont let the others in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChickNic Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 I have read that they do like to roost as high off the ground as possible as it makes them feel safe. However, mine have been fine in an eglu for the last 8 months. I have noticed recently that Gretchen has started to roost on the rim of the nesting box. Although they used to both snuggle on top of eachother so not sure why she has changed habits. It's not a problem except every evening she poos in the box! For this reason I would consider building some higher bars in the eglu - if anyone has some suggestions how?! However, they are perfectly content in the eglu without them, and would just be for my convenience! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 I've got an eglu and a wooden house with higher roosting bars. None of my chooks use the high bars, but prefer to sleep on the floor or in the nestboxes. As long as they are comfy and safe they can sleep where they like as far as I'm concerned. I normally end up with more chooks in the eglu than the big house of a night-time. What's the betting this woman has never seen an eglu or a cube in the flesh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iChicken Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 Our chickens have never gone near the roosting bars we put up for them. The only time they get off the ground is when they occasionally stand on one of the rocks. If we put them on a roosting bar or up on a garden bench they jump straight down. Maybe they are scared of heights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jazz Girls Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 We have a hen-friend who had reservations about our Eglu, but was polite enough not to object. Now, nine months later, she freely admits she was wrong. The chickens are happy and healthy - what more could you want? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshire Chooks Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 No problem with roosting and ours never use the nipples on Glug so place it very low and they use it as a trough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucywatkins Posted April 25, 2008 Author Share Posted April 25, 2008 Thank you for the advice. On the same note, would the exclusion of roosting bars and the fact that they are sleeping and pooing in the eggport contribute towards infections of the vent? Again, this was suggested by the 'Voodoo Lady':wall: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 All 3 of mine squish into the nesting box to sleep at the mo! I put a sprinkle of louse powder in the hemcore in there and poo pick from it each morning before the eggs are laid. I also feed the girls a bit of bokashi to reduce the size of the poo. That keeps control of the pooey bums and they don't seem any the worse for it. I guess the chookies wouldn't sleep in it if it wasn't comfy. The roosting bars are there and they ignore them studiously Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucywatkins Posted April 25, 2008 Author Share Posted April 25, 2008 Hi Chicken Lickin What is hemcore and Bokashi? Sounds like martial arts!! Lucy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 hemcore/ aubiose is bedding - you get it from horsey places and lots of folk use it in the run/ nesting box - it is made from hemp fibre and reduces smells and volume of poo/ moisture. Hemcore also smells of citronella. Bokashi is an effective mocroorganism treated bran - people use it to compost with, but it also is good for chookies and reduces the size of their poo and makes it compost more quickly. You can buy pre mixed mash and pellets with bokashi in from wigglywigglers, but I just add a handful into their food or porrige - they love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 My two slept in the nest box for the first 10 days. I just fished out the poo every day. But then all of a sudden they moved to the bars, maybe it's because they were getting bigger, or they just felt safer - who knows?? Personally I just let them do what they want as long as they seem happy, they love the Eglu and so do I; it's a doddle to clean. Most breeders haven't had much experience of Omlet products, so they can't really pass judgement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 Bit late joining this thread, but wanted to say welcome to the forum, Lucy . I agree with the others, the eglu is great - and since when did chickens carry measuring tapes to measure the distance the bars are from the ground? That breeder is just jealous of our cool eglus & cubes . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...