Would you recommend an Eglu?

[witch-1]

I was very jealous over the weekend, our nephew has chickens!

We went and had a look and he has a very neat eglu with 3 hens. Now bearing in mind all that comes with it, would you recommend these? Or are they over priced for what they are?

I love it, OH is looking at cheaper options.

I know some of you have these type of coups, so your input would be gratefully accepted.

Jan
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[OverWyreGrower]

I'd say no....

I went on a beginners poultry course and the guy who took the course said to stay away from plastic housing.

He said that the plastic housing has its own problems, being that it gets very hot and sweaty inside as wood breathes but plastic doesn't.
He also said that after a few years the plastic starts to "wear" and gets brittle and cracks etc.

I love the eglu look, but we have gone for a wooden ark and chickens, which is much cheaper than the eglu.

The eglu on its own is £339 (thats without chickens) and my wooden handbuilt ark plus 4 chickens is under £300.

[Birdie Wife]

The eglu is definitely overpriced, they are an excellent solution if you want to fit hens into an immaculate garden and the design is very funky, but although the house is just about okay for three hens, the run size is not. My OH built a house very cheaply (it's easier than you think really, there are lots of plans out there) that easily fits a dozen hens, for a third of the price of one eglu (that's without a run though). Arks are good but there is wasted space due to the triangular shape, a square or rectangular one is better, and go for one that you can open a whole side down to clean it easier. Rough wood inside and lots of craks can be bad too, if you have red mite in your area they will find their way into the cracks and hide away, coming out at night to suck blood from your choocks... so choose something that will be easy to disinfect. Plastic eglus are easier to clean for this reason, but it's about the only reason I'd ever consider getting one, and there are other measures you can take against red mite!

Hope this helps, and doesn't put you off - go and get chickens, they are fab!

[OverWyreGrower]

Our triangular ark has a whole side you can take off for cleaning, plus removable perches and a removable nestbox...

You can also take off a panel on the side of the arks run to allow free access to the garden etc.

[witch-1]

Many thanks... gotta wait til after the holidays are over (expensive month ahead )

Definately made up our minds to go wooden - thanks for your input!

Jan
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[rustylady]

I remember when we were kids, Mum & Dad used to keep 6 chooks in a triangular ark. It used to get regularly moved around the garden, and the roosty bit you just used to lift up the side to clean it.

[CandJ]

I met someone very very experienced in all things chook recently who didn't rate the eglu at all, and particualrly the run combined with the good egg laying hybrid birds who they sell with it who really really need something bigger. Having bought a Hybrid hen and having a far bigger area for them (10metres squared) I cannot believe they would ever be even remotely happy in the tiny eglu run. This lady did rate the Qube but this is even more costly than an eglu. Wood is good (so long as it's the right wood).

[kirsty b]

We did house our hens in a converted shed until the fire, and since then they have been living in an ark I built using a pallet and tongue/groove.
I am now making plans to build them a new house that is square in shape with doors I can open at one end for cleaning and egg collection, also removable nest boxes and perches.
Going to rescue some battery girls in a couple of weeks, so have plenty of time to make it nice and solid, and disinfect it before they use it.

[lozza_9]

sorry to disagree but I have an eglu and its fab - yes its not cheap but my I find it really easy to clean and most importantly my chickens love it.

Loz

[Madasafish]

Since I made all my 3 arks and runs from free pallet wood, I find Eglus overpriced by about £340 each by comparison. So that's £1,000 saved:-)

I was brought up near Aberdeen..:-)

[Greenman]

I have a traditional 6 bird ark and its great. I can see the attraction in the eglu because of its groovy colours and ease of cleaning, so at the end of the day I guess its down to personal taste.

[Sue]

I was dithering over the Eglu, probably fine if you can let your hens out to freerange during the day which I can't, but the run looked so small and I was worried about foxes climbing on the run (this does happen according to some of the posts I've read on poultry forums) and terrifying the hens. Price, of course was a problem and although I've started with 3 hens, I can see my strength of character is not up to holding out for more at some stage. I got a very well constructed 6 hen house for less than the cost of a 3 hen eglu.
Did like the idea of being able to scrub down a plastic house though.
Sue

[kirsty b]

I think Eglus look the business and ease of cleaning is always a bit of a winner for me and if my budget allowed I would probably have one. However, as my finances are unlikely to ever stretch that far, I get to practice my fairly basic woodwork skills. I also get an inordinate sense of pride when I've made something myself.
You need to go for what feels right for you and your girls

[witch-1]

Thanks again - I was concerned also about the size of the run! As much as I would love hens to roam freely around my garden, my dog would have a field day! So when the time comes and we invest in a henhouse etc. I will let them have some time free and some time in a run.

Jan
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[Helenclare]

Hi ,
we have an eglu which is then inside a run made from the rolls of movable fencing that omlet sell. So the chooks have much more room when we are about but we put them inside the run at night and when we are out. The eglu is VERY expensive but well designed and well made. We have had ours over 3 years and for our needs ie 2 pet hens and no intention of expanding it is brill. Our rabbits are in a wooden hutch and run and I know which system is easier to keep clean and hygienic-plastic wins every time.
I really think you have to make up your own mind, I do agree that the orignal run is quite small, but for yet more money they do sell extension pieces to make it roomier. I don't regret buying one and our chickens have never had any health problems whatsoever and seem fairly content and happy.