lesc Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Hiya, I own a mark2 eglu & a traditional wooden house capable of housing 8-10 chooks. I have 9 hens & a cockeral, all mixed sizes & ages (4 araucanas inc. cock, 1 orpington, 1 light sussex, 1 maran, 1 maran cuvee & 2 cream legbars). 2 hens are aged 2yrs+ & all the rest are between 5-12 months. My problem is, that no matter what I do, when it comes to bedtime, 7 of my chooks cram themselves into the eglu & the remaining 3 rattle around the wooden house. All but 4 of them joined us after we got the wooden house, so that's the house they were introduced to, but they still all prefer to pile into the eglu to sleep (with Mr Cantona, the cock)! I've tried putting food in the wooden house, I've also tried lifting them at night & moving them back to the wooden house, but nothing seems to work. The chooks free range over about quarter of an acre all day, so they have plenty of space & shelter under trees etc. The eglu is cleaned out weekly & the nesting box straw is changed daily - that's the other thing, they all lay in the eglu, despite the wooden house having 2 lovely nesting boxes! My question is whether it's ok for that many chooks to sleep in the Eglu & if not, does anyone have any other suggestions on how to make the wooden house a more attractive abode? A very puzzled Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 I think you should get another eglu or a cube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Wow, what a product endorsement! "Seven out of ten chickens prefer an Eglu" ! I don't think it's designed for more than four, but I guess if they are choosing to sleep in there, it can't be too uncomfortable; maybe they like being very cosy. Sorry, I don't have enough knowledge about this subject, but I definitely think Omlet should adopt this as a new slogan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 I have had 6 big Hybrids sleeping in a Mk2 Eglu before now - they just love to all cuddle up together My Eglu is in a big pen,with plenty of space for lots of hens,so I am thinking of getting some more to take it up to 7, but am not sure whether to get a cube or not Decisions,decisions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
