Eglu query

[happy hen]

People rave about eglus so when I saw one for sale locally I snapped it up, thinking useful for broody or bantam growers.
So I now have an eglu classic with 3 metre run......the house is fine, old but serviceable. The run however had the skirts dug into the ground and where the it has been pulled out of the undergrowth they've bent and the whole run's a bit twisted.
I've cobbled it together with cable ties but the whole thing is so unwieldy I can't imagine moving it very easily.
Does anyone have an eglu and run which they move regularly ? If I bought a new run would it be any better ?
It would only be for occasional use as my birds free range unless I'm away.......but I would have to move it around when mowing, if I have to take it apart even with the proper clips it may be more trouble than it's worth.

 

[Marigold]

I started with an Eglu Classic plus the run extension and found I could move it if I detached the run from the coop which was fairly easy to do, pulled up the side pegs and just dragged the run along to the next patch of grass, then moved and re-attached the coop. At first I religiously pegged down the skirts, but after a while, in the absence of foxes, I stopped doing this, which made it simpler to move, but would depend on your circumstances. You might be able to buy new skirts if they're badly twisted, might be worth enquiring from Omlet.
I would think a Classic would be very suitable as a broody coop or for occasional isolation of one or two birds, but I wasn't keen on it as a main house - ventilation is poor and like all Omlet coops the birds don't get proper porches to roost on. So I was relieved when we made a proper walk-in run and I got a Green Frog instead - much more room on a comparable footprint.

 

[RichmondHens]

I've never had any sort of Eglu although I've looked at friends' ones. I would think a Cube or Go Up is a better option as they are on wheels for easier movement. But can see that a Classic would do as a broody coop.

Have you noticed there are an awful lot of Eglus on the 2nd hand market right now? People giving up chickens, or just upsizing maybe?

 

[LadyA]

I have the feeling that there aren't as many people keeping just a couple of hens in their garden as there used to be. Back maybe 8 to 10 years ago, I think that kind of "pet" chicken keeping was at it's height.

 

[Margaid]

Given Marigold's comments perhaps they found the Eglus weren't all they were cracked up to be.

(Sorryyyy, couldn't resist it!!!!! :lol: )

 

[valeriebutterley]

I would not put my hens, especially huge Croads, in plastic huts.
In the morning the amount of warm air that meets me when I open the pophole is enough. Better to risk a few redmite in wooden huts, I think.
The only unseemly plastic I allow in my garden are my grandhildren's bits and pieces.

 

[Evie]

I just grab them and drag them around, I've even moved an Eglu Cube with a 4m run over a bumpy field by myself 'cause I couldn't be bothered to wait until hubby got home . I'm 6ft2, though

They're brilliant, the ventilation is perfectly fine as there's absolutely no reason to close the door on them, only the door of the run, even if you do there are holes at the front top and back bottom. So easy to get rid of red mite, too.

The only one who doesn't like it is the fox, who keeps on trying but after years of having numerous Eglus in the garden and on the field he never, ever managed to get jn 17 The look of frustration on that fox's face when it's standing right on top of it and s.t.i.l.l can't get to the birds :lol:

 

[happy hen]

I'm happier with my purchase now, I bought a huge bag of new clips for the run from eglu ( 90 for under £8 delivered) and managed to set it up on some level ground. I've placed the house under some trees in the shade and have a broody bantam happily ensconced. I'm not sure about moving it, but by the time the chicks hatch one of my big runs will be available. So although I think it may work for me, i wouldn't want to keep hens in there on a permanent basis.