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

[Nogs]

Hi all,

I have been asking advice regarding buying an eglu go and now think I will go for a cube as after hours of indecision mainly about keeping foxes out, I think that the cube seems more of a fox proof option. But I am also noticing the reports on leaking and draughty gaps...

 

I would be really grateful if you let me know what you think?, as it's a large family investment both in time and money I want to get it right. And finally are chickens as quiet as they say... I have one set of neighbours sharing our fence. They are up for us having chickens, just hoping they won't be too noisy...

 

Thank you again,

Nogs

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Quiet chickens ......not impossible, but equally not guaranteed with any breed

 

The Cube will give your girls more space vertically as well as on the ground, so perches can be added to give them interest and places to escape to, it will also give you scope to increase your numbers provided you have sufficient run space for the times when they can't freerange...........the more space they have the happier they will be. I've not found there to be a problem with leaks & draughts, if the cube is sited on a level base, it helps immensely.

 

The classic eglu is a great piece of kit if you are only going to have 2-3 chooks, though 3 chooks or more & you need a converter for extra space from my experience.

 

I've not seen a Go in the flesh, so am not in a position to comment, the others I have a certain amount of experience with though (see signature!!)

 

I love both styles, and would have another of either at the drop of a hat........finances permitting of course

 

Good luck with your decision making,

 

Sha x

[Janty]

I'd go for a cube. They give you more scope for expansion later on and as said previously, the height of the run gives the chickens more space for perching, etc.

[Nogs]

Thank you! I have ordered a red cube arriving tomorrow with three chickens! Will let you know how I get on

Nogs

[Plum]

Congratulations. That was quick.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

You don't hang around do you ?!

 

is (I've never typed that before )

 

Sha x

[The Dogmother]

I have both and while I prefer the styling of the eglu classic, I the cube is much more practical for the number of hens I have. Mine fits together perfectly and hasn't leaked.

[Nogs]

Hi there,

 

thank you for all your comments and advice,

 

We love the cube and love our chickens! They are great, kids over the moon! Had a visit from a fox on night 1 but no damage done except for one cross howling fox...

We have 3 gingernuts as the pepperpots are out of stck, slight problem identifying which is which (apart from the one with a missing toe!)

Kids amazed that they put themselves to bed at night, (more than the kids do), we are locking them in just to be on safe side.

 

Now I understand the addictive comments on here and I would like a couple of bantams to join the gang, any advice on adding to existing chickens should I do it sooner rather than later and any ideas on where to get them from? We are in west London.

 

Thanks again,

 

Nogs

 

Coop

Polly

Birdy

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Get some leg rings so the children can differentiate between their chooks, two person job to attach them, but doable quite quickly

 

We did tell you about the addiction .........not sure about adding bantams to big girls though...I have 2 sets of bantams who are separate from the big girls & will stay that way for quite sometime as Snowdrop sees it as her given right as lowest in the pecking order to beat seven bells out of anything smaller than her .......others may have other advice but that's my experience for what it's worth

 

As Mr Fox is aware of your girls arrival, you will have to be very very careful once you start to free-range them...he's a canny creature & will take advantage of a moments distraction

 

Have fun with your little feathered timewasters

 

Sha x

[Nogs]

Leg rings sound like a great idea thank you! Now where do I get such things from?! Maybe I should just go for 2 more big chickens then? Any tips on adding in other types of chicken?

 

Thank you will definitely take care when they start roaming a bit, do you all lock your cubes every night too?

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Our legrings I got from SPR at Fontwell (they have a website), but anywhere that sells chook supplies tends to have a box of various sizes & colours.

 

I lock my cube & eglu doors when there's a risk of fireworks, or when it gets really cold or windy as most of the houses actually face north , or when they contain youngsters as my does at the mo. All the runs are locked safely at or before dusk.

 

If you introduce a couple more bigger birds in the next few days you should be fine as they won't have settled on a pecking order yet & two more just gives two more places to sort !!........the only thing I would say is have you got an extension on your run, I can't see one in your posts......... the standard run would not be big enough for 5 birds to move away from each other in the event of a power struggle...........sorry

 

 

Sha x

[docsquid]

Leg rings sound like a great idea thank you! Now where do I get such things from?!

 

Pets at Home sell mixed pack of leg rings in various colours for about £1.99

[Space Chick]

Congratulations on your girls

 

I agree if you are going to get another 2 you need a run extension.