Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[Storm]

Hi

We really want to keep 3 or 4 chickens in our garden but cant decide which is the best run/coop to keep them in. Would like to know if a unit that we could move around would be best or there is a piece of garden that we could section off as a permanant run which would measure 12 x 6 foot. Would not really want the chickens to be free range of to all the garden as dont want them eating plants that might not be good for them plus I have two greyhounds so feel they would be safer behind some kind of enclosure. Would really like some comments as to what would be best. thanks

[Patricia W]

Welcome! A very good question to which you'll get very many answers!

 

I've got both cubes and eglus ( its addictive, you'll find).

 

For space for 3/4 hens, I'd go for the cube with an extension if they are not going to free range. You can put it on slabs and keep it in one place. Alternatively, a walk in run with the cube or an eglu, ideally on the outside to give space, but equally it could go inside if there isn't the room,

 

It's not the size of the house so much as the size of the run if they are being confined all the time.

 

As for wooden coops others can come along and tell you about those.

 

Go for it though!

 

Tricia

[Slim]

I went for a wood coop as I planned to have more chickens that a cube could hold I also find the cube VERY EXPENSIVE! I don't like the idea iof the cube so high as well I have had chooks hurt yuy climbing ladders like that. Wood coops are fine if you keep ontop of things and can be jetwashed like the plastic just take longer to dry.

[chickiepiggies]

i started with wooden coop and a WIR, my WIR is about 3x4m for 4 chickens made from steel mesh fencing 300mm in ground with a roof and ambioise on floor really good for soaking up poos!

 

i now have a CUBE as the wooden house wasnt working for me the CUBE is so much easier to clean and the chickies love it they look so snug in there.

 

i dont have a very big garden i have very close neighbours to the front, back & sides but its just enough for my chickies.

 

hope this helps

[debbier]

I have an eglu in a 6'x9' run, and it comfortably holds 3 hens who don't free range outside of the run. Pics etc. in my blog link under my sig.

 

I did try to have a movable eglu+run on the lawn and wouldn't recommend it, even for someone (like me!) who isn't lawn proud.

 

It's soooooo much better with a wir.

[Gelbel]

I have a wooden coop and run - mainly due to costs. I got mine in my first ever bib on ebay (£118 inc postage). One thing I also do not like about the eglu is how it is on the ground and how low the run is - this was another reason I did not shell out so much.

 

My run and coop are intergrated - with the coop over the run and the nest box sticking out the back of the coop. It's about chest height (I'm 5'10") so I don't have to bend over to clean the coop/nest box and I have added a perch that all 3 love to sit on, on rainy days. The entire run is covered. I have stood it on reclaimed paving slabs.

 

If my lovely employer gives me a bonus next summer I am thinking of one of the new Eglu Gos - I like the shape of them and think the price is reasonable but will have it high up - probably take the coop bit off the run of my set up. I'll use the Eglu Go run as an extension to what I already have.

[Redwing]

If it was me I would buy the Eglu with no run and use that 12 x 6 space to build a walk in run

 

The chickens are then confined to a bigger area but you have the convenience (sp?) of a plastic house

[JS1]

I've had chickens since April and I'm still trying to decide on the best set-up....

 

I have three chickens in a wooden house with an integral run but they have the run of a section of the garden fenced off with an electric fence (an expensive option!). The plan is to move it every three to four months to give the garden time to recover (the big move is this Sunday!). As others will say, however, chicken-keeping is addictive and I'm thinking of adding to the flock with some ex-batts, so will need another house for the introductions at least. Much as I like my wooden house, I'm thinking of an eglu as it seems it would be easier to maintain.

 

There's a lot of people here with walk-in runs and I guess that's the ideal in terms of fox safety etc and I may go down that route at some point - the balance is giving them as much freedom as possible while keeping them as safe as possible, and I'm by no means sure there is one perfect answer.

 

I have two greyhounds too, by the way - one would cheerfully kill any chicken she was allowed anywhere near....

[Space Chick]

I agree with Tasha, make a WIR with the 12ft by 6ft space, and put an Eglu inside.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I'd go for build a WIR with roof on your available 6 x 12 space & add a cube or eglu, thereby giving the chooks their own space, away from your plants & be safe from the greyhounds...and the dreaded fox of course

 

Cubes and eglus can be purchased without their own runs and the wheels in the case of the cube, so can be positioned at any level which suits you and your girls in the run.......I have one which rests on the ground and one on it's wheels, both are used by the same chooks each night who obviously have preferences as to UP to bed or IN to bed They are both positioned outside my run so I can access them easily without having to fight through a cloud of feathers for cleaning, egg collecting etc

 

This is an old pic, the now has a short "run/tunnel" which attaches to the WIR so I don't have to drag it out to clean it properly

 

A fair number of people have their eglus on table in the WIR with extra doors built in to facilitate egg collection etc....check out Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here's signature pic.

 

Sorry awfully waffly, but I hope it helps!!

 

Sha x

[Storm]

Ok thanks thats very helpfull. Debbie your WIR looks great do the chickens like having the Eglu up off the ground better? I was thinking of having a section of the run with chip bark to put the house and food on and leaving the rest as grass but would this be a good idea (not sure how long the grass would last?) If I was just to have the run but with no roof on how high would the sides need to be, we dont get foxes in the garden as we have very high fences all around and my greyhounds cant be bothered to jump fences as they are getting on a bit now. Is it possible to buy just the Eglu on its own then from Omlet?