How many chickens in Eglu Cube

[Electricbarbarella]

Eglu next to my cube on the lawn and it doesnt dwarf the garden like I was expecting it to. Getting 3 ex batts on Saturday and already have 6 girls in the cube + extension.

So should we buy another extension and integrate the girls or buy an eglu. My head says extension, my heart says that the ex batts deserve to live in their very own house with no hassle from other girls.

So what do you think.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Personally I am going to integrate them.

 

At the mo I have with 3 bomb-proof chooks in, with my (what appear to be) fairly feisty ex-batts who arrived on Saturday, just in time for a thorough chill-down !!! I also have a with a standard run and 4 Orpingtons in, they have their "own" Omlet netted patch as their run is too small . The etc came as a rescue/adoption & they are trying to get to my chooks & vice versa, so I will try letting them FR together - maybe this aft as its warm & sunny here today. We only got them on Friday, so are still very new to us too.

 

Once the batties are feathered & a healthy strength, I will let them out into their own patch to wander etc, near the new walkin run we are going to build where the chooks will be. I have a in its boxes in my car which was delivered on Monday & given the weather hasn't been built - we don't have any shed space to store it either, hence it's still in the car!! If they don't get on, then I will keep them in their own house & run, but we're planning to attach both cubes and an eglu to the big run so they have a choice of boudoir & lots of space should they need it!

 

Much as I love the Eglu, I am fed up with trying to keep the run clean. It's fine in the summer when it isn't covered with corrugated plastic sheeting & is lighter to move around. DH has made an extension for it too so it's nearly 4m long is very very heavy when covered, which is why I've stamped my six 7s & got the stuff for a walkin run (got that Thursday, weather too rotten to build it yet though )

 

I hope this waffle makes sense , although I'm not sure it really answers your query!!

 

Sha x

[SAB]

I integrated my ex-batts with my existing flock and, after some scuffles (as to be expected) they all get on great. If you are worried about the ex-batts health/strength I would keep them apart until they are a bit stronger and have no "nasties" evident - I then found they could more than hold their own against existing flock (they've survived worse).

[Chook n Boo Mum]

My 3 chooks were nowhere to be seen just now - I found them in by the batties gate, peering in & chuntering away! The batties were not at all sure, they stayed well back in the run with very long necks !

 

Then the little trio chased across the garden to be let in with the Orpies - I hope this means I have friendly chooks not monsters spoiling for a s"Ooops, word censored!".....

 

Sha x

[Egluntyne]

I have integrated all my flocks, with minimal fuss, just the odd bit of grandstanding, including 3 ex-batts....although they did have about 3 months R&R before joining the others.

 

Edited for hideous typos.

Edited February 4, 2009 by Guest

[poachedegg]

I have integrated all my flocks, with minimal fuss, just the odd bit of grandtanding, including 3 ex-batts....although thye did have about 3 moonths R&R before joining the others.

 

We think that is probably what we are going to do Egluntine - give them lots of recovery time (probably until the summer) and then see if they are up for integrating.

[Electricbarbarella]

egluntine - the rablu looks fantastic, my dd's are very impressed with the pink. I have positioned it so it will be right ext to the cube run so they can all make friends through the wire.

 

I havent got the bolts to fasten the run to the eglu yet (should be on route) however at the moment when I put the run over the eglu it sticks up a few centimeteres at the door end, is it ok to weigh it down when I have screwed it all together, that is what I did with the cube run.

 

Also can I just say about the clips; i have no fingers left now an definatley no nails.

I have been out all morning playing with the positioning, I cant wait until Saturday, I think there may be some chickeny dreams on their way in the next few days.

[dancing cloud]

I currently have 6 ex-batts from last May in and have bought a for 3 new ex-batts I have my name down for in March. I will see how healthy or otherwise the newbies are when they arrive and intend to integrate as soon as they are fit and well, so they can all play in the garden together

[The Dogmother]

I'd wait and see how it goes myself; ex-batts can often be integrated happily with an existing flock.. after a long period of isolation and R&R. Take it slowluy and you may well be lucky. I know of some instances where it hasn't worked though, so be prepared that you might end up with two flocks.

[Egluntyne]

egluntine - the rablu looks fantastic, my dd's are very impressed with the pink. I have positioned it so it will be right ext to the cube run so they can all make friends through the wire.

 

I havent got the bolts to fasten the run to the eglu yet (should be on route) however at the moment when I put the run over the eglu it sticks up a few centimeteres at the door end, is it ok to weigh it down when I have screwed it all together, that is what I did with the cube run.

 

Also can I just say bloody clips, i have no fingers left now an definatley no nails.

I have been out all morning playing with the positioning, I cant wait until Saturday, I think there may be some chickeny dreams on their way in the next few days.

 

 

Glad you are pleased. I forgot to give your OH a Glug and Grub set. Sorry. I've just tripped over them

 

I did give him some cable ties though! I bet they are still in his coat pocket.

 

I hate the clips with a passion too.

[Electricbarbarella]

he remembered to give them to me, I have ordered a new glug and grub anyway as they will need an extra when they move in with the other girls.

I still cant believe it fitted in the car.

you wouldnt believe how many times I have been out in the garden moving it about, think I will leave it now, I cant work out what is flat garden and what is snow.

[Egluntyne]

I still cant believe it fitted in the car.

 

It was a bit like a Krypton Factor challenge.....but where there is a will, there is a way.

 

Did he tell you that a dog walker went past, and the dog tried to get into the pink roof of the Eglu whilst it was on the pavement?

 

Very cute.

[Electricbarbarella]

that is sweet, my cat spent most of yesterday evening in the run. nuts and bolts came this morning so it is all set up and under another 6 inches of blinking snow. Starting to worry a little about the trip on saturday, keeping everything crossed that we will be able to get there.

[poachedegg]

Starting to worry a little about the trip on saturday, keeping everything crossed that we will be able to get there.

 

I am thining the same - we have had some snow,however it is not really affecting things - fortunately we don't get much round here ( ), but Haslingden is further North and is likely to have had much more than us...........anybody live near there could give us an update?