Nacktschnecken omlet Cube

[stehaggan]

Hi,

 

I have an allotment with an area which i dont use. I want to get some chickens to add to it, and have been looking at the cubes and want to buy one and have a few questions before i do.

 

I was thinking of getting a cube with the extended run to keep the chickens in when im not there, and build a sort of fenced area around it to let the chickens roam a bit freeer when i am there.

 

My questions:

 

What are the best chickens to get for first timers and how many can the cube fit in to produce a decent amount of eggs.

 

How high would you recommend me to make the fenced area? bearing in mind the chickens will not have access to this at night.

 

What goodies can i plant that the chickens can eat in this fenced area so they can forage a bit when they are let out.

 

Many thanks

 

Stephen

Edited May 9, 2010 by Guest

[Richard T]

a?

[stehaggan]

the message is there now lol sorry im not even hatched yet!!

[chicken bark]

Glad your message made it at last!

 

The 'rule of thumb' that is trotted out is 1sqm of run space per hen. So that is not many in a cube and run if they have very little free ranging time.

 

Whatever run height you go for I'd put a roof on it unless you go down the electric fencing route. Think hungry fox.

 

As a new chicken owner myself I'd say that you can't go very wrong with hybrids to start off with.

 

Good luck with it all anyway - you won't regret it. They'll do a fab job of preparing those veg beds.

[Egluntyne]

I'd have concerns about leaving an expensive bit of kit such as a cube at an allotment if I'm honest, unless the security there is good, and you can secure it.

 

A mixture of hybrids are good hens to start with. If you are in the Omlet delivery area, some Gingernut Rangers and Miss Pepperpots are ideal.

[Redwing]

the hens would be ok in that set up. 4 at a push

 

I agree with Egluntyne, my first thought when you mentioned the cube was the security of keeping on an allotment

[stehaggan]

Thanks I'd not really thought about the security to be honest because I've never really had any trouble before. Omlet advised I could happily fit 10 in which is why I asked. Is their any securing hoops or anything I could tie it down with? If not I may have to consider a wooden one but I really want and eglu

[squidsin]

Yup I'd be worried about that too! I considered putting my Eglu classic there but don't trust the local ruffians not to have it away and onto eBay! Also, unless your allotment is near your house (mine isn't particularly) and you go there twice a day, it would be a bit of a pain keeping chooks there. And you'd need to check you were allowed to as different councils have different rules on keeping animals on allotments.

Sorry to sound like a killjoy as other than that I think it's a brilliant idea!

[Egluntyne]

If you had it on slabs, or a ring of slabs around the edge, you could secure it with rings and chains I suppose.

 

The pop hole at the side would need to be secured too, as it would be fairly easy to hoik a sleeping chicken out at night.

 

I'm not trying to put you off the cube, it is a fantastic piece of kit, but just want to alert you to the possible pitfalls of having one on an allotment.

[JanTheDiver]

I have a cube with the extra extension and I have six girls. They are kept in there when I am not around but let out into the playpen (large run) when I am at home, which is quite a bit to be honest.

 

I wouldn't keep more than six in there as they need room to get away from each other when locked in and a max of six does this I think.

 

I would also be dubious about leaving a cube on an allotment so you would need extra security I think.

[Torrin]

Worht checking your allotment rules - I had this idea but not allowed at my allotment. Glad I've got them at home instead, much easier to check on and spend FAR too long just watching them

[The Dogmother]

It's a brilliant idea, but as the others have pointed out, I'd be concerned about the security of your eglu/cube. A friend wanted to do this recently and ended up fencing off an area with some Omlet fencing, and a small, temporary coop, then taking the girls up to the lottie with her when she went.

[stehaggan]

Hi Guys,

 

Thanks for your ideas, I am allowed to keep the chickens there so that wont be a problem. I would love to have them at home but unfortunately have practically no garden at all, well i do but its really not suitable for chickens.

 

I have been re-thinking, i think if put the eglu in the enclosed run and take the advise of the concrete slabs and strap the wheels down, if i make the run fox proof then i could leave them out the majority of time rather than just when I am there and having the sectioned grazing area. I was thinking i could have small doors made, to access the cleaining trays and egg box. I was also thinking if I have a full Walk in run, i could lock it up and noone would be able to get inside. Also If I make the access door made so that it cant actually fit the cube through it, do you think this would be a big deterrent? The allotment itself has huge 10 foot metal railings around it, there has been 1 or 2 instances of vandalism in the past year so I'm quite hopeful.

 

My father in law is a joiner and will do all the work for me if i pay for his flights over from spain and obviously the wood so im looking at making some final designs and ideas soon. I saw a really good looking Walk in run on here yesterday but i cant find it now

 

Any more ideas, i would greatly appreciate. I have the money to get it all underway but want it to be right and not rush into it without preparing for it properly and its really frustrating.

 

Thanks guys

[The Dogmother]

I guess that you could, so long as you make regular trips up there during the day to check on them and collect eggs.

 

Perhaps there are other allotment owners, who are up there more often and would happily keep an eye on it for you.

 

TBH, it's not something I'd entertain.

[chickenanne]

Like everyone else, I would be worried from a security point of view - although keeping the cube inside a locked run sounds an improvement, anyone who really wanted to nick it could do so if they had screwdrivers /wire cutters/etc; also vandalism would worry me.

[stehaggan]

I'll have a rethink other people have some but just in wooden pens but maybe the eglu would attract

more interest.

 

Thanks for all your thoughts

[Guest]

You say you have a small garden but if you do you can go with bantams which is what I have they take up a small amount of space and are so sweet but you would need to look at the type because of broodyness.

 

Measure your garden and check,