4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Lapinou]

Hi

 

We're about to order an eglu (very excited!) but have a query about the number of chickens. It says on the eglu info that they are big enough for four chickens. We have three children and would like to order the maximum that you can on the website (which is 3), but it says 'only order three if you have a large garden and will eat lots of eggs'. We will eat heaps of eggs as our daughters eat enough as it is, but if they're out collecting them, I foresee DH and myself not getting a look-in! However, what we don't have is a large garden. We weren't planning on them being free-range anyway at first (have some veggies I need to work out how to protect, and fences we need to fix, and would only have them free-range when we're around anyway), so can someone explain why the size of garden is an issue please? Our garden isn't minute, but it certainly couldn't be described as 'large'!

 

TIA

 

Lapinou

[Christian]

I wouldn't worry about the size of garden Lapinou. I think it refers more to the lawn if you are planning on moving the eglu and run around.

 

If you keep the eglu is a permanent spot, you will be fine.

 

I have 3 hens in one eglu and run plus converter and 2 in an eglu and standard run.

 

They free range most days.

 

if you allow them free range all day, then the standard run will be ok, but you have to think of holidays or time away. 4 chickens in a standard run is too little room.

 

When you order, you can amend the number of chickens on the final order page by adding extra before you confirm payment

 

Good luck

[Lapinou]

Hi Christian

 

thank you for replying so quickly!

 

Can I ask something else? Re. moving it around. We plan on doing this at first because we can't afford to create a special woodchipped place for them at the moment - how important is the woodchip place that omlet talk about? I remember my parents chickens (in fact, all the farm chickens I've ever had any dealings with!) having just bare ground. If they free-range whenever we're around, so get plenty of opportunity to play on fresh grass, does it matter if their living space gets a bit bare?

 

Sorry if that's a naive question!

 

Lapinou

[Jules.]

My girls were on grass but are now are on bare earth topped with a horse bedding called aubiose that I put down & clear out about every month- the poos seem to disappear in it!

We are planning a patio slab base next, as we can top this with aubiose so the hens get to scratch around in it, & it can just be hosed down/brushed out when we need to clean it, this will be easier and less back breaking than digging it out & putting it on the compost heap as we usually do. We will also extend the "patio" area so that we can walk around the run without having to walk on the grass when the weather is wet.

 

If you fancy doing this why not try your local free cycle for flagstones? They don't have to match, the hens won't mind

[Lapinou]

Well...it's certainly something we'd think about. I've been investigating the garden this morning, with a metre stick and the best place to put it in terms of size is very unlevel...I'm hoping that woodchipping it will level it out then we can just replace the very top level of woodchips each time. How often do you need to replace them?

 

Lapinou

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