Stef Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 .... will buy some chickens. Can I really keep 2 or 3 chickens in an eglu and that tiny looking run? We live in quite foxy country and I work so I wouldn't be able to be around much during the week. Is it OK to keep 2 or 3 in an eglu, letting them out into the run during the day, alone? I know I have to move the eglu around and I do have a big garden and would let them out when I was home and gardening... it really is just not knowing if the run is OK as the only space they would have! My chickeny future hangs on the answer to this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 No such thing as a stupid question. The answer, you'll be glad to know, is YES! The standard run is ok for 2 hens. If you are having three then I would recommend getting a run extension. That only applies at the moment to the Eglu Classic, the Go does not come with run extensions (although I believe there may be one in the pipeline) and so you would be limited to two hens with that. Obviously they like having more freedom, but they will be absolutely fine in the run - battery hens live in a much smaller space, after all. If you let them out to free-range when you are in the garden, then they'll get some exercise, but I kept hens in an Eglu and run for the first two years, I work full time and am often away, and so they had limited free ranging especially in the winter when the days are so short. The theory of moving the run around the garden is great, but the practicality of it is not - if you have a big garden, I'd suggest you choose an area where you can site the Eglu and run permanently. (Choose somewhere that's big enough for your walk-in run, because you are going to want one sooner or later!) Go on - put your order in, you know you want to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef Posted July 17, 2010 Author Share Posted July 17, 2010 Thanks Ollie! That's all the permission I need. I'll order a Classic and run extension then take husband to the very local chicken man and let him choose his 2 or 3! I'll let him find out about our need for a WIR That'll have to be at the end of the month as we are going on holiday for a couple of days! So in August I'll have chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 My OH came up with the idea of a WIR and a very good one too Look forward to hearing how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 Welcome, Stef . Brilliant advice from Olly - I was the same, had 3 girls in a Classic plus run, bought a converter, then 2 years later bought a walk in run . Hope you've placed that order . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 A couple of hens or maybe 3 if you get the extended run is fine. I actually have 4 hens in my standard run at the moment. I have to say it's kind of a squeeze. They are find in the Eglu itself but are too cramped in the run. The only reason I have 4 is that they are ex batts and my other half came home with 4 as he couldn't bear to just come home with 3 We have our run in a permanent site on a woodchip base but we are getting a nice big WIR next month and we will also be getting a Cube too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 I have four in an eglu and run with a converter, it is only until they get in with the older girls but they don't seem to be too cramped. I too would go for three with a converter. Good luck Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 i have 3 in the Go an they FR when I'm at home. Seem ok in the run - mine is static as OH didnt want lawn ruined but there are hen shaped dust baths on it despite me making them one and acquiring ash which i am told they love seem happy enough to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef Posted July 18, 2010 Author Share Posted July 18, 2010 Thanks All, I am running aorund the site checking out 'converter', ' cube' and all that specialist chicken terminology I shall phone on Monday, so I can talk it through, and place my order..... yey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted July 18, 2010 Share Posted July 18, 2010 and place my order..... yey! Brilliant, keeping chickens is great you won't regret it. Any more dumb questions just post them, everyone on here is great at answering them. I would have been lost without the forum. Let us know what you order, what colour are you going for? or would be my choice Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted July 18, 2010 Share Posted July 18, 2010 and place my order..... yey! Brilliant, keeping chickens is great you won't regret it. Any more dumb questions just post them, everyone on here is great at answering them. I would have been lost without the forum. Let us know what you order, what colour are you going for? or would be my choice Chrissie I've got a green Eglu but I'm going to go for purple with the Cube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted July 18, 2010 Share Posted July 18, 2010 I love the purple Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
