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Karen & co.

I need persuading

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I mean I need persuading not to buy a cube :lol: I keep weighing up the pro's and cons, and coming to the same conclusion, but it would mean selling one of the eglus :( and I really like my eglus.

 

At the moment the 2 eglus and my temporary shedlu (a plastic double walled, small storage shed, with the roosting bars in the bottom and a box for a next box) are in the run, so the girls divide into 3 groups at night.

 

This is only until the new girls feel able to go in with the others, but I would like them all to sleep together :oops: , although I'm sure they don't mind :roll:

 

So if you can persuade me not to buy one on the grounds of them not needing to cosy up together at night, then OH might stop :roll: at me :wink:

 

karen x

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Hi Karen, well I'm not too much help I'm afraid - because if you get a cube - I'd be very tempted to want to buy your eglu off you!!!

 

Pros & cons of the cube. Well believe it or not I actually prefer the eglu. I find it easier & quicker to clean than the cube. 30 minutes & it's all done.

The cube has a lot of big chunky parts and you do more or less have to climb in & reach over to clean it thoroughly. I do think the chickens prefer the cube though. The ladder gives them something to play on & there are no arguments about the nest box - & they are a lot quieter. The roosting bars & poo trays stay cleaner - but they poo in the nesting box & I get through a lot of straw! The roosting bars are a pain, as they are in one piece, but they could be modified (make ur own).

The main thing with the cube for us, is that the wheels are a waste. As where we have it, with the run on, it won't wheel between the shed & the deccking rail. I'd love to be able to wheel it round the garden.

It is nice to be able to do everything at waist height, like changing straw & paper in the trays, but cleaning out the run, you have to unclip the run panel & climb in. The eglu is more manouverable, even without wheels.

Tough decision!

Emma.x

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I decided two eglus gave me more flexibility than one cube - for introducing new hens or for a sick bay etc. It depends partly on how much space you have I suppose.

 

And we all like new things . . . :roll:

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I have a cube on order, but am seriously considering getting another Eglu instead :?

My Eglus are in a big hen pen,on a stand at the moment, but I would like to have them out of the pen, which I am sure could be done with an Eglu as easily as with a cube.

 

Its the bulk of the cube that is putting me off. I just find the Eglus cuter & more funky :roll:

 

Decisions,decisions.................

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I think eglus are more versatile, plus if you have 2 or 3 eglus you have 2 or 3 nest boxes (mine will ONLY lay one at a time in the cube and you should hear the racket when they're all queuing up :roll: , I think if the nest box was divided it might be a different story). Also, mine run around in little groups and would probably sleep in separate eglus given the choice (the 4 youngest sleep in the pink eglu but the others get a bit of a hard time from the old ladies when they go into the cube at night :( .

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The cube works better for me (though the wheels are a waste and they don't look as cool as the eglu) because it gives the girls more space in the run, while being more compact. By the time I changed, my eglu run was the length of my garden, whereas the cube is taking over far less space (though I am about to order another chunk of run :oops: ).

 

Other problem with the cube - am always tempted to leave it too long between scrubbings = GROSSSSSSSSSSS.

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I am postponing my Cube as I cannot get any blue layers around here to fill it with until next Spring :roll:

But I think I may just get another Eglu instead, & have the pair of them on platforms at waist height outside the run.

They are on platforms now, which makes for more space in the run, but I like the idea of not having to go into the run to collect the eggs (& therefore keeping my jean hems poo free :lol: )

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Eglus v Cube - swings and roundabouts. If you have a the room - eglus are great and a brilliant design. Great if you want to have different breeds - i.e. bantams and full size chickens which don't always get on well together, particularly hybrids. But they do free range happily as they have the ability to keep out of each others way. Although I know some have successfully mixed the two breeds - mainly with them all being a similar age and introduced at the same time.

 

I have had two Eglus which I adored - and the bantams always slept in their one and the hybrids in theirs - although they laids eggs in each others as a 'wind up'

 

I bought a cube and sold the eglus. No regrets on the housing front at all. I now have lots more chickens as you can see, and have room for many more too!

 

For me - with a back problem it is so much easier to clean. Waist height litter trays I can just pull out and they conveniently fit into a Aubious plastic sack - so emptied in seconds. No poo on the pull out bit either so a definite plus. Easier to manage and they are slimmer too - and a Daily Mail fits the trays perfectly!

 

I have sealed the roosting bars - so they don't need pressure washing very often. I just run a trowel over the bars and the bits fall in the trays underneath. Easy to wash - and replace - I don't have any problem with them.

 

I love the fact that I can hang a feeder under the cube, off the ground and the food stays dry and out of reach of any mice - should there be any - but I haven't seen any (yet) so can fill up the feeder and leave it here for when I am away knowing that the food with be kept clean and dry.

 

I don't have the run - you can see on my www below - they have a big open pen with wild bird netting on top.

 

I have to say that I am really pleased with the cube, and can move it around on my own - a big plus. The chickens perch on the wheels to preen too.

 

I would have ordered a run attachment if there were a full size opening door panel on it - (I can't crawl on my hands and knees easily to clean it out!) I like the fact that I can stand up in my pen to do everything.

 

It has worked brilliantly for me - enabling me to get lots more chickens - but I will forever have a soft spot for the beautiful design of the eglu - if the cube had been made the same style on the frame it would have been brilliant - but being made of plastic - there are limits to what you can make into a mould!

 

So - the choice is yours. Both are excellent products - and have pros and cons - mainly the 'look' and the ground area they take up.

 

I wouldn't swap my cube for Eglus now that I have it - it works great for me in my situation - choose what will work best for you. :wink: And importantly have fun - as I know you will

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Thanks guys - I forgot to say - one other plus for the cube is that if you are going to get more chickens than will fit in one Eglu - then I would go for a cube definitely - only one 'house' to clean out and takes no longer than cleaning out an Eglu - but it would sure take a lot longer to clean out more than one Eglu.

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Thank you for all the comments :D

 

The eglus are in a large roofed run, so I don't need the eglu or cube runs, but still wondering whether to get a cube and sell an eglu, (and keep one just in case!)

 

One of each could look quite funky too :wink:

 

OH is still :roll::roll: at me.

 

I don't have too many vices, but perhaps I should take up drinking each night and smoking, so that when I stop again I can 'save' the cost of a cube :lol:

 

karen x

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erm......... I don't think I need to tell you which I'd choose!!!! :lol:

 

I agree with every word Dilly has said though and our Eglus work for me because they now open into a large run area and I don't have the problem with the small door to the run and not being able to crawl in.. The poop trays aren't too much of a problem now the Eglus are all in a row and egg collecting is easier as well.

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