Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Stedic]

Hello all,

 

So last week, as some of you may have read elsewhere, I purchased a secondhand Forsham Ark as shown in the link below. http://www.forshamcottagearks.com/poultry-housing/romney-305-chicken-house.htm

 

The thought process was that the run size wasn't too bad (as advised by the people who sold me the hens) and it seemed reasonably easy to clean. I have two girls in there, a Blue and a Copper Black. The run is currently sat on the edge of slabs to prevent digging in, but the centre is just soil, with some straw thrown in (suggested by dealers). The girls seem happy enough, but there isn't a huge amount of space for them. I'm a little worried that the girls won't get a huge amount of free ranging, although thats partly because it scares me at the moment!!

 

So, I'm thinking I could pick up a second hand Classic for £250-300 ish, and change to that on woodchips during the summer, maybe switch to Aubiouse and covers in the winter. WOuld that give them a significant increase in runs pace do you think? Its a big investment, but I want the girls to be happy!

 

Steve

[Egluntyne]

**Here** are the Eglu specifications for a comparison.

 

Click in the diagram 4th down on the right.

[Stedic]

Thanks Eglutyne.

 

I'd had a look at that before. When you consider than my run is 880mm wide throughout, it means that at the Eglu's narrowest part it is only just smaller than my current run. The other thing that concerns me a little is that being a pyramid shape, the girls can only stand fully tall in perhaps three quarters of the run, although there's plenty of space for them to stand up side by side.

 

Decisions decisions! Its a lot of money to spend on the beasties, but it does seem it would give them a better life. An old addage keeps springing to mind: "Buy cheap, buy twice".

 

More mulling over required!

[Jools]

The house size of the Romney is fine for two or three hybrids, so that's not the worry. The run size of the Romney is pretty much the same as the Eglu run, except that you do get a little more usable headspace with the Eglu. There isn't a lot in it though, so only you can make the decision really. Maybe it's a good idea to get out and have a look at some different houses and runs for comparison, so that when you do decide, you're not making another mistake. Good luck.

[Tutti Frutti]

An off-the-wall idea but could you extend the run on the ark? You could get some pressure treated timber and some weld mesh, make the extension and fit it so it attaches around the door and comes down to make a T-shape...?? (clear as mud, sorry!)

[Stedic]

A quick update for you all.

 

I decided to go and look at a Eglu in the flesh - hoping that it wouldn't actually be a lot different.

 

I popped over to look at one for sale - the owners were absolutely lovely and had upgraded to a cube. We chatted about how they had gotten on with the Eglu and all seemed well, and they offered to add in a home made run extender too. I was amazed at how much bigger the run space seemed - or to correct that, how much more usable space there was.

 

I went home for a think and had a chat to the girls. I let them out for a free range and the first thing they did was stretch out and flap their wings. After recovering from the stress, I realised they always do that when they first come out. And, that I'd never seen them do it in their run, despite hours of staring at them. Seems to me, that with the sloping sides they probably didn't have the room. It broke my heart, and to add insult to injury Cybill then did her first non-yellow poo! I nearly cried, which as a grown man is ridiculous!

 

So I decided that if they could make me feel so good, I could live with myself if they were living in a tiny area - I went back and bought the Eglu! After a few minutes of stress last night, I managed to coax them both into their new run....Polly wandered in and flapped her wings about - it was a perfect moment! I moved the old run away from them to avoid confusion - they promptly went to bed in their new red house without fuss! The door is much bigger and I think that helped them too.

 

I'm still worried about them of course, but its eased down massively now they have more play space when I'm at work. I'll give them a few days to re-readjust and then give them a FR. If I can sell the old run then great, but if not then its £150 wasted. But if you ask me, thats a small price to pay for their happiness.

[ant3nna]

I was thinking about getting one of those Forsham arks because mum is insistent that the eglu is to small (yes, I have shown her the measurements). I'll keep this in mind when and if I finally get my chooks.

[Stedic]

Having seen them side by side, its interesting. The Forsham is a big longer, the house is wider and the covered area at the end is a good idea. I think it'd be great for two (or maybe 3) birds if you were able to let them out quite a bit.

 

I suppose that everyone has a slightly different way of keeping chickens, and each set up is designed to fit a certain way of doing things. I wouldn't rule it out immediately, its a great use of space as its footprint is a lot more convenient that the Eglu, so if space was tight it might be ideal.