Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: viettaclark on July 13, 2009, 20:59
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Yes, it's me, the paranoiac. The mindless panic I felt when discovering red mite has not abated and father-in- law has offered to pay for an eglu cube and run (present for next 10 b'days! :D)
I am really not convinced about it :unsure: and wondered if any of you have experience of using one?
I need to move the unit regularly round the lawn. Can you move it with the run attached or do you have to disassemble it?
Do you still get the dreaded red mite?
Where do the chooks go when you're cleaning out the eglu?
There are just slats and the nest box. Are the girls comfortable?
The ladder looks dangerous...do the hens cope?
Any other comments would be really appreciated. I don't want to ask Omlet because they'd be biased!
Thanks alot.
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you need to speak to aunt sally, she's the resident expert on eglus :lol:
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I have an Eglu rather than a cube but in either red mite is not a problem even if it does get in it is very simple to eradicate with a good scrub or a jet wash (not many eglu/cube owners ever get it though).
The cube has wheels and can be moved with the run attached.
Where do the chooks go when you're cleaning out the eglu? - same place as any hen goes when it's coop is being cleaned out - digging up the flower beds ;) It only takes about 10 - 20 minutes to completely clean the eglu and put it back together again. It may take a bit longer for a cube as they are bigger.
Yes they are comfortable, being double skinned they are warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Well ventilated and no drafts.
If you think the ladder looks dangerous, I've seen chickens who've flown up into trees to roost overnight :lol:
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ooh you lucky thing I wish someone would offer to buy me a cube (really I need two for my lot :D). If I could afford them I would jump at the chance - easy to clean, no red mites and chickens seem to love them :)
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No need to spend £100 on red mite remedies like mumsy did. So that can come off the cost of the cube :lol:
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=41323.msg487427#msg487427
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I know...I'm incredibly lucky but I just think what £600 could buy!
Do you know, it would be worth it for peace of mind though and as Auntie says, there are savings to be made in the long run, not least a new coop probably next year as I bought one of those Chinese imports which will need replacing. Also it's going to be so much easier all round...
My mind is MADE UP! I'm ordering tomorrow...but what colour......? ::) :D 8)
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Hard to choose http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Eglu&sub=Cube&action=wizard
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£600 does seem a lot but i think they may well last for donkey's years, whereas wooden ones will need replacing, probably worth it it the long run.
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My eglu is 4 years old now and is as good as new. I think it will still be in excellent condition when it's 20 years old !
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i had my eglu delivered last week after many problems with a cheap chinese coop mine is red and looks fab against the black fence and all the greenery in the garden and SO easy to clean i haven't stopped smiling at it and my hens are very impressed ( i can tell !!!)
go for it
x
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I have done the deed but had to get lilac (daughter's choice) although I quite like lilac!
Arrives on the 31st so only have 2 weeks of mite murdering to go! WHOOPEE! :lol: :D :) :wacko:
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I recently went on one of the Omlet courses. As a brand new about to be hen owner, it gave me a lot more confidence, and was good fun too. What could be better, a lovely few hours in a garden full of chickens, chatting away to people who own or want to own chickens, and eating egg rolls and lemon cake.
Reason I mention it, is that the lady Host, runs the courses in order to fund her Cube. Don't know what the financial arrangement with Omlet is, but quite a nice way to cover the cost?
Don't think they are completely 100% mite free, but a lot easier to clean than traditional coop so the risk must be less. Having said that, I've still opted for timber. If I went for something as snazzy as a cube, it would show up the rest of the garden and house!
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.......... Don't think they are completely 100% mite free, ............
Red mites need cracks to hide in and live in the day daylight hours. No where is totally mite free because they are out there in the countryside, you can never get away from them. But in a chicken toilet er sorry eggloo there are not many places (if any) that they can hide as it is one piece of moulded plastic and everything is power-hose-able. If your clean and tidy with a chicken toilet they you will not have a problem with red mite.
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Aunty is going to roughley handle you with a big slap you cheeky boy :mad:
Egg loo indeed ::)
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:tongue2:
Catch me.
:lol:
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I saw some of those at the the Royal show last week, was very impressed with them.....took me ages to work out where the flush was though.... :lol: :lol:
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Oooh it's all getting very frisky in here! It's making me laugh so much :D
Do you think Omlet will ever do an eglu shed... one that would fit loadsa chooks in it but where I could stand up in it and not bang my head when cleaning it out or strain my back in the hunt for eggs...? Oh I suppose an eglu shed really would be an egg loo... tee hee
I'd need about 8 eglus for mine so I have contented myself with a purple glug drinker and a purple grub feeder for my 'favourites'...
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think the cube holds 10 so I definately need 2 at least - best get selling some eggs and start saving.
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Oooh it's all getting very frisky in here! It's making me laugh so much :D
Do you think Omlet will ever do an eglu shed...
If they did i may well be called a porter loo. Cross between a porter cabin and a loo.
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:tongue2:
Catch me.
:lol:
When you least expect it !
Don't turn your back, don't look away, and don't blink!
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(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h308/JMAC_suga_BaBi_27/smiley%20faces/mood_scared.gif)
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ooh your sharp today Ruffle!
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I saw some of those at the the Royal show last week, was very impressed with them.....took me ages to work out where the flush was though.... :lol: :lol:
Oh I did think it strange they only did one colour...and no pop hole????? when I asked where the pop hole was, the nice man looked at me oddly and pointed inside!!! :unsure: :unsure:
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:lol: :lol: :lol:
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Aunty's gonna get you
Aunty's gonna get you
Aunty's gonna get you
Aunty's gonna get you
as well Foxy. :ohmy:
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When you least eggspect it. :lol:
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:ohmy: :ohmy:
I got some nice comfy cushions and spare PrepH, Ruff can you bring the chocolates?? Might be a while on the naughty step, still as least if we bring an ig-loo we wont be caught short.... ::) :D
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:ohmy: :ohmy:
I got some nice comfy cushions and spare PrepH, Ruff can you bring the chocolates?? Might be a while on the naughty step, still as least if we bring an ig-loo we wont be caught short.... ::) :D
Way too much information. :ohmy:
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this thread has so made me laugh, just what i needed............
keep it going please, just for a little while.
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this thread has so made me laugh, just what i needed............
keep it going please, just for a little while.
well TMG, you are always welcome to join us, I always carry a spare tube!! :lol:
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I have an Eglu and love it, as do my hens. Am thinking about upgrading to a cube but would have to change the garden around significantly to allow space for it and the attached run. Have currently decided to wait until after the winter to decide but:
LUCKY YOU!!!!!
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Well, I shall definitely write to let you MAD MAD people know how the eglu flushes! :D Got the Diatom and Poultry Shield today and have puffed ground up diatoms in the coop and the dirt bath. Does it really do what it says? Anyway, I've calmed down now I've cleaned out the coop. The girls weren't even affected...I only found a few mites.... but I have experience of the INCREDIBLE way they multiply and have lost animals in the past. I'm going to keep the wooden coop for a hospital (says she....it'll probably get new tenants.....) ::)
Lilac is a bit of a sanitary colour......and you can get matching lu roll. :) :D ;) ::)
'Nuff of this toilet humour!!!
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:lol:
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I've seen plastic wendy houses, could one of these be adapted for chickens?
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where would Wendy live then?
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:D Heavens you make me laugh so much the OH thinks I'm even more insane than I am....if you know what I mean....
I've actually got a friend who uses his daughter's old wendy house (....for chickens) but her name is Grace.
Wonder where the pop hole is at Waterlu......could keep a few chickens in there.....
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Got the lilac 8) cube today and it took about 2 hours to put up ( pictures when the camera returns from daughter hols.) Seems to do everything it says on the tin but the run is a bit naff for the price...clips won't last long! My girls managed the floating ladder with no probs. and I refrained from sliding the lid open to see their sleeping arrangements cos I thought they might freak. I expect they're all in the nesting area :nowink:::) but I shall block it soon because one of the reasons for buying this extravagant piece of kit was to have the poo dropping through the perches into the trays!!! Ventilation seems a bit hectic but I suppose the designers know their business! Anyway...so far so good....and it moves easily and fits on our 3m run perfectly. AND NO BL**** RED MITE!!!!!! :tongue2: :lol: Read this and weep........
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clips won't last long!
Sounds great :D
If the clips are like the ones I have for my eglu run - 1cm long tube thingies which lock into theselves (not a very good description) - they should last for ages. Mine have lasted 4 years ! If you have any problems just send Omlet an e-mail and they will send you some more (for a very small fee).
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:D :D :D One was sleeping in the nest box but the other 2 perched. They all looked at me with happy grins when I opened the pop hole (much easier to do) then fell/flew down (must get used to that floating ladder) but later they ALL laiid eggs in the PROPER PLACE!
And NO RED MITE!!!! :D :D :D Tralalala!
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green with envy :lol:, but I would need 3 (at least) which means many many pennies!!