What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[chestnutmare]

Hello! My mother and I have admired the Eglus for some time now. Although we haven't purchased one because of the cost.

A few years ago we kept 23 chickens and four ducks. We're now left with one duck. We were so proud that our chickens (and ducks) were completely free range but most were taken by the fox which was heartbreaking as they were much loved pets. (we live on a small holding). The one duck we have left is free-range with our five jack russells and we can only assume that, because she's the only one left, she stays with the dogs and therefore is safe from the fox!

Now we are interested in buying two or three chickens, just enough eggs for the family and although we liked the idea of completely free-range we now want a run for the chickens (if we do decide to get them), to keep them safe.

I've been looking into the Eglu Go and Classic all evening but can't make up my mind... and then I worry about the amount of money I'd be parting with!

Any opinions/experiences appreciated.

[green]

Have a look on Ebay. If you're prepared to wait until there's one for sale in your area, you'll save a lot of money.

[Space Chick]

It may be worth looking on eBay I agree and maybe consider saving to build a walk in run to make them secure.

 

Good luck with whatever you decide

 

I'd love a smallholding

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum . I bought an eglu classic a couple of years ago and have never regretted it . I now have 6 girls and their eglu in a walk in run and still enjoy having them. I'm sure you wouldn't regret getting an eglu, but if you had 23 hens before, you might well end up wanting that number again in which case you'll need a few cubes .

 

Have a good look look round the forum and it might sway you towards an eglu .

[Stella14]

Hi,

I bought a wooden coop and run (the pitched roof type) from a seller on EBay. I must say it's very well made and nicely designed. I bought the largest size and have four full size hens in it. The run is open to our back yard during daytime, so I'd be happy for it to take 6. Bear in mind that when sellers list the number of hens it would take, they must usually mean bantams (but they don't state that). Anyway, it was much cheaper than the Eglu and it's doing it's job nicely.

[chestnutmare]

Thanks for the replies (already!). I'm seriously considering second hand although they don't seem all that much cheaper than brand new... or maybe I'm not looking hard enough. But I've also been considering getting one as a Christmas present for my parents, in which case, I'd likely want to get brand new.

Also, my parents have their aches and pains so anything that makes cleaning easier would be a huge bonus.

I like the look of wooden coops too, but are they as easy to clean as an Eglu?

Thanks.

[green]

I haven't got experience of wooden coops, but one of the reasons I like my eglu so much is that it is soooo easy to clean. Before buying the eglu I read a lot about different coops, but ended up choosing a plastic one after some horror stories about red mite infested wooden coops. I hear the cube is even easier to clean as you won't need to bend down.

 

I was bidding on Ebay for quite a while before winning my eglu, it does take a bit of patience and you also have to set yourself a strict limit for how much you're prepared to pay.

 

Good luck for the coop hunt!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You're right, eglus hold their value really well so you'd need to be really lucky to get a bargain.

 

I like the fact that you can slosh water all over an eglu (or power wash it even) and it's dry again in minutes .

 

The only thing I would say if you're considering an eglu for your parents is that although it is easy to clean, you do have to bend down quite a lot - opening the poo tray, opening the egg port, putting the feeders in. A cube doesn't have that drawback but is obviously a lot more pricey.

[sparkysmum]

I have a beautiful looking wooden house which is well made & very traditional. In the summer it was perfect. I also have 2 eglus which I love. I have to say I do prefer my eglu for ease of moving & cleaning. I also think it's probably warmer in the winter than the wooden house. I also like the eglu run - you know your hens are safe from the fox/dog/other predators whilst they are in it.

 

Mad as it might sound I'm sure my hens ( the pekins & sablepoots ) actually prefer the cosiness of the eglu & run to the openness of their large hen garden and wooden house. They have shown no signs at all of wanting to leave their little run just now. Voting with their feet

 

Whilst the initial cost might seem a lot they do hold their value as ANH said but also even after years of use (mine was second hand to start with) they don't seem to deteriorate/ rot unlike some of the less well made wooden ones.

 

I have to say I like their funkiness too

 

Do let us know what you decide, Alli xx

[Chicken shack]

I would go a visit an eglu owner before you decide. I visited both a classic and a cube before I bought my and run extention. I have since bought a further extention but because of the bad weather have been unable to put it together yet. There is free postage at the moment and £50 trade in which is qite a saving. You will probably have an old hutch around on the small holding that you can trade in.

[Purplemaniacs]

I love my eglu, it is a great design, they are expensive but well worth it.

 

Chrissie

[Angie]

I was very lucky to get my Cube and standard run on ebay...dare i admit it ? for 400pds...i know very cheap.

I chose the cube because i have arthritis( rheumy kind) so being down on my knees a lot wasn't top of my list for chicken keeping.With the cube being off the ground i can keep it clean very easily without the constant bending/kneeling..

With the money i saved i added a bit to it and bought a WIR ...again no bending to clean the run, and safe from the Mr fox.

With all the help ,advice and companionship the omleteers give me i get so much more out of my chickies.

[Gertie]

Hello

 

I have a cube & a classic. They are both really great, & have impressed me no end in the current weather. Though I love the classic for ease of moving & cleaning it is harder to get in the run! The cube is really easy to clean & has a bigger run door so it's easier to get in. I find them both really well designed.

 

I purchased them after buying a cheap wooden coop. It was lovely in summer but it got red mite in it (probably my fault as a new keeper). Although they were not that difficult to remove, there were lots of nooks & crannies to treat, I spent a small fortune on a chemical "Ooops, word censored!"nal to kill them. As the weather got wetter the cheap wood swelled & I couldn't open the door. I know there are lots of good quality wooden houses that are well made & don't swell (so don't be put off wood), that's just my experience. I have quickly worked out that although the eglu may seem expensive, it will last a long time, require little maintenance & has good resale value.

 

Oh...I forgot to mention the most important thing...my hens are very happy!!!