Egluntyne Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Well said Olly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
furball Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 I looked at and priced up over 40 ready made hen houses and even priced the wood up and netting for my joiner son to make one. The eglu worked out cheaper than most hen houses and the wood, netting etc was only about £40 cheaper than reconditioned eglu, using good strong wood not cheap stuff. I think the fact that he couldn't guarantee it would be fox proof and the moaning he would do whilst building it and the fact that i would have felt i had to give him something for building it swung me . They are not a gimmic they just do eggsactly (couldn't resist) wot it says on the tin and look nice whilst doing it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Why do we have to have 'us & them' why can't they live and let live Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Before ordering my cube/eglu I checked out the internet, did my research. I discovered that those who have eglus love them, and those who don't hate them! I went for the cube/eglu as I felt it was the easiest to clean, and therefore less chance of getting mites, rats, flies and diseases. Also the fox deterant. Is it a bit like the Marmite love it/hate it thing, then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Yes, but less squidgey and more colourful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Why do we have to have 'us & them' why can't they live and let live Good point...It wouldn't occur to me to make rude comments about someone's wooden chicken house. It is all a matter of taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Some friends of ours have the most idyllic wooden chicken house ever - it's on old converted wooden railway carriage with climbers growing over it - it really looks lovely, but even they complain about the cleaning and mites. It looks gorgeous, but I wouldn't want to clean it. I don't think they ever have an eglu though - just so not their style *shrugs* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 The way I see it is that there's room for us all and life is much too short to spend it stressing about trivia But I would very much like to have an old railway carriage in the garden .... for me, not the chickens though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooks a go go Posted September 27, 2007 Author Share Posted September 27, 2007 Awww... thanks you lot. Popcorn, the guy you are talking about is the one who hates Eglus - I'm sure of it! The place is called John Sturman and he is behind where the market was in Blackheath - we must be talking about he same place - do you think? I will definately visit Hodge Hill Farm though, thanks for the info. Egluntine...lol...you are always so direct and to the point @ immortal battery hens! Ahhh dear. I have a far more serious thing to worry about now anyway, on another thread. My neighbours are ganging up on me because they have seen rats in the vicinity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Yes, that's the name - John Sturman. Oh no, I didn't know he was such a stick in the mud! My Mum gets all her supplies from him too, that's how I know him. Well, I'd take my custom elsewhere. I was also wondering if there might be a farm towards Halesowen/Clent way as it's quite rural out that way. Egluntine always makes me chuckle too I'm still laughing to myself at the 'lob a cabbage into the run' comment that she made weeks ago... I still have visions of the hens running for the lives when they see her coming up the path, cabbage in hand. Get a cat. That will solve the rat problem.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooks a go go Posted September 27, 2007 Author Share Posted September 27, 2007 I have TWO cats! Do you think I can use this fact in my defence to the neighbours? Would it make it less likely that I have rats in my garden because of the feline presence? Even though they are probably too old and lazy to be bothered seeing off any ratty intruders... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Do they catch rats though? quite a few cats have been mauled by rats - a jack russell - now there's a different matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 I'm sure her oh will love that. 'no darling we're not getting rid of the chickens, we're gtting a jack russel/terrier instead' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooks a go go Posted September 27, 2007 Author Share Posted September 27, 2007 I'm sure her oh will love that.'no darling we're not getting rid of the chickens, we're gtting a jack russel/terrier instead' :lol: hmmm...I think the response might be...unprintable on here that's for sure. Wonder if I could rent one, on an hourly basis - Rent A Ratter type of thing, you know? Not that I have actually even SEEEEN one of the little *******s in MY garden yet! (Rats that is, not wee brown crazy dogs)I mean, you know, as the rat man at the council said, they are not MY rats! Harrumph! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyLizzie Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Not that I have actually even SEEEEN one of the little *******s in MY garden yet! (Rats that is, not wee brown crazy dogs)I mean, you know, as the rat man at the council said, they are not MY rats! Harrumph! We saw rats in our garden and we thought they were nesting under the rabbit hutch. we got the rat man in (who was very nice) got the poison put down etc. and when he thought the rats had moved on we moved the hutch - no nest! The rats moved two doors down! I think they had been disturbed by loads of building work nearby - they demolished a load of warehouses to build houses, so the rats moved into our gardens where we all have bird feeders for the wild birds - I bet some of your neighbours do too. We stopped feeding the birds for the summer and haven't seen a rat since. The one thing the rat man did suggest was 6mm wire mesh to stop the rats getting into the compost bins (lots of garden and kitchen waste for them there) and to bring the bird food in at night (which is when they mainly feed). Don't know if this helps - but it might give you some ammunition to dish out to your neighbours about what they are doing to attract rats. I think you have to learn to live with them to a certain extent (rats AND neightbours ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 We are never more than 30 feet away from a rat...chickens or no chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Wonder if I could rent one, on an hourly basis - Rent A Ratter type of thing, you know? You joke ... but I saw this yesterday: Terrier owner who WANTS rats! Are you within 40 miles of Leicester? http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=10150 I think I'd have to go out for the day, I couldn't bear to be there ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 He is welcome to mine, I was sitting here in my office earlier & counted 5 rats dangling from my bramble bush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 I could send Jazz round - she ate one today.... and a mouse As others have said - feeding garden birds attracts rats - do your neighbours feed the birds? We stopped feeding garden birds for this reason although we will never be free from rats livingwhere we do. We didn't want to encourage them nearer than was necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 I could send Jazz round - she ate one today.... and a mouse I think your Jazz and Snowy's boys have been egging each other on Lesley! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Chilli is a pretty good ratter for a fairly skinny little cat, but he only seems to catch the small ones. Not to worry, a rat is a rat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 But I would very much like to have an old railway carriage in the garden .... for me, not the chickens though Try keeping the chooks away from that Egluntine - I thought the distance was from rat to human was always about 6ft I can rest a bit easier now! But the bird feed issue is exactly right, the little old dear opposite us had a problem with them because of that last year. We got mice instead - a present through our semi's cavity walls from our neighbour who really has lost the plot - when I went round she told me she would be more bothered if she heard 'human noises' outside than hearing 'little animals' scurrying around in the attic! Okayyyy... Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooks a go go Posted September 27, 2007 Author Share Posted September 27, 2007 Wonder if I could rent one, on an hourly basis - Rent A Ratter type of thing, you know? You joke ... but I saw this yesterday: Terrier owner who WANTS rats! Are you within 40 miles of Leicester? http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=10150 I think I'd have to go out for the day, I couldn't bear to be there ... OMG!! I'm about 60 miles...maybe he won't want to come that far for one scabby rat that I haven't actually seen with my own eyes. I never realised folks did such things, but I suppose they have to train them somehow. I think I would have to leave 'em to it as well though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooks a go go Posted September 27, 2007 Author Share Posted September 27, 2007 But the bird feed issue is exactly right, the little old dear opposite us had a problem with them because of that last year. Helen Huh. When I went to tell my neighbour the council are coming on Monday and to check his compost bin etc he made a great point of telling me how they have stopped feeding the birds because of the pigeons and how they now only have one little , squirrel proof feeder way up high (like rats can't climb or chew through wire). He may as well have ended his little speach by saying, "So they MUST be YOUR rats! We are squeaky clean round here!" :evil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 It's kinda predictable that he would say that - not many people would admit to having rats (outside of this forum that is). Shall I bring my shovel round? I'm pretty fast at getting them with that, not as fast as a terrier though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
