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

[christmasoompa]

Hi all,

 

Well, only two sleeps until the Eglu and chooks arrive! We've got a and coming from Eglu but on the advice of people on here have decided we need an additional hen to avoid them 'pairing'. So we're going to go to Crofters Farm, very near us, to get one more on Monday morning.

 

But I'm now wondering if we will struggle to choose between them all (they got more stock in on Friday and have got lots of lovely ones!) and perhaps should get an extra two?!?

 

Has anybody got 4 hens in an Eglu and if so, are they really comfortable? I know they say you can have 4 hens in it but I'm worried it would be too small for them, particularly as none would be small breeds (would probably go for an Amber Star & Bluebelle or similar).

 

Any thoughts from anyone? Should we stick to 3 as planned or add another?!?

 

Thank you!

[ubereglu]

I have four hens quite happily living inside an eglu-two bluebelles, a cream legbar and a barnevelder. They all fit it quite comfortably and I haven't had too many problems, apart from Spice laying on the floor every so often when Muddles has been in the nestbox!

[WitchHazel]

It's not really the size of the Eglu, it's the size of the run. If your girls are free ranging all day then you might be alright with 4.

 

I not, then you need extensions to your run.

[Purplemaniacs]

We have four in an eglu, they seem to have plenty of room in the eglu, the standard run is too small for four I think. We love our four and are now beginning to plan a walk in run and a cube, purple of course

[chelsea]

four is ok for roosting in the eglu. If yours free range a lot you might manage with the standard run, if they are confined a lot I would definitely go for the extension.

[christmasoompa]

Sorry, should have said that ours will be mainly free ranging as I'll let them out whenever I'm around which is the majority of the time as I work from home.

 

So perhaps 4 would be ok? Haven't even got them yet and already addicted!

 

Still, as hubby pointed out earlier, at least if I get 4 to start with then I won't be able to add any more at a later date!! Think he thinks it's inevitable we'll have 4 so might as well get them all together to start with!

[Lapinou]

Ooh! Only one sleep now! I bet your little one is getting excited!

 

Wish we'd got four now! Can people please stop posting about having more chickens/cube instead of eglu etc - making me jealous

[Egluntyne]

4 will be fine in the Eglu itself, but you will need an extension on the run.

 

I used to have 4 in each of my green Eglus (one now sold) . It was fine for a month or so when they were young, but I soon found I needed to extend the run.

 

They need to be able to get away from each other sometimes, and need room to stretch their wings, which have a surprisingly large span.

[christmasoompa]

Thanks all. Still undecided! Will just wait and see how I feel once I've seen the two Omlet chooks in the Eglu, and then decide whether to add one or two to them.

 

Decisions, decisions!! Thanks for all your input.

 

[chickencam]

We have got 4 in an Eglu with a run extension and they freerange for about 2 hours a day. We had 3 then one died so we thought it would be easier to introduce 2 more rather than 1.

 

We have had some problems but I think this is mainly down to having 2 white and 2 black and also the individual personalities.

 

We have harmony most of the time. We have also had a couple of eggs utside the nest box but only a couple.

[Mutrix Farmers]

We had 3 then one died so we thought it would be easier to introduce 2 more rather than 1.

 

the farmer we got our girls from recommended 3 for this very reason.

[Donna]

We have got 4 in an Eglu with a run extension and they freerange for about 2 hours a day. We had 3 then one died so we thought it would be easier to introduce 2 more rather than 1.

 

We bought three chickens last month - sadly one had to be put to sleep last Friday (intestinal blockage). I am now considering getting two more - my breeder seems to think that 4 in an Eglu are fine if free ranging most of the time (which mine do). I also have an extension to the run, I am concerned about the introductions though - I don't have a tempoary henhouse but I might have to get one! Introducing two may be easier than one - but I don't know.

[Pinkybijou]

I only got two chickens when I got my Eglu and wished I'd got three for the reasons others have given. We now have a chick in our brood, fingers crossed it's a girl. Our chooks are small and have loads of space, but the Eglu at my son's school has four HUGE chickens in it, all bog standard ginger chooks but compared to mine they are monster chickens. They don't get to free range and it does look very crowded in there. I don't know if that helps or not, it's hard to gague how big your chooks will get I suppose! I have a Welsummer, which I have read is meant to be a big bird but she's tiny, more bantam sized really.

 

HTH

[E4eggs]

I have four chickens (two Omlet girls and two ex-batts) in a run with an extension. They free range when we are in the garden, or when my two girls (human) are around. They seem fine. I get very guilty if I try to quietly walk past them, as when I go outside they seem to clamour to be let out, but I just think that's because I usually signify treats or release!!! When I watch them from an upstairs window they're happily pottering. They free range for between 1-3 or 4 hours, maybe more at weekends. I'm so paranoid about foxes, which is why it's strictly supervised.

[Hen Watch]

I have 4 hybrids in my eglu. Mine free range for half the day, and I have a converter to add an extra metre to the run which I think is essential for 4.