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

[jill the potter]

I would really like to upgrade from an eglu to a cube for several reasons....one of which is, I find the eglu a real pain to clean the run when it's been in a static position, but also I would really love some more girlies. When I have casually mentioned it to my OH he has quickly brushed it aside. It took me nearly 9 months to get him to agree to get the eglu and two chooks, and although i'm not 'under the thumb' ....as most of you will undersand it is far better to get what you want with agreement rather than not. I've tried the 'more eggs' track and the 'we could sell the excess' one also but he's having none of it. Any underhand suggestions would be appreciated

[tara]

My other half was saying no before any of our chooks But after he decided we could try it out he's just let me get on with it.I sell all my chook eggs and keep our duck eggs for us l make about £3 to £5 a week so they pay for them selfs.You could try saying that for your birthday thats the only thing you want.Is it the cost thats putting him of as if you sold your eglu then you only need to add a little.As for getting more girls you wont look back.I say to my partner ........................................................................

 

keep your women happy and she'l keep you happy he just laughs and says yer right you never know it might work.good luck girlie let us know how you get on.

[veggiemad]

I just asked my DH to lock thegirls up one night and he got so frustrated at not being able to shut the door- due to the aubiose being flicked intot he entrance - that he agreed the next day- on the conidtion that i sold my eglu after the cube arrived to fund it.

 

Now...................he's agreed to a 15x8ft WIR and i'm buying and eglu classic again for intros!!

 

Good luck- cubes are fab!

[Patricia W]

I just went out and bought one.... "oh that old thing? Had it ages... you've just never noticed... " approach.

 

Actually, as soon as it was here, the girls became much easier to manage. They were always a pain to get to bed as they like to roost high, and they insisted on laying in a bramble bush. As soon as the cube arrived, they put themselves to bed and laid in the nest box!

 

Hope whatever tack you take works.

 

Tricia

[Falkor]

I am of the same camp as Patricia W...I just went and brought one

 

However when I decided I needed the second one I saved for it...I had a jar by the egg skelter and any egg money earnt went in...along with ALL my 5p, 2p and 1p's. I also sold five of my Radley Handbags and put pieces of paper in my jar with the £ earnt written on. OH knew I was serious when I sent him to the post office with my PRIZED and long sought after Black Radley Bean

 

I agree with PW too about the girls being easier to manage. I had four bantams that refused to put them selves in the at night, preferring to perch in the run. As soon as the cube was installed for them they took themselves off to bed

[Redwing]

I'd say the way to go would be to demonstrate the cube as a replacement for the Eglu only and not mention extra girls at this stage, act like the cube is simply a different design that would suit you better being off the ground etc..

 

Also mention that the Eglu would have held its value quite well

[The Dogmother]

Any underhand suggestions would be appreciated

 

 

I read this, and Tasha immediately sprang to mind... we first met in the early days when she'd just moved up this way and had bought more eglus and chickens than her OH knew about

[Redwing]

Its not my fault he moved up here two months after me, what sort of hubby leaves a wife like me unattended?

[The Dogmother]

I wouldn't trust you with an empty paper bag Tasha - you'd only fill it with chickens!

[Falkor]

Its not my fault he moved up here two months after me, what sort of hubby leaves a wife like me unattended?

 

he should of known better really!

[shelley8179]

Im reading all this advice as I would also love to upgrade but the OH is not interested because of the cost and unfortunately he notices everything so I cant even sneak one in .

[Redwing]

Tell him the blue Eglus have been discontinued so yours is now a collectors item and will pay for the cube...kind of..... this only works if you have a secret bank account with the required extra money in

[Lewis]

Maybe wait and see if you can find a bargain cube on here/ebay and then it'll be an offer he can't refuse

 

People look to swap cubes for eglu's and a bit of extra money, might be worth considering

[jill the potter]

Thanks for all your suggestions - I'll try them all!! It's nice to know that I'm not on my own Exchanging eglu and cash for cube seems a good way to go, I'll keep checking that section. Think OH worries about the garden - not sure why as it's completely trashed by my girls already! Will just keep at it, as I said it took months to get him to agree to the eglu so I'll bide my time and wait..............

[BarbaraJ]

It was a little easier for me as i had a wooden coop that was erm not very well made by hubby and when it snowed badly got rotten bits. I said rather than him make another i could buy a cube he doesn't like/isn't much good at fiddly DIY really just thinks he can make something better

[shelley8179]

Looks like I have got competition for swapping my eglu for a cube, will have to be on my toes to get in there first , How much cash would be reasonable to offer with my eglu in exchange for a cube?

[sadietoo]

Reading this with interest as struggling to get oH to agree to a WIR. I might be able to swing it for selling the eglu and getting a cube instead, but can I just ask how is the cube run easier to clean than the eglu's if it is in a fixed place and can't be lifted out of the way? Even with the door conversion it still looks like you would be bent double? As ever advice much appreciated

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Come & have a look at mine in the flesh, bring DH & he can have a try too

 

Sha x

[jillybean]

Hi everyone,

 

I have had to re-register on the forum using another username as it locked me out!!! I was 'jill the potter' before - I'm still a potter, but new name of jillybean (old nickname the kids used to use!!). So it's still me banging on about a cube!!

 

I have been thinking long and hard about why I wanted a cube, and decided that it was simply because I wanted more girls! but because of the expense and the mess the current two have made of the garden OH was having none of it

 

So have decided to change tack - what if I keep the eglu and get a walk in run!!!!! Am I right in thinking that an eglu would take two more? As I was orginally told by the breeder who I bought the chooks from that it was the run that would only support two chooks. Therefore, -stay with my logic here- if I get a walk in run the girls would be less likely to trash the garden as they would have more room in the run and less time in the garden. Also, I have seen a WIR quite cheap for about £150. So when OH asks me what I want for my birthday next month I say WIR please!!!!

 

Your thoughts would be appreciated, particularly on how many in an eglu. Places to buy reasonable WIR, best time to get new girls etc.

 

Might get my old username back, techies are working on it, but if not will carry on using this one.

[Wantchooks]

Wear him down..... and go on and on and on.

 

My DH did not want to know AT ALL and it took a long effort and a false start a couple of years ago.

 

He originally agreed about four months ago (grudgingly) to an eglu and run but due to careful shepherding towards the main objective (a cube) became more interested and agreed that a cube would be better!

 

 

The cube and run were set up only this week, and as I type this, he is in the run happily fitting a skirt to the edges so that the aubiose stays in!

 

Complete turnaround..... so just go on and on - in a nice kind of way of course!!

[Couperman]

The walk in run approach is definately the way forward.

 

Just make sure that it is big enough for 10 hens for when you upgrade to the Cube.

 

Cathy doesn't have this problem, I am worse than her for flock expansion.

 

We are at already full capacity (until we get our smallholding that is! )

 

It's only a matter of time before we win the Lottery. Then we will be able to emulate Tasha's ever expanding flock.

 

Good Luck.

 

Kev.

[Poached Egg]

Good luck!

 

My OH just read this, laughing, over my shoulder and couldn't offer further advice other than 'it depends on the OH'. Also claiming that 'I know what you're up to, I'm not that daft' when I'm after something.

[jill the potter]

Thanks everyone!!! I'll keep you posted