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

[MadMitch]

Its now 7 weeks since we got the cube and the girls. When we ordered it we couldn't decide whether to get rescue chooks or pure breds and in the end we went for some "at risk" breeds (Ixworths, Dorkings etc.) as there was no rescue planned for another two months in our area and we had already waited two months for the cube to arrive.

I would still really like some rescue chooks though, so I was pondering on buying another cube. We have an acre of garden so space isn't a problem and as I work for myself, the time involved to look after them isn't an issue either.

The thing is I'm not sure whether or not I should get them. Just because I want some and could get some doesn't make it right to get them and It's not as if we need the eggs as there is only the two of us since DD left home.

So do I: -

(a) Go for the cube and get 6+ resuce hens?

(b) Don't get one and enjoy the 6 girls I have?

© Meet in the middle and get an eglu and 3/4 rescue girls (to suppliment my eggs when mine stop laying over winter)?

 

What do you all think?

[Tessa the Duchess]

I am having exactly the same ponderings as you are. I would love to get some exbatts, but equally would love to get two bluebelles. I think getting an Eglu and three ex batts sounds like a great idea for you, although if you got another cube you could add even more to your flock at a later date...hmm

 

Tessa

[Janty]

I would always go for a cube rather than the eglu as the run has so much more space. My girls have mostly taken to cramming into the cubes at night as they prefer the cube. We bought a second cube to rescue four ex-batts. If you have the land and the time then why not.

[kannie]

You could take another approach, and give the cube + ex-bats on long-term loan to a local school, residential care home, day centre for people with learning difficulties or something like that.

 

Then you would help to spread the word around about battery eggs, enjoy other people's enjoyment of the chooks & eggs, get to rescue some hens, and feel incredibly virtuous!

[WitchHazel]

ow wonderful to have the space for two cubes!

 

Why not see how it goes and enjoy your current girls, and see how you feel in a couple of weeks/months time?

 

I'm sure you'll still want to increase yoour flock, but you'll have given yurself time to make sure it's not just the novelty value.

[Ms Tilytinkle]

Well if you have the room for another cube, you have the time & you can rescue. .then why not? You seem very sensible, responsible & obviously have all the loving care & thoughts required.

 

I was concerned about my 6 & if it were wrong to have a couple more. Unexpectedly a lady visiting us noticed our chickens in the garden & shrieked with delight when she saw ours free ranging, She then began telling us she used to keep 100's & loved them all & looked after them all. She had acres of land & absolutely loved chickens & used to rescue all of the time. Anyone in her local area would take their poorly chicken to her & she would nurse them back to health. She laughed at my concerns & said if you have the time, the space & the love - go for it. We didn't as i am happy with 6 for the time being.

Hope you can trust the instinctive feelings deep inside when you visualise having another cube & some more chickens, whether you're to rescue etc trust how it feels.

 

Good Luck with your decision & either way .. enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

 

They bring much joy but what you can give them: ie. love, freedom, care & joys is of equal importance.

 

I may be one of the minority few, but you question whether is it right, but what could be wrong if you really can give them all some loving, wonderful freedom, a great life & ' ideal space' to free range & i also think at least you've only had your original brood a few weeks so they all may adapt quite well if introduced sensibly, carefully & slowly. You have all the time & love to be able to do this . .so i say why not? Some people buy 12 to begin with. .. some have many more, some many less. Its all about what we can responsibly give & you have a lot of space, time & love to share.

 

 

Bless you & yours. Perhaps sleep on it & then enjoy whatever decision you decide is right for you & yours.

 

Ms Tillythinkslifestooshortandwhatyouhaveissolovelytoshare.

[Tweety]

I had the same dilemma when I was thinking about getting my first chickens. I really wanted ex-batts, but was worried that I might not be able to look after them properly as I had no experience. In the end, I went for a Cube and Omlet chooks and have added various hybrids and rare breeds in the past year. I now have 17 gorgeous girls in a Cube and an Eglu, but would still like to rescue some ex-batts and, like you, have lots of room and am at home to look after them. So I have just put my name on the waiting list for 4 rescue chooks and am so looking forward to getting them. If you have the time, space and desire to give some poor ex-batts some TLC, why not do it?

[abwsco]

We started off in April with ex batts and they have and still are giving us sooooooo much pleasure If you've the time and you've obviously got the room I would say just go for it. Mind you, don't rely on them to still lay. Some days we only get 2 from our 6 but I think they deserve a rest anyway after what they've gone through.

[Gallina]

I would say to anyone that if they have room and the spare cash for a second Cube or Eglu they should go for it. It gives you so many options.

 

The Cube gives more scope than the Eglu -- but if you think you might ever want to hatch your own eggs, the Eglu is more useful as a separate breeding pen.

[Egluntyne]

I agree. My green Eglu is housing my new girls and my Yellow one is on loan to a pal who is hatching chicks at the mo.

[Hen Watch]

Its now 7 weeks since we got the cube and the girls. So do I: -

(a) Go for the cube and get 6+ resuce hens?

(b) Don't get one and enjoy the 6 girls I have?

© Meet in the middle and get an eglu and 3/4 rescue girls (to suppliment my eggs when mine stop laying over winter)?

 

Oh Michelle, what a lovely dilemma.....

 

I can think of good reasons to go for all 3 options..... I'm no help really am I????

 

a) If you've got the space, then go for it and ex batts are a worthy cause.

 

b) You also could take time to enjoy your current girls. Chickens are very easy to look after but looking back over 1 whole year now, I realise I have learn sooooo much in that time. I've done under the weather chooks, a dying one, sour crop, impacted crop, sudden noise at night, pecking order introductions, worming experience etc. Obviously not all at once and none of them big problems but all valuable experience. And with the help of forum members on this site, there's still much more to learn.

 

c) Having my Omlet hybrids laying eggs all Winter has been great. But then as egg laying machines I'm not sure how long they can sustain that. Eglu is good (I've got one with 4 hens) but a 2nd cube might be better.

 

Like I say, I'm absolutely no help at all. Good luck in whatever you decide.

[beach chick]

it sounds as if you are thinking very carefully which is great.

we started with 4 in an eglu and freeranging all day - I've now got a 2nd eglu and another 4 babies, and am on the list for some ex-batts end of Aug. so I'm the same as you - addicted! we dont really need the eggs either, but I love giving them to people, so dont worry about that.

and I'm also thinking about a cube... so will watch your decision with interest!!

[WitchHazel]

Hello again.

 

My Eglu (which I bought to house my new babies until they can go in tyhe Cube and Run with the big girls) arrived today. I was buyst pressure washing the Cube, so my DH unpacked everything and put it together for me.

 

I love the shape... *but* after my DH put it together and I had lined the poop tray, hung up the grub and glug etc, I sat on the grass and shocked myself by thinking out loud "I should have bought another cube instead".

 

My consolation is that the spare Eglu will be easier to store than a spare Cube.

[dancing cloud]

Five weeks ago, I went from 0 hens and 0 experience to 6 ex-batts in a Cube, having thought about keeping chickens for years and been finally swayed by the prospect of offering ex-batts a home. I also went through the could/should debate before finally going for it (after much reading of this forum).

 

Five weeks on and I can't recommend them enough. If you are able to take on more, and you have clearly given it a lot of thought, I'd say go for it. Watching my 6 confused and scrawny feather-bares turn into 6 happy, confident and very cheeky little individuals (still growing feathers) has been a fantastic experience . I wondered whether I would have enough time, attention, love etc to give to 6 chooks and the 2 cats, but it all just kind of happens.

 

I wouldn't part with my scoffalots now, so my vote would definitely be for choice (a).

[MadMitch]

Thanks for all your thoughts and advice. Its good that you all think I should go for the ex batts, I am sure that they will be very rewarding and if I can give a few poor hens a better home then it would make me happy.

There are no rescues planned in our area at the moment so I have a bit more time to mull over it but I think it will be very hard not to go ahead and get some be it a cube or an eglu.

I have a run already so I would only have to buy the cube and it always seems to me that for another £100 or so you get alot more for your money than with the eglu.

Thanks again.