Eglu Cube Coop and Accessories

[stu]

Okay... all our hens were killed by a dog recently, and at the time I vowed I wouldn't get more because they will always be vulnerable where we live (dogs, foxes etc) However, I am rethinking this, as I kinda miss having them now.

So, come the warm weather (granted, we live in Ireland so this could be 2016) we will be looking to get more.

 

I have a cube with the standard run and one additional run added... so basically it is three meters long including the space under the cube itself (see little picture in my sig).

If I were to get three small birds, would they be happy never getting out of this run? They would of course have all the hanging bits and pieces to peck away at.

 

Thoughts?

Thanks.

[mimi5]

Hi Stu,

So sorry about your girls!! But in answer to your question I kept 5 pekin bantams in that set up happily last year. I have since added another metre and will soon be adding a couple more girls to the 5. I do also when I'm home allow them to FR, but this winter with the awful weather we had they have spent alot of time just inside the run!! Got 4 out 5 laying!!

[Lewis]

Sorry to hear about your previous girls but I know what you mean, it's never the same to have an empty garden!

 

A 3 meter run would be fine for 3 bantams in it without free ranging, maybe even a couple more as they're small

 

You could get a mix or pretty and productive - maybe Pekins for character, Wyandotte for prettiness and Sussex bantams for eggs!

[Redwing]

I think four bantams would be fine in that space

 

I keep trios in standard Eglu runs no problems

 

There are plenty of breeders of bantams over there, the Poultryni forum would be a good place to ask if you get stuck for suppliers, they have members in NI and EIRE

 

I'm so sorry about your girls.

[stu]

Thanks for the advice, and the forum name... appreciated

I think we will look to an Irish breeder and maybe pick up a mix as suggested, but only three. I like to think that if something happens to one of them, the remaining ones will still have company.

 

I'm a big Newcastle United fan and seem to recall on this forum someone had a fine black and white bantam?

To be honest... I was miserable today because I had to finish pressure hosing the cube.

 

I have turned so damned soft..!

[mimi5]

My pekins have 2 separate perches and a dustbath in their run. I also hang up greens and have a pecka block hanging from the cube ladder.

 

I'm sure 3 girls would be very happy!!!!

[surf_space]

Did the bantam happen to be on this topic?

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=90058

[stu]

Did the bantam happen to be on this topic?

Yes... that's the one.

I'm very envious..!

 

Also... I never heard of a pecka block, but it sounds like a good thing.

[mimi5]

. I never heard of a pecka block

 

It's just a block of corn and grit on a stick you can hang in the run for them to help themselves!! Battles the poultry company make them in 2 sizes and they're not very expensive either!

[Redwing]

You need one of these then!

 

[stu]

I do need one of those... they're fantastic, and look like they're already wearing Newcastle United jerseys.

Let's face it... I am going to have to demonstrate impeccable self control when choosing new birds. Not something I am very good at, really.

[Redwing]

Those are some of my barred Wyandotte bantams - there are a couple of breeders over there, some of mine went over there to other breeders

 

Other birds on the black and white theme that come in bantam size would be:

 

Cuckoo - Araucana, Belgian D'anvers, Maran, Pekin, Orpington

 

Barred - Wyandotte, Pekin, Plymouth Rock

 

Spangled - Hamburgh, Appenzeller (bantams are rare but even the large fowl are small) Thuringian

 

Mottled - Wyandotte, Pekin, Orpington

 

Laced - Sebright, Wyandotte, Orpington

 

Others - Ancona, Exchequer Leghorn (not bantam but not very big)

[stu]

Thanks... this gives me a good start, and we live in the middle of the country, so are not far from most places. There are breeders towards Galway and Roscommon who deal with bantam hens a short drive from us.

We can get farther afield but will have to make a day of it.