Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[alih]

we have 2 happy chooks in a normal sized eglu and run, but of course ( ) I want to add 2 more. I think 4 would be ok in the eglu itself but know I would have to add at least one extension...please can anyone tell me whether one is enough or whether I should add more - they are on an old veggie patch so the length will determine whether or not they can stay there...and no, i can't afford a cube! Am only recently married and don't fancy testing my husband's devotion quite yet! Thanks in advance for your help.

[cluckbok]

I would have no more than 4 in the eglu but if I had 4 would extend the standard run. We've got 3 in eglu and standard run at mo, but ours free range everyday for a few hours in the evening. I would have thought just the one extension would be ok, but someone elses opinion may differ. Also depends on the sizes of your chickens.

[alih]

thanks, cluckbok - yes ours free range almost every day for at least 2 hours or all day long at weekends...am keeping fingers crossed that one will be enough but don't want them to be squashed

[Egluntyne]

When mine were in the Eglus I had 4 in each green one (I had 2) with a converter and an extension. It gave them plenty of room.

 

More than 4 in an Eglu and you might run into difficulties nesting box wise as the recommendation is 1 per 4 hens.

 

There is plenty of room in the sleeping accommodation.

[cluckbok]

Also don't forget you have to be careful with introductions, someone on here today has posted a pic of their poor pecked and bullied chook. She's had to go back to breeder to heal. If it were me I would keep newbies separate for a while and then let them freerange under supervision.

[alih]

ooh this is sounding ood - thanks egluntine - next silly question is whether you can remember ( or know) how much longer the run would be with a converter and extension on?

[alih]

sounding Good even...can't type for excitement...

[alih]

yes have been reading about the intros - am ashamed to say the only reason this is now possible is that my friend's chicken have all ben got by a f*x and she isn't going to get any more till September so I could borrow her cube for the separate accommodation for a few weeks no problem - silver linings and all that!

[AMO]

ooh this is sounding ood - thanks egluntine - next silly question is whether you can remember ( or know) how much longer the run would be with a converter and extension on?

 

I think the converter is a 1 m length. You can then add more extensions which are 1 m long too.

[Egluntyne]

Each extra bit is a metre long.

 

Do take care over the intros won't you and beg steal or borrow some separate accommodation for starters.

[alih]

thanks guys, knew you would know that answers, and promise to be careful about intros...

[Tiggy]

I've got 4 in a run with converter & extension they seem to be OK

[quickcluck]

silly question, whats the diff between a converter and extension

[poachedegg]

silly question, whats the diff between a converter and extension

 

You need a convertor to add to the standard run (which adds a meter) and then you can add extensions after that (a meter for each one)

 

HTH