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

[gracefruit]

We currently have an Eglu with a converter and extension, and our four hens live happily in there. I would like to have a couple of bantams, and perhaps another full-size hen or two. While I love the design and look of the Eglu, the space needed for the run will take up quite a bit of our paved patio (we like to keep the hens there so we can see them from the house and help keep foxes out). I'm leaning toward buying a Cube and selling my Eglu. But will I miss my Eglu? Will the Cube leak? Will eight or so birds be happy in a Cube with the three metre run?

 

Any thoughts and/or advice would be gratefully received.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm in the process of plotting a new walk in run (mainly because I've seen a fox this week for the first time ). I'm planning to put my eglu in the run but ....... have a long term plan to perhaps get a second eglu (from ebay perhaps) so I could have up to 6 girls!

 

Any good as a plan for you?

[Falkor]

I'm in the process of plotting a new walk in run (mainly because I've seen a fox this week for the first time ). I'm planning to put my eglu in the run but ....... have a long term plan to perhaps get a second eglu (from ebay perhaps) so I could have up to 6 girls!

 

Any good as a plan for you?

 

This is exactly my plan too although my second eglu and lovely is already in the garage awaiting spring and it`s new inhabitants!

 

My run will be called "Hen Towers" as I plan to have on the floor and on a table above it - high rise stylee!

 

I went for two eglus as i can use them for introductions and also can seperate hens if need be.

 

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Now that's a good plan . I was trying to think how I could fit 2 eglus in and still have the little doors for egg port/poo tray access. Have you got a run already (can't remember your setup!)? Have you any photos?

 

I was wondering if the table supplied by Aviaries4U would support 2 eglus? I suspect not in which case your plan would be good!

[chelsea]

I agree with the thoughts above, If it were me I would go for 2nd eglu and walk in run. I dont like our cube. We had our 2 eglus like this.

 

[Falkor]

I haven`t got a run yet (waiting on FIL to return from New Zealand) but I have spent many an evening planning it!

 

This is my current set up (although I now have corrugated plastic over run )

 

The run will go here too. The area measures 9ft by 9.5ft.

 

I was planning on putting the eglus outside the run however after reading a couple of threads re chicken theft I am going for eglus inside and so i can lock it all in.

 

I got a quote from Tony at Averies4u but FIL is quite handy and we have costed it and it is considerably cheaper. Tony was lovely and really helpful.

 

I also plan on having a chicken flap built into my human size door so they have access to free range and a shelf to store bits and bobs like ACV, Tub of corn etc.

 

The run will have guttering and planning to put a waterbut out there too.

 

Last weekend I sectioned off the top of the garden with Omlet netting so they have their own area (OH was fed up with poo on the patio) and will be getting one of these http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7201864/Trail/searchtext%3EGARDEN+ARCH.htm so I can get in and out of their garden and it looks fancy. I will add netting to the gates of course!

[gracefruit]

V, that might just work. I really like my Eglu, but the space thing is becoming an issue. Are the walk-in runs pricey?

 

Chelsea, that is a great set up! Do you need help getting the Eglus out for a clean? How do you get to the litter tray? I'm nosy!

[Redwing]

I am planning a run similar to Chelsea's and will have a trap door effort behind the Eglu so I can reach it

 

Chelsea - love your new avatar, great pic

[chelsea]

 

Chelsea, that is a great set up! Do you need help getting the Eglus out for a clean? How do you get to the litter tray? I'm nosy!

 

It was a great set up & then we went and got the cube (regret!). I used to do the eglus on my own and with them being up on a table they were much easier to lift at waist height.

 

We adapted our run to have double doors opening out on the front ( so much easier than squeezing through a single door)

 

I used to move the eglu around to get to the trays, but a good idea would be to have an opening hatch at the back to slide the trays in and out.

[chelsea]

 

Chelsea - love your new avatar, great pic

 

Thanks Redwing, I love it too - its Bracken on an Exmoor picnic!

[gracefruit]

Chelsea, thank you for taking time to explain your set up. I'm really sorry to hear you aren't happy with what you have now. Could I ask why you don't like the cube? This is my fear. I like the Elgu so much.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Whilst I love the eglu, I have seriously fallen out of love with the run, I just can't get in there to get it clean enough for my liking!

 

DH has extended it to about 3 metres long

& whilst it was ok to move every few days in the summer, since I've covered it with corrugated plastic,

it's just too heavy to move on my own, hence the minor tantrum which was planned but not needed regarding the need for a walk-n run. DH just accepted it as a good idea & has planned it all & organised the materials too - although I've got to pay for them! And will probably have to sell at least one of the eglus to repay some of the spending on the

 

On the upside, I think I have an Omlet-ised DH

 

Sha x

[gracefruit]

Sha, so you do the planned hysteria, too? I'm glad I'm not the only one.

 

A short Eglu run is ideal, but we've extended ours and it does become harder to clean. It would also be nice to put some logs or bales in for the girls to hop about on, but the run is too low.

 

I think I am sold on the Cube and just want someone to tell me it's great.

[Olly]

Oh, but the Cube IS great - I love mine, it just doesn't look quite as funky as the Eglu!

 

It's much easier to clean, being at waist height, and it gives the chickens much more room as it has height as well as width. It's also much easier to clean the run, if you do the door adaptation, as you can get in there with a rake, albeit you have to bend double!

 

I'm not sure why Chelsea regrets getting hers, I'm sure she'll explain, but I don't regret mine at all.

[blackgold]

I have 2 eglus but am now hankering for a cube. I think that inside the walk in dog run will be best for me.I> wanted to have an eglu and run set up on the lawn but ever since i got them in noveber the weather has been awful . I tried to put one up i have 2 extentions and 2 runs but it is too unwieldly for me. If i had a cube though moving it would ruin the grass at this time of year though, so i think permenant winter quarters is best with an eglu and run for summer days on the lawn when i am not in and cant watch them freeranging. Why didnt you like your cube?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Chelsea, I've got more questions for you . I love your run - it looks like just what I'm looking for .

 

I was admiring your eglu table - I take it you built that yourself? I'm trying to future-proof my run ( ) so trying to plan how to fit 2 eglus in it (just in case I need to ).

 

Presumably you have to go into the run to collect the eggs? Do you find that a pain or is it fine? I'm trying to plan hatches for the egg port(s) but it's not easy for 2 eglus .

 

I just can't decide whether it's worth the trouble/expense working out how to get 2 eglus in (with all the handy hatches etc) when I've only got one (and might not be allowed a second ).

 

Also I read about chickens cramming themselves into one eglu even when there are two available . So maybe it's just extra nestboxes that are needed?

[Poached]

hi

 

 

i love my cube and think it is great for me as it is easier to clean out then the eglu because where i have got it in my walk in run i just walk round the back of it and pull the tray out but i think it is easier for me as i am only 12 and am only a bit taller then the cube so i personally would go for eglu cubes in future

 

hope that helps

josh

[Ain't Nobody Here]

What will you do when you suddenly start shooting up in height, Josh ?

[Poached]

ANH:i might have to get one of these http://www.housesforhens.co.uk/hen_houses

 

 

josh

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That made me LOL . Very funny, Josh .

[chelsea]

Actually we both hate our cube (OH cant stand it)....swears at it every time on clean out day . Its massive, really cumbersome and hard to move. I would imagine a cube on an outside of a run in a large area (with room to manouvre) is much easier than a cube on the inside of a walk in run. I reckon a cube attached to an omlet run is also much easier to move aswell. So it mean I have to rely on hubby on clean out day , which is not a problem I had with the eglus.

 

When we had the 2 eglus in the run, I used to go inside and collect the eggs.

We now have the cube and OH has made a side door which opens on the side of the run which is level with the door closer on the cube - so we dont have to go inside to shut them in. I would imagine you could do the same on the egg port side.

 

OH made the platform himself, he used batton for the top to make a "rack", some bits of 4x2 and some other bits and pieces (his words ) it was very sturdy - so make sure its nice and sturdy. You could use decking planks?

 

The reason we got the cube was because with 4 chooks I ended up every night splitting them up as we found 3 hens would go into one eglu and leave a lone hen in the other.

 

I love the sleek seamless design of the eglu. I think the cube works if you have a large area around the vicinity of the run where you can put the cube outside, and also if there is plenty of room when you drag it out to clean it. (it is a 2 person job moving it though) there are no "grab" handles on the cube to pull it.

[Cooks]

I agree with Chelsea there, the cube is hard to move, my husband finds it easy by himself, he says the trick is getting the balance right , but I would not be able to lift one end without my back going so I dont try.

The man who came to install mine said they are really a lot easier to manoeuvre around with the cube run on, but for those of us who use walk in's that's not much help :lol:

Mines sticking on the outside of the walk in as it was the most sensible spot for me in my situation. but that took a LOT of thought

[gracefruit]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone -- and thank you Chelsea for taking time to answer my questions.

 

I've been to many forums (all sorts of interests) over the years, and this is by far the friendliest and most helpful.