Single hen

[tania]

Hello. We are about embark on chicken owning and would appreciate some advice from those in the know. Do we get an Eglu or Cube, what are the benefits of both. Has anyone had both? We only plan to get 3 chooks.

Is it ok to let them free range when we are at home and then be in the run when we are out. Times will vary, do they like to have a strict routine?

Is the Eglu/Cube run big enough for them for up to 8 hours? We want them to be happy little souls.

Will have lots more questions but that's it for now!

Thank you

Tania

[LJ's Chooks]

Welcome to the forum Tania,

 

I would go for a cube every time.... chooks are so addictive. We started with 2 and now have 7 a year later. A cube will give you a lot more flexiblity.

 

Good luck!

[Falkor]

Hello. We are about embark on chicken owning and would appreciate some advice from those in the know.

 

Do we get an Eglu or Cube, what are the benefits of both. Has anyone had both? We only plan to get 3 chooks.

I started with an Eglu in Nov 08 and have recently upgraded to a cube. I love my Eglu and will probably end up keeping it ( ) but the Cube seems to me to be a better choice as it is raised off the ground, bigger and the run space is bigger. Plus with the new run door it will be easier to clean that the eglu run. You might plan on just getting three chooks, I did but I am set to collect another three next months. Chicken Addiction!.

 

Is it ok to let them free range when we are at home and then be in the run when we are out. Times will vary, do they like to have a strict routine?

I work from home most of the time so my chooks are out free ranging most of the time and shut in the Eglu run when I am out (normally 2 days a week max) This last week I have been out of the house more so they have been shut in the run more and they don`t seem bothered. I always try to ensure that the run is a fun place to be.....dust bath, perches, cabbage hanging, guinea pig treat ball with corn to play football with. I also leave the eglu door open all the time now it is not freezing and they get up and go to bed whenever they fancy. I always make sure the run door is shut behind them at dusk

 

Is the Eglu/Cube run big enough for them for up to 8 hours? We want them to be happy little souls.

See above really. I think the Eglu and Cube runs are fine for three chooks, anymore and you would need to start thinking about extenstions.

 

Will have lots more questions but that's it for now!

Thank you

Tania

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I have an eglu and 3 girls. I'm now planning a walk in run which I'll put the eglu in and then possibly get 2 more hens. I know I can't have more than 5 or 6 girls in total so would never get a cube (garden's a bit small anyway). If you have the room and there's even a slight chance you might want more later on, a cube does seem to be a good idea.

 

Or, you can get the eglu and see how you get on. Then buy a cube & keep the eglu for introducing more hens, selling it if need be once they're all friends . Or buy a second eglu and a walk in run! The possibilities are endless (which is what makes it hard to decide ).

[Alfred]

I have an eglu which is fine for my 3 chickens. I have 2 concerns, 1 is that it is rather low down and I feel they may prefer to sleep higher up, secondly, there is not much space inside for sheltering when the weather is bad. I generally leave the door open and they all cram into one corner. Whereas with the cube there is a bigger sheltered space inside.

I think the run size is fine for 3. They do all come and shout to be let out when I am in the garden but when I watch them sneakily they are happily digging/perching/eating. There aren't any bullying problems. They just go out when I am in - usually about 2 days a week in winter.

 

If money was no object I would have a cube!

[Egluntyne]

I have both and like them equally. If I had to chose, I'd go for the cube. It is very easy to clean without any bending.

[The 3 D's]

I would get a Cube. Like the others say chickens are so addictive. I have an Eglu at the moment, but im planning on getting a cube and more chickens next month.

 

Matt

[Mazzarina]

I have had an eglu and 3 chickens for three months now, and they seem very happy. One option if you would prefer to go for the eglu is to invest in a run extension, which is very good value. The woman I spoke to at Omlet advised me that 3 chickens would be fine in an eglu run + extension permanently (it gives them 1m squared per chicken). Mine get free-ranging time a few times a week when I'm at home, but otherwise they're in the run all the time.

One thing to bear in mind is that although the Cube itself is bigger, the Cube run is not that much bigger than the Eglu run (I think - others may correct me). There's extra height which is convenient for you, but I don't think the floor area is significantly different.

My eglu and 3 chooks works well for me; my garden space prohibits getting more girls, but my growing addiction is satiated (for now!) with looking at all the lovely pictures on here!

[tania]

Thanks for all the advice so far. Tania

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Hi Tania!

 

In my opinion, it depends on what type of chook you are planning to get! If you get large breeds (Orpington/Cochin/Brahma) obviously the cube is the answer as the eglu would be physically too small. For hybrids like the Gingernut Ranger/Mrs Pepperpot from Omlet, the eglu will take up to 4, comfortably.

 

Back in June last year, I had a previously loved to start with and 3 hybrids, they were much happier & settled the pecking order etc much quicker when we attached an extension...then got a previously loved for my 4 Batties. These are both perfect for our needs, as we have plenty of space in the garden, however DH decided that as I'd made a convincing case for a walk-in run, that maybe a cube would be a good idea so the chooks & batties could all live together (provided they made friends!!), so a re-con was purchased, and the Chooks now reside in that. The has been borrowed by a friend for his bantams, who appear to be very happy in it & he may offer to permanently rehome it .

 

I've also adopted 4 Orpingtons who came with their in a standard run, no extensions This run is far far far too small for them, so the walk-in run we had planned simply got bigger to allow for the featherballs!

 

Whichever house you choose, I would suggest you go for the biggest run you can manage, the more space they have the happier they are, and if left all day add items to distract them; a head of spring greens strung from the roof, a peckablock, a pot of mint which you don't mind if they decimate (which they will, but they'll smell nice for it!!), a dustbath etc etc. If they aren't bored they won't pluck each others feathers out (3 of the Orpies look like bare necked chickens , they were like that when they arrived )

 

These are my findings & feelings, and I think those of many others on here. Please don't do what the bantam friend did & buy a house & run far too small for the birds to move past each other even, & has led to untold stress for the birds and the owners (BTW, she did have my eglu without it's run but attached to a rabbit run as an emergency measure until my big run was finished, but felt she should return it to me asap, so bought the budget bantam house in haste & has repented without any leisure or much sleep through worry! Her OH, who is my friend, came back yesterday to collect the eglu and run )

 

Sorry waffled again!! HTH!!

 

Sha x

[Barkisland]

I started with 4 chooks and a cube, (birthday present) and got an eglu for Christmas, so I could introduce some more chooks. I've 6 in total now My husband built me a nice big 'walk in' run to keep them in, which makes cleaning and egg recovery much easier

[chelsea]

An eglu is an ideal start to chicken keeping. Perfect for 3 hens and easy and compact to clean. They hold their value very well so if in year or so you feel like getting more you could sell on and get a cube.

[Tweety]

Hi Tania, I have an Eglu and a Cube and I love them both, but if you have the space I would say get the Cube. It is much easier to clean out than the eglu - no bending down etc - but most importantly it will give your hens more room and shelter.

[SLK69]

Hi Tania,

 

I have both and much prefer the cube - no bending for me, more room for girls.

 

Even if you start with three, who knows what chicken of fate will cross your path?

 

 

Susie

[Happy chickens!]

Lots of good advice here. Haven't got an eglu, but like the fact that the cube is easy to clean, can be moved around reasonably easily - has wheels - and isn't on the ground, which seems more natural to me for roosting chickens.

 

Whatever you choose, you'll love it and your chickens I'm sure!!

[cluckbok]

If you've got the capital I'd go for a cube! We got an eglu and now I wish we could have a cube, but will have to wait a while. It's so addictive!

[Stevie]

The Cube might be more practical if you plan on keeping more than four hens,but it dont come close in my opinion to the Eglus fantastic design.

[tania]

thanks for all your advice. Keep being 100% on the Eglu and then 5 mins later 100% on the Cube. Mad as a chicken!

Will make up my mind by the weekend...

[ted]

Only advice I can offer is that once you get chickens you WILL want more!! This seems to be the experience of many. If you can afford it and have the space go for the cube...

 

Cheers

[Luvachicken]

I had an eglu cube and run for my birthday with 3 chickens and they seem really happy.

I do suffer from a bad back sometimes and find the cube easy to clean as there is no bending down. They spend most mornings alone in the run as we are all at work but do get to run round the garden most afternoons.

The whole thing was bigger than I thought but we have given up some of our small garden so they can live in one place.

Happy choosing.

[TAJ]

As you can see I have 2 eglus and I am getting a cube - do not be fooled be the run size - the floor area in the standard Eglu/cube is the same, plus with an extension both are the same - the difference comes in the height and shape (Eglu more long/thin).

 

The Eglu is less of a beast - u"Ooops, word censored!"trusive in the garden as it is low down and easy to move around.

 

I would say if you are unsure start small (eglu), if you like it upgrade later to a cube. As already said some BIG chickens are not advised for an eglu - all should be fine in a cube.

 

Tracy

[Egzandra]

As for me, I will probably go for the cube as I will want more than 4 chickens and the cube means less bending to clean up. Got to save up for it first though! I'm about a third of the way there. The savings are in premium bonds which might come up in the meantime!

[welsh sarah]

hi

i have both, and they are both gret.

 

if you are planning on moving the house and run around i would go for the eglu, i wouldnt fancy moving the cube very often.

 

if you are planning a permanent place for your chickens then you may as well have a cube because you will want more they are so addictive

what ever you go for you will love it

sarah

[chelsea]

 

if you are planning on moving the house and run around i would go for the eglu, i wouldnt fancy moving the cube very often.

 

if you are planning a permanent place for your chickens then you may as well have a cube because you will want more they are so addictive sarah

 

good advice!

[PhilipCaldwell]

If i had the choice again i would get the cube, its not that im dissapointed with my eglu, its just the fact that i think bigger is better!I garuntee, when you get your eglu/cube you will want more chickens than what you first wanted!!I just bought the run converter so im guna up my flock to 4 chooks, im also gonna leave them on a bed of chippings permanentley as they are ruining the lawn when they get locked in during the day!!Rascals!!