The Ossy chicks Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 Hi We have just received our Eglu classic and are very excited to get our chickens. We had hoped to buy three a gingernut ranger, a bluebell and a speckledy! However we have just been on a chicken course and the lady there recommended two chickens maximum in a classic! Bit disappointed as we thought the recommendation was up to four chickens. The chickens would stay in the run throughout the day with a short period of freedom each day and more at the weekend. What have other people found to be a sucessful number of chickens to keep in the classic? We would hate to cause a problem to the chickens by just being greedy! Thanks for any advice. The Ossy chicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogiwoods Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 Hi The general consensus in the forum is that four hens will fit into a classic eglu. The issue is the run. Most say for three hens, get the run extension. Either that or do what I did and get bantams!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 The Classic itself will comfortably accommodate 4. It is the length of the run that is the deciding factor. The standard run is not big enough for 4. You would need to add at least one extension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 Welcome to the forum . I agree, it's the run space that's the issue. I have 5 in a classic but they're in a walk in run. I had 3 in a run plus converter with some freeranging time each day, and they were fine . Good luck with your chickens - you won't regret it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunkydoory Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 I have gone from 2 chickens in a classic to 3, the run was fine for the 3 new girls for a week or so but now they have matured (and are considerably bigger) it really isn't large enough. The extra bird has made a big difference, so we have added a fenced area (another 2.5 x 1.5m) outside of the run so that they have plenty of space during the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 Bantams could be the way to go, although I would use an extension, bantams are lovely and can still lay a decent egg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet G Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 We had 3 in our classic, no problem but we got the run extension. Really it seems to me it's as much run space as you can manage that they need, as they all squash up at night, at least they do when they get on together. I think advising getting 2 hens only is bad advice. They become so attached to each other, if something happens & one dies, the one left is absolutely bereft. You've done the right thing by getting 3. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 I've got 3 in a Go which has the same size run as the classic. They FR a lot but when they have to be confined to the run they are fine. They get on really well. There is woodchip on the floor which keeps them foraging a lot. They seem very happy to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 We had 3 with plenty of free ranging, but Bluebelles and Speckledy's are not the smallest of hens, so 3 big fat hens will obviously need ore space than 3 smaller breeds. As you can see I currently have 6 in 1 of my eglus (+ 6 in a cube and 1 bully in another eglu). These 6 are still growing (4 full sized & 2 bantams) - within the next month the will need rehousing as they grow bigger. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenHelen Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Lots of people mention Bantams in this thread.....but no one has mentioned how many you can fit in an Eglu Classic. We have 2 Bantams in our Eglu, and have just purchased 2 more. Do you think we have enough room. They have the whole garden during the day and are confined to the run if we are away and when they are in bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibah Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Hii! the website recommends you should have 4 well.... i Dont think so!(i do recommend 4 with the small sized run) i have 6 chickens in my 1 eglu classic! i wasn't being greedy at all and i do NOT regret. the chickens are very happy indeed! i have a walk in run, i wake up everyday a 6 o'clock and open the eglu into my quite large run, when my dad comes back from work at his break time about 10-11 he opens the run so they roam around the garden. When we were thinking about getting chickens i saw a absolute great example of somebody have 10 yes 10 chickens in there eglu classic! They didn't look distressed they were all healthy and they were in great condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibah Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Lots of people mention Bantams in this thread.....but no one has mentioned how many you can fit in an Eglu Classic. We have 2 Bantams in our Eglu, and have just purchased 2 more. Do you think we have enough room. They have the whole garden during the day and are confined to the run if we are away and when they are in bed. That is absouletely fine!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennym Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Hi Hibah, and welcome to the forums! I think the issue with the 'how many hens in an Eglu' question is more about run space and nest boxes. My three all pile up in a TINY space to sleep, so sleeping space really isn't the issue. They do, however, try to pile into the nest box together - it's pretty funny to watch and listen to the scrambling about I would probably want a nest box for every 3 or 4 hens. If you have a decent sized run (at least 1 square metre per hen is recommended I think but more is better ) or complete free-ranging for your hens, plus a spare nest box, and a group of friendly, good-natured hens then you could well be okay, though I suppose it might be an issue in future if you end up with a bullied hen with nowhere to run/hide. Also - note that this thread is quite old so you may not get any replies from the original poster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 We had 4 ex batts in our Eglu Classic and quite honestly we could have fitted more in as they sleep in a big heap. We now just have 3 in there and 2 of them sleep in the nest itself with the 3rd one sitting on top of the other 2, quite a sight! As has been said already, it's the outside space that is more important. We have the Eglu on a table in a WIR and they have a space of 7ft by 9ft for 3 of them. I think they say 10sq ft per hen minimum or something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Run size is an issue. The standard run is nowhere near big enough for more than 3 chickens, and the recommendation is a maximum of 4 hens per nesting box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Run size is an issue. The standard run is nowhere near big enough for more than 3 chickens, and the recommendation is a maximum of 4 hens per nesting box. See I forgot about the nesting box as we don't have any of our ex batts laying now so it's not really been an issue, but obviously if you have laying girls you need to make sure there aren't too many as there is just the one nesting box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Chickens don't read forums or DEFRA recommendations: although I have a WIR all my chickens want sleep together ... one Eglu So, on that basis, an eglu classic can sleep 12!!!! Chickens can learn new tricks: by standing in the run for the last 20 minutes of the day (when they return home from FR) I have managed to cajole them into dividing themselves between the and the Actually, its really funny because the past couple of nights my smallest bird, Honey an OEG, stands at the door of the and "selects" who can go in and who can't On the nest box issue, I have converted a covered cat litter tray into a roomy extra nest box ... now, if only they would lay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeloo Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 I only have two in my Go and standard run which is roughly the same size as a classic, but I read the blog of a woman who has three in hers and they seem to do just fine! I've questioned whether to get a third, both due to run size issues and an increase in noise and waste. It's mostly the noise and waste issues that hold me back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 It's the run size which is key - I have six hens sleeping in an Eglu Classic in a WIR. Actually that's not true as two of them persist in roosting on the roof, much to my irritation as it makes cleaning it a lot harder! However, it's correct that six hens will fold up quite snugly and fit in when they are roosting, and I have certainly had six sleeping in there. Perhaps it helps that I never close the door, so there's no risk of overheating. As said above, you need more nesting boxes (I made one from a plastic crate) and a much bigger run than that which comes with the Classic or Go, if you're going to have six hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 I had 3 very happy hens in a classic for over a year - now I have 16 (some banties) in a cube, with 2 empty eglu's - it is the outside space you need to look at as has been said already. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 I've had 7 bigguns squeeze in a classic including 1 very large orpington fella. Currently have 7 banties in the same classic (now in a WIR). Their new house is in the garage waiting to be built in the new year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibah Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 Hi Hibah, and welcome to the forums! I think the issue with the 'how many hens in an Eglu' question is more about run space and nest boxes. My three all pile up in a TINY space to sleep, so sleeping space really isn't the issue. They do, however, try to pile into the nest box together - it's pretty funny to watch and listen to the scrambling about I would probably want a nest box for every 3 or 4 hens. If you have a decent sized run (at least 1 square metre per hen is recommended I think but more is better ) or complete free-ranging for your hens, plus a spare nest box, and a group of friendly, good-natured hens then you could well be okay, though I suppose it might be an issue in future if you end up with a bullied hen with nowhere to run/hide. Also - note that this thread is quite old so you may not get any replies from the original poster! LOOOL yeahh ! i didnt really know what ti say even thought i am only 11 I have a Classic and a large walk in run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 I agree with everyone else. My 3 girls all sleep in a heap in the nest box of our . You could easily sleep a load in there. (as long as they have all made friends properly) But, it's the outside space, our girls don't Fr regularly,so the run is now 4 metres, even then they all shout to get out into their netted area. I have put them on the patio to give them a break from the mud and they are sulking because they can't get out. They are getting an hour or so before bed but they get so used to their comforts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 So, on that basis, an eglu classic can sleep 12!!!! 12!? Wow, that's got to be a record Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 My eglu classic sleeps zero chookies ....they all (by choice) pile into the cube...all 14 of them...two a big buff orps and only two of the others are bantie size. My mob free range all the time..so size of bedroom is about how many can squeeze in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
