So how is the season so far?

[jennybrom]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm getting an eglu and run with 2 pepperpots in the next couple of months but I quite fancy a couple of small bantams as well - I'm just wondering if the run would be big enough for the 4 of them. I'm a bit of an obsessive gardener and will have them out when I'm in the garden but I'm not keen on leaving them outside the run when I'm at work so just wondered if the run was roomy enough to leave them in it for long periods.

 

This is the first time I've posted anywhere so hopefully it will work...

thanks,

 

jenny

[Redwing]

Hi Jenny, welcome to the forum

 

I think that may be a squeeze to be honest but you can buy a 1m converter for your Eglu run (and then extensions which add 1m each again) a converter will make the run 3m long in total and I have four chickens in this space so two plus two small ones will be fine.

 

A converter costs just under £50 but you can pick them up secondhand so keep an eye out in the for sale section on the forum if you want one!

 

 

There are lots of useful threads on here about managing introductions which you will need to do fairly carefully if mixing bird sizes, lots of people keep bantams and bigger hens together ok but some prefer to keep them apart.

[tom123]

I agree with Tasha in that you will probably need a converter as I think the standard eglu run is only suitable for 2 big chickens or maybe 3 bantams. 3m should be fine if they get free ranging on evenings and weekends and have things to interest them in their run e.g. peckablock, dustbath, perches, cabbage.

 

Go for it! You can always add an extension after if you feel there isn't enough room?

 

Tom

 

EDITED : To say that there is an eglu run converter for sale in the eglu's for sale...

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=38904

[jennybrom]

thanks for replying! I will have to do some measuring up to see if i can squeeze the extra metre in whilst my husband's not looking !

 

I was hoping that if I managed to get both sets of chooks at about the same time they'd all be new together which would make the introductions easier but I'd better make sure I've got the space first!

 

jen

 

oops forgot to ask, is the run convertor the same width at both ends? so it's basically 1m by 1.55m instead of getting wider like the main run - the picture in the shop bit isn't very clear.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hi Jenny, welcome to the forum . I like your style "while your OH isn't looking" . You'll fit in here very well .

 

I think (without measuring) that it's the same at each end - it sort of straightens out unlike the run itself.

 

Here's a photo of my run without then with converter - that might give you an idea of the extra space!

 

 

 

Of course, after 18 months I'm now planning a walk in run so that will all be history soon (hopefully!)

[jennybrom]

thanks very much for the photos, very useful. My lovely OH waded through the six inches of snow in the garden (and still coming down!) to help me measure up when we got home from work - I think he was in shock as I agreed I might have to sacrifice part of the border and move some plants! The snow is excellent for marking out! I think I can squeeze in the extender too (yay!) so we'll be digging our way through the snow to the garden centre with the chickens at Towcester on Wednesday to see what they've got and have a chat - that's if it ever stops snowing!

 

jen

[chelsea]

that's great news. The more room you can afford for the little darlings the better to be honest as they do like to make us feel guilty when they are shut in the run!

[Redwing]

so we'll be digging our way through the snow to the garden centre with the chickens at Towcester on Wednesday to see what they've got and have a chat - that's if it ever stops snowing!

 

jen

 

Do you mean Bell Plantation? I spend loads in there, they have such nice stuff, the staff are knowledgable too which is great. They also have a display Eglu and Cube for you to play with!

 

Peartree Farm in Astcote have a good reputation for chickens but they only sell pure breeds. I got my hybrid ladies from Cotswold Chickens in Banbury who were very good and extremely helpful

 

If you want to see an Eglu and converter in use let me know as you would be welcome to come and see mine, I live a few miles north of Towcester.

 

Well done with the OH - quick work, nicely done!

[ClaireG]

Ooh another local Bell Plantation is great, they even do reward cards! Like Tasha, 3 of my hybrids came from Cotswolds Chickens who i cannot recommend enough.

[jennybrom]

I think I do mean Bell Plantation - we've been in once a long time ago so I knew it did chicken stuff but wasn't sure how good they were so glad that you think they are! I found Pear Tree Farm on the net the other night so might drop them an email in a couple of weeks depending on what I find at Bell Plantation!

 

thanks for the offer to see your eglu Redwing, I managed to sneak round the back at Crofts in banbury to have a look at theirs the other day - I was really impressed, the eglu is a lot bigger in real life than it looks in the pictures!

 

I saw a picture of your setup in another thread and that looks similar to what I'm planning, although all the talk of runs is making me think as I can see this becoming seriously addicitive... will have to win the lottery and buy some of the field out the back!

 

OH has always been good about the garden - I let him have a pond and some fish and the rest of it is all mine!

 

jen