Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Totty]

Hi All,

 

I would appreciate your opinions on what you think is best.

Wooden Coop and enclosed run v Eglu and run.

 

After many tense moments in my house between me and the OH. The dead grass and very untidy garden has finally convinced me that my chickens need to be contained in the garden. It will also allow my girls to have their garden back to do cartwheels in. I hate the thoughts of my beaked girls not being able to free range but they will still have a good quality of life with me being enclosed.

 

So. I currently have an Eglu with a 3 metre run and have been looking around for alternatives. I really liked the avaries4you enclosure here but not sure it really meets everything I want it to. So more research today and I found this which I really like. chicken coop

 

But... what are the benefits/disadvantages in having a wooden chicken house compared to the lovely Eglu.

 

Any comments/advice/suggestions would be greatly received.

 

Thanks for your time.

 

Sarah

[Chickvic]

I think there are positives for both. I like the fact that the eglu is so easy to clean - especially as I don't do it that often I am also looking at getting a walk in run to put the eglu inside. I also think it depends on the amount of room you have for the run.

[Plum]

No comparison. Look at the size. Avaries4U and eglu win hands down.

[Vanessa]

Hi we have something similar and to be honest I would go for an run + eglu. At least you can walk in without bumping your head if you clean everything out. Also the quality of the product is not always the best one. It might say up to 8 birds but if you want to have a decent size go for walk in run at least there you could put a table in it. Or just a big branch for the girls to sit on. They always look big on the picture(thats what we thought about ours) but quality is not the best. I would love to have an eglu but where we live a very strong winds so its not practical at all.

[Egzandra]

Hi, I am an absolute novice when it comes to chickens and housing, but although I thought that house looked nice in the pic, I looked at how you would get in to clean out the run, and there is only one door which it looks like you would have to crawl through. Also I am not sure how you would move it easily as there are no handles. I don't like what it says about cracks and scratches on arrival. That could cover a multitude of sins.

 

I don't think I would go for that one either, might not last very long.

 

Could be wrong, though, me with no experience.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

What about the Aviaries4U run are you not sure about? Tony seems to be very helpful and will make adaptations to suit your needs. I currently have an eglu and run/converter but am in the middle of plans to put the eglu into a walk in run (not necessarily from A4U). It's the ease of cleaning I love about the eglu (and also the lack of maintenance).

 

I would love to have an eglu but where we live a very strong winds so its not practical at all.

 

It's pretty darn windy where we are too . Just wondering why you thought an eglu wouldn't be practical? Are you worried it would blow away? I weight mine down with slabs on the skirt and have had no problems (I did before I did this!)

[Vanessa]

ANH but I would have it without the run? I am paranoid with the winds here. How would I weight down without run?

[Redwing]

TBH that wooden house doesn't look too bad, there are many far worse ones on Ebay.

 

The description of the materials and build method sound pretty good and its a good price, the seller also has 100% feedback and they are right that the wood will be unpredictable and may crack but I don't think that is a major concern

 

One that counts against it is the fact that it appears to have a felt roof which I have read can provide a hiding place for mites (between the felt and wood)

 

Do check the sizes, these things are often smaller than they look though

 

Forsham chicken houses are apparently very good so may be worth a look

[Ain't Nobody Here]

ANH but I would have it without the run? I am paranoid with the winds here. How would I weight down without run?

 

Ah, I did wonder if that was it . Would you have it inside a walk in run? If so, could you rest a couple of paving slabs up against it? Or maybe shield it from the winds somehow?

 

Seems a shame to miss out on an eglu if there's a way round it! You're welcome to come and have a look at mine if it helps . (Don't come now though, the garden's like a building site )

[Vanessa]

Don't come now though, the garden's like a building site )

I've got a bathroom that looks like a building site!! Hubby started tiling just after christmas and it is still not finished.

 

ANH I will come and have a look at run once its finished. Ideally I would love to have an cube and I am wondering if I could hold it down with sand bags over the rails on the ground. Ahhh so many dreams and no hubby that understands me

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I can't imagine a cube would get blown away (good excuse to get that rather than an eglu, methinks ).

 

I'll keep you posted on my run progress - I'd much rather show my eglu off in its lovely new home rather than a cramped corner of the patio amongst the slabs and mud .

[Louisdog]

The wooden one off Ebay looks a bit poor quality to me. I bought a similar looking hutch off Ebay which looked good in pics but was really flimsy. Forsham and Flyte So Fancy and similar are pressure treated and really solid/sturdy so prolly a better bet if you do decide to go wooden.

 

I personally have a walk in run and have found it to be really good, but used to have a portable wooden ark similar to Forsham Boughton and that was good too. Mind you so were my eglus.

 

I guess it depends how many birds, how much space you have, and whetehr you want them on fresh grass or permanent sited run.

[tom123]

Many people have recommended this company to me, my friend also has 2 of his houses.

 

http://www.stevefisherwoodworking.co.uk/

 

This one may be good for you...

 

 

 

Good Luck

Tom

[Totty]

Thanks for your comments. Some of the points I hadn't even considered.

ie. ease of cleaning. felt roof & mites.

 

The ease of cleaning the Eglu makes me think that going for a walk in run is the right thing to do. I liked the idea I saw from a previous post about using a lazy suzy to be able to turn the Eglu for cleaning. I've got one of those that never get's used.

 

My ladies will be coming off grass and going onto concrete slabs with Auboise over them. I like on the Avaries4you walk in run where there is an additional area opened up for them to dust bath.

My husband and a work colleague of his seem to think they should be able to make one fairly easily to my exact design. I think I might contact Tony at Avaries to see what he would price it at so I have a back up plan already in place for when they change their mind or I can talk them out of it.

 

What happens now? Well. I am now selling my daughters large wooden playhouse on Ebay to fund my latest adventure. Hopefully it should be gone by this weekend so I can see what space we have available. Estimate at the moment is 9+ foot by 6 foot wide.

 

If anyone can think of things for the walk in run that are "Must" have's then please let me know.

Cheers all

S xx

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Don't know what size of run you're interested in, but if you look here (near the bottom of the page) you'll see a quote I got from Aviaries4U - might give you an idea of pricing?

[Totty]

ANH, Thanks for that. WOW. it's a biggie. Delivery costs are high but not surprising. Being such bulky items and then having to employ two men to carry it in. It's a freight companies delight!

I am involved at work with freight companies so will seek a quote for that independently just to get a comparison.

 

I was thinking of having his standard 2.3x 2.3 x2 not sure what price this is.

I would like the Eglu raised so will need the table at another £45

The area for the dust bath is fantastic. Not sure if this comes as standard.

 

It then brings me to think about how to clean out the Eglu. It's too heavy to take out of the run each week. So it would be better to clean it inside but when I go to wash it all down the run(Auboise) will get soaking wet.

I noticed he had mentioned the Hatch to you on your quote but surely having to take the Eglu out each time is not a good option. It's too darn heavy.

The poo port is a good idea but I wash the bars when I clean out the poo so we are back to opening up the Eglu completely again. Am I boring you all yet....

 

Again I see he mentioned on your quote about an Egg removal port, personally not fussed. I am happy to go in the run at the end of each day to collect them. The girls are easy to catch if that make a run for it into the garden. Show them the treats and they come running....

 

Just reading your previous post on sloping roof.. OH NO! another dilema.

[Redwing]

The poo port is a good idea but I wash the bars when I clean out the poo so we are back to opening up the Eglu completely again. Am I boring you all yet....

 

Again I see he mentioned on your quote about an Egg removal port, personally not fussed. I am happy to go in the run at the end of each day to collect them.

 

 

I have discovered that I can take the bars out through the eggport door for cleaning so there is no need to open up the whole Eglu unless I am doing a full on clean

[Cooks]

I do this!