AJuff Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 I WANT a cube and need some justification for one. I was thinking down the lines of the eglu with extension is rather hard to move about onto fresh grass. How easy is a cube to move? I find if I want to move the eglu forward it just s"Ooops, word censored!"es through the poo and makes a mess of the underside. Can you move a cube without that happening? Also is it really heavy to move? I know I've only just got two little new girls but it would be nice to have a sussex and a daisybelle, they look sooooo cute. Why didn't anyone warn me how addictive keeping chickens is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 a good thing with the cube is that you can keep increasing your flock size. I have an eglu, but would love more chooks (like most of us) but there is no way hubby would agree to a cube (it was hard enough to get him to agree to the eglu ) So at least with the cube you know that once you've bought it - you wont have to sell it to get a bigger chicken house. imagine all the lovely chooks you could get Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 The cube is really easy to move and there is no problem with poo because the whole thing is raised on the wheels. I am a complete weakling and can move it by myself - the only problem I have is the girls trying to trip me up whilst I'm doing it! It is also much easier to clean out the cube and collect eggs - no bending down as everything is at the right height. And best of all - you can get more chooks in the cube. Go for it - you won't regret it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 I love my cube!!! Its well worth saving for!!! I would love another one!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 With the cube meaning no bending down to grab the poo tray - that means no lingering frogs can jump out onto my hand when it's wet! Plus I'm getting Georgie Crocs boots, so they can't jump on my feet! Justification in itself! I have a pink eglu & wanted more chooks - so showed hubby, who is a gadget freak & he agreed to buy me one! I'm keeping my mk2 also so I can have bantams in that. Another thought, is that the nesting area in the cube is bigger. So if one goes broody, the others could still go in & lay their eggs. Well that's if the broody one isn't too stroppy! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 I just adored my eglus - but really wanted a bigger one - and waited very patiently for the guys to develop one. For me the cube is perfect. Everything at waist height - great for bad backs like mine! Lots of room in the nesting area - so no pacing frantically outside in the nesting queue any more! I think the Eglu shape is just perfect - a real 'first' and I will always have a soft spot for it. If it was mounted on wheels - then I would have bought one of those! The cube ticks all the right boxes for me - except that it looks like a fridge A very striking fridge mind you I don't have a run - and have no need of one. It is nice to have the option of choosing your run size - and the fact that the chickens have more 'head' room I should imagine is great - especially if you make the most of it and put up perches for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 The Cube is better in every way than the Eglu, and I can't think of one thing about the Eglu that is better than the Cube. It doesn't even take up any more room (but gives the hens masses amounts of extra space). I would try the Rat argument. I have had rats nesting under my Eglu, but there is nowhere for them to go with the Cube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 I have no need for a cube as my Eglus are on raised platforms in big hen pens, but that doesn't stop me WANTING one I think the only advantge the Eglu has over the cube is, IMHO, the Eglu is much more attractive. I just like the look of it, & I will happily admit to that being a big factor when I decided to buy one. But if we ever move, & can't take the hen pen with us or build a new one quickly,then a cube it will be (& an ORANGE one at that!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 I just adored my eglus - but really wanted a bigger one - and waited very patiently for the guys to develop one. For me the cube is perfect. Everything at waist height - great for bad backs like mine! Lots of room in the nesting area - so no pacing frantically outside in the nesting queue any more! I think the Eglu shape is just perfect - a real 'first' and I will always have a soft spot for it. If it was mounted on wheels - then I would have bought one of those! The cube ticks all the right boxes for me - except that it looks like a fridge A very striking fridge mind you I don't have a run - and have no need of one. It is nice to have the option of choosing your run size - and the fact that the chickens have more 'head' room I should imagine is great - especially if you make the most of it and put up perches for them I coould have written this myself if I was as eloquent as Dilly. I agree with everything she says - the Cube doesn't look as cool as the Eglu as it is, well, a cube whereas the Eglu is such a funky shape. But the Cube is so great for the chickens. Like Dilly I don't need the Omlet run, so looking at the cost it doesn't make any sence really to buy an Eglu rather than a Cube as the extra dosh c.f. extra chicken space makes it an obvious choice. My problem is ..... what do I do now! I've got six heavy girls and one medium (my original Pepperpot), with another two heavies (Cochins) coming in a month or two. I've got the space, just about, for these - but I want more!!!!! I was blown away by the pictures somewhere else on the forum of two eglus, one purple and one red, with the nest box doors and trays swapped over so they were a mixture of the colours but reversed. Fantastic. But there's no way I'm going to be allowed another coop (although I am making an emergency wooden isolation coop for one.two hens in case I have problems at any time). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 It's Helly Wellys pen that has the eglu doors swapped. I copied with mine but purple and green is a bit of a clash! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 The Eglu has an interesting shape, but it so hard to make it work in a garden. Whatever you do with it, there is bare and ugly wasted space each side of the narrow part. And my Eglu has two extensions and three faded tatty Omlet covers which give the overall effect of a dilapidated polytunnel. The Cube is light and airy, and occupies space so efficiently. There is so much scope for landscaping it. I have started off dozens of dwarf box plants to make a boundary, but they won't be ready until the year after next. For the moment, I have grasses and tall plants around the run, and I think it looks good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 There is so much scope for landscaping it. I have started off dozens of dwarf box plants to make a boundary, but they won't be ready until the year after next. For the moment, I have grasses and tall plants around the run, and I think it looks good. Wow. In and around my run (well, its the hens' run, not mine unless I'm in real disgrace indoors) I have bits of pecked at bushes, patches of nettles, hen-scratched holes like bomb craters, bits of wire where I've hung up leaves, sprouts, cabbages etc, feeders, dogbowls that I fill up with water only for them to get pooed in, walked in and knocked over, watering cans, old broken spades ...logs that the hens climb on, dig under and poo all over etc. etc. Its a disgrace ... but I'm not rushing to landscape it just this minute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neal & ella Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Oh dear, I only read this thread as I couldn't sleep as it's so humid but now I wish I hadn't; a cube sounds great but it was hard enough talking Ella into getting an eglu, there's no way she'd agree to a cube after only one year of eglu ownership. Anybody got any ideas for arguments I can use. Incidentally, what's the bantam capacity of a cube?(is that a proper measurement ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 I have 11 bantams in mine - and there's room for lots and lots and lots more - they all huddle in one corner If you take that into account and the fact that the smaller ones squeeze underneath the big ones then that would be two layers x about 30 = 60 birds But if I guess in realistically in the actual cube itself (not taking into account the run area you would need as I don't have the run) then 15-20. They only sleep in it after all. Might be a bit of a queue when they are all laying though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 oooooo have you got a degree in bantam physics or should it ba called bantamology?? 60 bantams in a cube - that would be a bit like how many people can you get in a mini??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neal & ella Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 I know what you mean; even with the eglu I've found three either being broody or laying all at the same time. We currently have four; two wyandottes born last year and welummer and silver sussex pullets bought recently to replace a brahma taken by a fox . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Another who remembers the swinging sixties then? I think I said the same thing on another topic on how many you can get in an Eglu. Of course 60, 30, or 20 is not a realistic number - it depends entirely on the space you have for them to 'run around' in during the day of course. Mine have a big pen, with several covered dustbath and sunbathing areas to shelter or 'chill out' in with a log perch in each. They have plants to hide out under etc - and they also freerange in the garden for most of the day. I think that what is important is not the number of bantams or chickens you can fit into the roosting area - but the quality of their 'outside' environment and space. So it probably better to decide how big an area you have for them to use - with a pen/garden or will they be limited to the cube run - standard or extended. The healthier and 'happier' the chickens will be is if they have enough space to move around in - scratch, maybe perch, or even flutter or fly. It is nice to see them have the space to 'escape' if there is any hen pecking now and again too. The more birds you have - the more work is involved in keeping their living/roosting areas clean of course - the extra cost of food is minimal I find. I am sure you will start with a small number - then gradually increase your stock as your experience grows, until you find a happy number to suit your circumstance - but beware - they are seriously addictive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...