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

[Steph101]

Look I'm sorry, I know I've posted this on the eglus and cubes forum too,

but I figured I'd get more of a response on here...!

 

I've currently got a green eglu with a run, converter and extension. I've also got Omlet netting and let my four girls free range all day (which was not my original intention).

However, I am sorely tempted now into getting a cube - even though I've only had my eglu six months. But having read some bad reviews on it, problems with leaking, cleaning, etc, so I'm not so sure now. The lure of more chooks is tempting, but am I being reckless?

What is the maximum number of chickens I can keep in our garden, which is 36 x 36 square feet (about 1000 sq ft)? I can't decide.

My OH says do what I like (is he MAD)? It will have to be my birthday present...

What are the upsides and downsides?

[keyhole kate]

I started off like you with a eglu on the lawn and ( three girls) then to a permenant site then decided to increase my flock (seven) and got a cube I have not had a single problem with mine no leaks nothing I have a very small garden smaller than yours and the cube is definately better in my setting than the Eglu I find it takes no longer to clean my cube than my eglu did in fact it is a whole lot easier as it is off the ground no stooping or bending I have arthritis and had problems getting back up from the Eglu. My girls found the ladder a bit strange for the first couple of days since then they have no problems going up or down. One other advantage is if it rains my lot go in and shelter under the cube I would recommend a cube to anyone for me its been fantastic

 

Why dont you visit a cube owner have a good look then make a decision

 

Kitty

[Steph101]

I have visited a cube owner, and we were quite impressed, but I needed to hear other people's opnions. It's all sounding pretty positive so far.

[GreenGirl]

Hi Steph

New to the whole chicken obsession, I took delivery of a lilac cube yesterday after not being able to limit myself to getting less than 6 birds (I had visited an eglu and knew it would be too small for me to control myself!)

 

We started building it last night, unfortunately there is a problem with front panel so havent been able to finish, but I am more than happy with the space and layout of it. As keyholekate says, the bit underneath the house looks very cosy. I was worried it might like a bit of a monstrosity, but it looks quite pretty up on the patio, we have put it near the living room patio doors so I can keep on them, so they will be on bark/wood chips with the run surrounded by sleepers to hold it in.

 

I haven't collected the girls yet, and I am already thinking about adding another to the flock

[Egluntyne]

The plusses for the cube are the fact that you dont have to bend to clean it ir empty the trays, and there is a larger nesting box. Also the space underneath it is not wasted.

 

I haven't encountered any problems with leaks in mine, although it is in a walk in run now.

 

My view is that I like them both, for different reasons. A couple of Eglus possibly gives you a bit more flexibility re emergency accommodation etc, but a cube is very easy to look after.

[Steph101]

That sounds good enough for me; you own both after all, so you're in a good position to compare! Oooooh - getting excited now... I must be addicted to the rush of getting new chickens!

[WitchHazel]

I have both. I had my Cube first, then Igot an Eglu to temporarily house my Littlees until they are big enough to join the Big Girls.

 

For me the Cube wins hands down.

 

I love the shape ofthe Eglu. It's quite nice that it's relatively u"Ooops, word censored!"trusive. I like the fact that the top comes off really easily, and it's really quick to wash out.

 

I don't like that it needs cleaning out much more frequently than my Cube. I was also surprised to find it quite heavy to move, I thought it would be much easier than the Cube, but it isn't. And the grass that it sits on gets trashed, so it's a bit of a waste.

 

The Cube is lovely and roomy. There's no bending down. The poo trays are the right size and shape for newspaper lining without needing to practice origami. The nestbox is much bigger and airier. The space underneath is great, the chickens can shelter from the elements; it's not much harder than the Eglu to move (if you move it by the run). It all comes apart for easy cleaning. It seems to stay cleaner than the Eglu (I have two birds in each, I have no idea why it should be the case!). The Run is bigger and there is more scope for putting extra interest in. If you do the door conversion, it's much easier to get in than the Eglu run.

 

I'll keep my Eglu for introductions/hospital etc, and I don't regret having it. But the Cube is wonderful.

[Steph101]

Oh wow, now I'm really sold!

I should have gone on an unbiased website!

I can't wait...

[JEAN]

Glad to hear that the cube is getting good write ups as I've just ordered one. Our reasons for choosing over the eglu were that we felt we wanted more than just a couple of chickens and also like someone else has said, my husband has rheumatoid arthritis and has limited mobillty. However, I can see that if we ever want to add to the initial chickens it looks as though we may end up needing to buy an eglu anyway to seperate them at the introduction stage.

Not sure how many chickens to start off with now as we don't want to be overwhelmed as new chicken owners but ideally don't want to have to introduce new chickens soon after getting started as it sounds really stressfull.

Any recommendations?

[chelsea]

we've had 2 eglus and now have an eglu and the cube

 

pros of eglu -

 

sleek and stylish

neat and compact, flush with "clean lines"

easy to manouvre on your own when cleaning/easy to lift parts etc/easy to dismantle

transportable - if you're going away on holiday - take the eglu to sitter

perfect for a small garden or a large garden with a small flock of hens

 

cons of eglu -

 

low run - harder to clean out

limited to the number of hens you can keep

 

pros of cube -

 

larger roosting/living space - can fit more hens

higher run with more head height

 

cons of cube -

 

large and cumbersome

hard and difficult to move around on your own if situated on bedding of some kind (I cannot move the cube on my own)

not so sleek - unsightly gaps - not as pleasing on the eye as the eglu

cube ladder (in my opinion) is not well designed (rungs are too far apart)

 

To sum up we prefer our eglu. We have the cube for convenience only, we LOVE our eglu but just find the cube "adequate".

[ruth1]

I ordered my cube right off as I knew i would want more chickens than the eglu could hold.

 

So I cant offer an unbiased opinion,

 

BUT i LOVE my cube, its fantastic, looks big but you soon get used to it, Chooks have lots of room, its so easy to clean, I wash mine out thoroughly every weekend takes 20 mins at most. Poo trays are easy no bending, and the chooks can get underneath it so no wasted space.

 

The ladder could be better but my chooks are fine with it, the bigger breeds i have ( Orpington and Faverolle )tend to fly down it but go up it no bother.

 

I would say go for the cube, This comes from someone who was getting a wooden house until I went to a hen party and saw both cube and Eglu and came home wanting it all and about twenty types of chicken.

[Abbey Road Girl]

I was worried about the Cube when I ordered mine. And, as a matter of fact, I did find that rain indeed did dampen the nesting box. Once.

 

But only once!

 

Omlet was supposed to send me a converter when a wheel snapped and had to be replaced. The wheel arrived (without charge) but not the converter. I have never bothered asking for it to be sent because who needs it, if the rain only comes in once in a blue moon?

 

I am very pleased with the Cube--so easy to clean. Yes, you do have to get down on your hands and knees (keeps me limber) to refill the Grub, but I wouldn't have taken on hen keeping with an Eglu because it would have been too physically demanding.

 

I'm an admirer of good design and although I've never had an Eglu I would give a whole-hearted endorsement to the Cube.

[Steph101]

Glad to hear that the cube is getting good write ups as I've just ordered one. Our reasons for choosing over the eglu were that we felt we wanted more than just a couple of chickens and also like someone else has said, my husband has rheumatoid arthritis and has limited mobillty. However, I can see that if we ever want to add to the initial chickens it looks as though we may end up needing to buy an eglu anyway to seperate them at the introduction stage.

Not sure how many chickens to start off with now as we don't want to be overwhelmed as new chicken owners but ideally don't want to have to introduce new chickens soon after getting started as it sounds really stressfull.

Any recommendations?

 

 

We started off with three, and immediately regretted it and wished we'd ordered four.

Some people have two, but if you lose one, you're left with one lonely chicken till you find it a friend. I'd say four is perfectly manageable, and a nice even number.

[Steph101]

I was worried about the Cube when I ordered mine. And, as a matter of fact, I did find that rain indeed did dampen the nesting box. Once.

 

But only once!

 

Omlet was supposed to send me a converter when a wheel snapped and had to be replaced. The wheel arrived (without charge) but not the converter. I have never bothered asking for it to be sent because who needs it, if the rain only comes in once in a blue moon?

 

I am very pleased with the Cube--so easy to clean. Yes, you do have to get down on your hands and knees (keeps me limber) to refill the Grub, but I wouldn't have taken on hen keeping with an Eglu because it would have been too physically demanding.

 

I'm an admirer of good design and although I've never had an Eglu I would give a whole-hearted endorsement to the Cube.

 

That sounds good enough for me. I have to bend down enough with the eglu, so it's no hardship.

[lindi]

Can I just ask what is meant by a door convertor? We have a cube and are very happy with it, the only issue I have with it is I can't get in the run but have to move it if I want to get the the wood chips. Someone mentioned a door convertor in a post on this topic but I haven't seen one on the site and would be interested in anything that would help us get in if there is such a thing.

[Plum]

If you look at the top of the eglu and cube section there is a sticky.

[Steph101]

Thanks - placed my order now though; made my decision.

[Gallina]

I'll leave someone who has actually done it to explain about the door convertor, which is not an official Omlet solution but has been devised by clever forum members. It involves buying an extra Cube support, and then hinging the top half of the end panel so that it folds down. I haven't been brave enough to do it yet.

 

If you keep your Cube in a permanent area, it is possible to disguise it if you think it sticks up too high. Here is mine:

 

 

It is actually easier to hide than the Eglu run, which I don't find very attractive (but maybe my tatty covers are to blame):

 

[Plum]

Thats really funny it looks great but Ive been cutting back loads of foliage so Ill be able to see it.

[layla3]

I am also very new to this.Have had four chooks now for two weeks and so far have had three eggs!

Anyway I have a cube and think it is almost perfect-no problem to clean and the chooks are lovely and safe.I have one problem though.I have a 2m run with extension and wonder how I am expected to clean the ladder?-other than send a kid in?

layla

barbara

poppy

liz

[Christian]

See here for further discussion -

 

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=31016&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

 

Will lock this one up now