Chicken bald back

[Margaret]

Fellow Omleteers, need your imput and wise words please

Thinking of downsizing to a Go and selling my Cube. Nothing wrong with Cube infact in really good condition, its just that I want to still keep hens and love them dearly, but dont think I will ever have 10 again.

Working full 4 days in London and look after Grandson Wednesdays and weekends, never seem to have enought time, cant imagine not having them in the garden, but want to reclaim some of it and if I brought the Go it would fit inside the WIR. Shame they don't make it in pink.

What would you do?

[Daphne]

Nothing wrong in downsizing

 

I'd take a bit of advice as to whether people think the Go or the Classic is a better bet. I've only looked after a Go very briefly and it struck me as perfectly OK but some people with more experience than me say they are less good - perhaps less good quality although I'm not sure how that manifests itself. I've had a couple of Classics for years - they are not a mite-free option, but I've found them good in all other ways. If I was starting over I might investigate other plastic housing just to cover all bases. I've had wood houses which are much cheaper and larger, but they do need more maintenance.

[Margaret]

Started with a lovely pink Classic years ago, before the morehens started, just like the idea of the Go on its stand rather than the Classic on a solid base again, mainly because OH would have to modify yet again and think he may well divorce me... would be cheaper in the long run though

[Chickabee]

I prefer the classic It's easier to clean and much easier to get your eggs out. Plus it comes in pink

[mollyripkim]

I started off with the Go and then upgraded to the Cube. Personally I think the Cube is of a much better quality and definitely easier to clean out. I had a constant problem with the bedding blocking up the hole into which the pole went to secure the door shut on the Go, not fun on hands and knees at night trying to unblock it especially if the girls had gone to bed as I had to get to it via the back. I guess if you have it in the walk in run and didn't need to shut it then that wouldn't be a problem.

I also have a second hand classic for intros etc and think it is of much better quality and easier to clean out.

[bill2b]

Fellow Omleteers, need your imput and wise words please

Thinking of downsizing to a Go and selling my Cube. Nothing wrong with Cube infact in really good condition, its just that I want to still keep hens and love them dearly, but dont think I will ever have 10 again.

Working full 4 days in London and look after Grandson Wednesdays and weekends, never seem to have enought time, cant imagine not having them in the garden, but want to reclaim some of it and if I brought the Go it would fit inside the WIR. Shame they don't make it in pink.

What would you do?

 

Margaret

I don't know how you manage with 10, our 3 are enough for us lol

[mullethunter]

I have no scope for comparison, but can comment on the Go (not a Go Up - you'll need Cattails for that).

 

I've had my Go for 6 months now and am very happy with it. Haven't had any trouble with anything getting blocked up or anything and find it easy to clean out. I really like the fact that it's easy to have doors on the sides as well as ends of the run, but if yours is going to be an up and / or inside a WIR this is irrelevant.

 

On the odd occasion I've forgotten to look for eggs until after the girls have gone to bed I have wished it had an egg port. Actually it would also be much easier and less disturbing to check the girls are all in bed with an egg port too.

[Cat tails]

I have a purple Go Up for 9 months now (has it been that long already? ).

For me it's perfect. Takes up little space and provides some shelter too. Very easy to clean, never had trouble with things being blocked. It's free from the floor and you don't have to bend over to clean.

I do recognise what Mullethunter said about the eggport. I often have to collect eggs after they have gone to bed, but I just shuffle the ladies aside and get my eggs.

 

Two things k have noticed in the cold days I've been having:

1) the backdoor can get a little stuck when a large amount of snow sits on the Go roof.

2) my pophole has frozen shut twice. Well at least the pole that locks it into place. Little Vaseline solved it easily.

 

Nothing serious, but just something to look out for.

[jeshen]

I agree with Cattails. I've got 2 Go-Ups. V easy to clean, no bending - and the ventilation is at the top - much nicer for the hens. The wheels make it easy to move, even with the run attached. No prob collecting eggs in the afternoon.

I didn't like all the bending with my old classic. To clean it properly you had to take the roof off - heavy! And the ventilation is at fluffy-bottom level (like the Cube). Not good for hens.

[Chortle Chook]

Why don't you keep your cube and have fewer but bigger girlies of a gentle breed that your grandchildren can play with easily without hurting them.

 

I reached 10 chooks last year, too, and found I was just not giving them the attention they deserved. Now I'm down to just 7 and as 2 are rather old I'll probably be down to 4 or 5 some time this year, but my ultimate plan is not to get a smaller house, but rather to keep my nice house (very pink) and have an buff Orpington, a splash Oprington and a salmon Faverolles.

[Chickabee]

Orpies and brahmas are on my wish list. There's a specialist near me who does all types of Orpies. Will get a pair one day

[Chicken shack]

I have Apart from the lack of port hole I actually find the easier to clean than the . I think the is a bit more robust than the . When I lived in London I only had the and 4 girls who were perfectly happy if I were you I think I'd stick with for the time being at least.

[Chickabee]

I've got all 3 and agree that the cube is the best

[Lewis]

I have all three (plus Rablu ) and think the Cube and Classic are in a different league to the Go.

 

The Go is a very nice coop and is very easy to clean and use but for me the quality isn't up there with the other two. The plastic has a different feel and a couple of my panels have cracked (around the door) - though this was when they first came out so the plastic may have now been changed; I sent pictures to Omlet and these were replaced free of charge which was very good of them.

 

If I were you, and finances allow, I would keep the Cube - having a bigger coop with less girls will mean less cleaning out and it is a perfect height for your grandson to help look after the hens as he grows up

[clipclopboc]

I have Cubes, Gos and a Classic. And I could never part with my Cubes - I love them! Easy to use and clean and they just seem so sturdy.