Solitary chicken - need advice

[MissTibbs]

Hi everyone! I've been a bit of a lurker over the past few months but have decided to take the plunge and join in.

 

Basically, I've wanted an Eglu for about four years now - FOUR LONG YEARS! I've been so close to buying one a few times, but have backed out at the 11th hour lol. Well, this year I have finally decided to get one - having told my husband "we're getting one" whether he likes it or not.

 

I've played with the idea of getting a wooden house, building our own wooden coop (in a pretty New England style!) and trying as much as possible to make it easy to clean and fox resistant. I've finally come to the conclusion that it's probably not going to go according to plan and, with three cats and a labrador, plus a husband and young child to clean up after, I just don't need to make life any more difficult for myself, so have come back to the idea of the Eglu (plus, we have a lot of foxes in this area)....except I've NOW decided that the original Eglu will not be large enough for the three chickens that I want and I really don't want to be messing around with loads of extenders etc or buying the Eglu and then selling it on to upgrade etc. Plus, I really like the look of the cube - I like that it's off the ground, that it appears roomier and I can extend it in the future if I wish to add to our flock. I also live in London and although my garden is a good size, it's by no means a Tardis - the Cube would fit in perfectly.

 

I've read that there have been problems with the cubes leaking - is this still an issue or is it something that has now been rectified? Also, can anyone tell me how long it would take on average from placing your order to delivery? I've heard that the Cubes can take up to three months from place of order. I'm having to save up for the Cube, but am hoping to get it for September. Can you choose the delivery date in advance?

 

Sorry for so many questions - I've done so much research on keeping hens and just want to make sure that I make the absolute right choice first time.

 

 

Many thanks for any help/advice you can all give me!!!

 

[littleleicesterfox]

Hi there

 

Welcome to the world of chicken keeping and omleteers. I am pretty much a newbie myself but I do have recent experience of buying a cube

 

When I ordered a blue cube a few weeks ago it took less than a week to arrive and less than two hours for me to put up by myself.

 

Mine doesn't leak at all and I had no problems with parts missng or anything when it arrived

 

HTH and enjoy the forum x

[katieadams]

Hello and welcome!! Don't know the answers to most of your questions, but have you looked on the market place? Lots of cubes being sold there, there might be one near you, or they are usually on ebay too, you might be able to get a bargain

[cockadoodle1]

Hi

Welcome to the addictive world of chicken keeping

The cube is brilliant and only takes a couple of hours to erect also go for the run extension so you can add more chooks

I ordered one recently and delivery time was three weeks even if i went to collect it myself

The best people to ask about deferred delivery times are Omlet themselves.

Good luck with the new venture

[littleleicesterfox]

Just a further thought on the cube delivery times is that they may be different for different coloured cubes as some colours are more popular than others. It's worth asking omlet when you talk to them

[MissTibbs]

Thanks for the warm welcomes everyone!

 

I will definately look into what colour options take the longest (we want purple) as that does make sense that certain colours might take longer than others. Also very good to hear that your cube doesn't leak, littleleicesterfox. We had huge downpours here last night and this morning!

 

I have been keeping a keen eye on Ebay over the past few months - not many cubes come up and so far, none in our area. They also sell for close to the original price, so unless it really is a bargain, then I think I'll just buy a brand new one and I believe we are in their delivery/installation area which makes it easier. There was a cube on Ebay a few weeks ago which went for £500 something - at least they have a high second hand value!

 

By absolute coincidence, Kay Burley from Sky news has just been on Market Kitchen with her Eglu - she keeps 13 hens in a cube at her house in London and says her area is full of foxes, not helped by her neighbour who feeds them! She's had them for a year and so far, no problems. My daughter and I have decided its a "sign" that something wants us to get the cube lol!!

 

[littleleicesterfox]

It absolutely hammered it down a couple of weeks ago (when I was walking to school hurrumph) and I took a quick peek in there afterwards and it was dry as a bone

[katieadams]

My leaks a bit... clear sign we need an

 

Have you tried the market place here? viewforum.php?f=33

[freckles]

Hi, Im quite new too. No advice on eglus and cubes I'm afraid as we don't have one but wnated to say welcome anyway

[Olly]

You definitely won't regret getting a Cube, they are so easy to clean and look after, sounds as if you have your hands full anyway, Miss Tibbs!

 

Why not ring Omlet, I believe delivery does depend on colour amongst other things, but if you ring and book now then you should be able to get it for September. I'm fairly sure that they will take your booking, but not actually charge your card until delivery, but check that when you ring.

 

Welcome to the forum, and I am certain that once you get your chickens your only regret will be that you didn't do it sooner.

[peggotty]

Hello MissTibbs

 

I didn't fancy an eglu at all, but I love my cube to bits - it's so easy to clean out and it looks great, like a little caravan! And my ex batts have always managed to find their way in and out really easily, so I assume they like it too.

 

When my OH put it together, I was really worried about the large gaps and holes (OH had a hard time explaining to me that hens need to breathe!) but I haven't had any leaks, despite the wet winter.

 

I think they are expensive, but I would recommend one to anybody

- have you been convinced to order yours yet?!

[MissTibbs]

Thanks everyone for your kind advice - it's very helpful and also reassuring to know that your Cubes have not suffered with leaking.

 

Olly, you are not too far from me! I'm in East London and have a friend in your neck of the woods.

 

Peggotty, I am pretty much made up now that I am going to go for a Cube. Originally, I was going to go for the Eglu and have it for summer, but after doing more research I decided to wait just a teeny bit longer for the Cube, which I'm hoping is going to last me for some time.

 

I should have got one ages ago, but over the past three years, we've had a lot of trouble with new neighbours, so I didn't want to bring any chooks into that kind of stressful environment. Plus, as we have so many bold foxes here (I live near a park and they come into the garden in broad daylight) then I really wanted to get the most secure hen house that I could afford. Just one thing though, the trays at the back of the Cube...do they *click* into place or something? I'm just thinking of foxes trying to get at the chooks via the trays.

 

Anway, now that I've FINALLY made up my mind, I'm getting really excited.

[peggotty]

Yes, the trays have a metal lever catch underneath them.

 

In all my lurking on the forum days, I can't remember hearing of a fox getting a hen when it's shut in the cube. Touch wood, that is at least one thing I haven't had to worry about in my hen keeping experience so far!

 

Good luck with the waiting patiently bit.