Does anyone keep chickens in an EGLU?

pondskater_2

ally18 wrote: »

Could you please tell me how you get them back into the coop at night?

I'm a newbie but would love to have say 3, don't have a big garden and worried about them not going back in at night. Thinking of the eglu if I can afford it and it would have to be sited permanently, is that ok?

My sister has three rescued hens and she keeps a tub of dried mealworms which they absolutely love, just gives it a shake and they come a running! :rotfl:

sammiboo

gosh i didnt realise that its been over 12 months since i last visited

anyway i have recently become an owner of the cube see pics below

It is ideal for us, our garden isnt big at all and as posted above it is easy to move about the garden. We move ours every sunday. Cleaning it out is simple and quick, takes no time at all and now i have a couple of girls who try to help *ahem* and will try and eat the sudds and steal my sponge.

pictures below any questions i will try and help but i am a new owner myself

Result after 2 hours of building



First two new arrivals - Bunty and Mabel


Crowded nestbox

pineapple

Some questions from a novice.
Do foxes ever take in the daytime or is it just at night? If it's the latter, surely you don't have to dig in the fence if you put them in at night?
How many eggs might you get from 3 chickens?
How much noise do they make? (thinking about neighbours).
Can they fly? (sorry).
Also just what does it cost to feed them (forgetting out the initial outlay). I don't want to go to all the expense of setting up to find I've a hobby I can't afford!

plumtreebabe

We have kept hens/ducks geese before but haven't had any recently. A week ago we were were offered three hens from someone who knew someone who didn't want them any more etc so we said yes. Two night ago they arrived in darkness and pput them in the hastily prepared hen house and run; let them out the next day and went to work. Came home at dusk - no hens, not a sighting anywhere, six year old daughter in tears. This morning hubby went out searching and found them a couple of doors down (we live in a village with fields out the back). Short story is they were feral - had been left to their own devices so long at previous residence they could spot a predator at 50ft and were off: they can jump/fly 20ft vertically straight up the nearest tree, run like stink and will never be caught (certainly not by a fox or stoat!). Related to veloceraptors I think!

I did a little more searching on the internet and found the battery hen rescue society - these hens are bred for docility and will be friendly and happy to have you near them, and of course, when you first get them will physically be unable to escape so that by the time they have recovered will not want to.

Links to the website:

http://www.bhwt.org.uk/

sammiboo

pineapple wrote: »

Do foxes ever take in the daytime or is it just at night? If it's the latter, surely you don't have to dig in the fence if you put them in at night?

It depends on where you live, urban foxes are more bold than the more rural ones. The prime time you will get foxes it dusk/dawn

I leave my chickens in the run all day while i am out at work. i am on the omlet forum and I believe the fox attacks have been mainly when they have been out in the garden. Omlet advise that you change the clips every year as they will weaken over time.

I found this video on youtube of a fox attempting to get to chickens out in the run http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93sK9QGwsAM

pineapple wrote: »

How many eggs might you get from 3 chickens?

totally depends on the breed. I have two lohmann browns which report to lay approx 320 eggs each per year. I also have two Amberlinks which report to lay 300 eggs each per year. Again you need to look at the breeds and if you want hens purely for eggs then you need to do a bit of research but the hens the breeds are good layers. I am going to get two ex batts next month too.

pineapple wrote: »

How much noise do they make? (thinking about neighbours).

They arent particularly noisey, cockerals are noisey and can annoy neighbours. The hens get a bit rowdy if they are startled or if one is in the next box laying an egg. I have had no complaints from any neighbours and when i am in the garden all you can hear is a subtle bok bok noise.

pineapple wrote: »

Can they fly? (sorry).

Yes to an extent. I have clipped my girls wings. They cant fly a distance by any means but they will fly out of your garden and go for a wander. Get up in trees on fences etc

pineapple wrote: »

Also just what does it cost to feed them (forgetting out the initial outlay). I don't want to go to all the expense of setting up to find I've a hobby I can't afford!

No it doesnt cost much at all to feed them. mixed corn £12-£20 for a 20kg sack which will last 3 hens ages. Also 20kg sack of layers pellets £6-£10 plus they will eat all your kitchen scraps.

I would promote getting hens from http://www.bhwt.org.uk/

Also i am collecting some hens from a free range farm that is closing. Hens are going to slaughter if homes cant be found.

article : http://www.buckinghamtoday.co.uk/news/local/give_a_chicken_a_home_1_2449411

Youtube campagin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIfu21b2pT0&feature=feedlik


Hope this has answered all your questions:o

Penelope_Penguin

Good afternoon :beer:

Because I was asked nicely I've moved the posts regarding rehoming chooks into their own thread. As this is more of an ethical thread, I've put it onto the G&E board. The thread can be found here.

mardatha

Where is the "lets keep chickens " thread gone to PP?

butterwouldntmelt

sammiboo wrote: »

No it doesnt cost much at all to feed them. mixed corn £12-£20 for a 20kg sack which will last 3 hens ages. Also 20kg sack of layers pellets £6-£10 plus they will eat all your kitchen scraps.

Hi
Just wanted to say that Mixed corn should not cost this much - we sell ours at £8.25 for 20kg bag and that is a really good brand - Fancy Feed. Layers pellets are the same at £8.25 a bag as well.
Grit costs about 50p kg.

Also if you are looking at an Omlet Go. then we can give you a good deal ...
I have a website with loads of hints and tips ... I am not allowed to post a link so please google 'Bev Poultry Cheshire'.
(there is also a first time keeper page with helpful info)
Hope this helps

tiamal1

bootman wrote: »

I like the look of the Eglu for chicken keeping, the fact it looks easy to clean and wont rot and a bit more pleasing on the eye than a wooden box.

But is it worth the money?

I do not keep chickens at the moment but would like to, just 2. I like the idea of them wandering round the garden with me, but not sure either if I will have any garden left!!

I would love to hear from 1st time chicken keepers especially if the chickens are kept in an Eglu.

I have an Eglu Go which comes with a 2m run ...I love the Eglu, it is easy to construct..is easy to clean and no red spider mite problems that you get with wooden hen houses...my 5 Hens are free-range..and I love to watch them in the garden..you will not believe the funny antics they get up to..and you will always get a lovely,running welcome when they are used to you. I love my chickens. Is the Eglu worth the money...every penny..it will not rot either....the cheapest I found was on the Lakeland site...but you might get the odd bargain on Ebay. :j:money:

happydoingnowt

Great read these last 8 pages.

As a wannabe chicken keeper my main issue is this. We have a small garden 5 metres by 7 metres with fields out the back and neighbours on each side. Im worried that the short distance over the fence will allow chicken smells to intrude on their sun bathing. I of course would clean regularly, but that would still leave a few days worth of "goodies"lying around the eglu and run.

Can someone give me a reliable answer on how noticeable the smell will be.

Thanks

Andy