Give me a viable Eglu Cube alternative

[GamRich]

For 6 weeks old, the comb is red enough to be awfully suspicious (compared to the bird in the background for sure). I'd give it a few weeks to make sure, but I'd lean towards boy

I'm so hoping a hen, the coloring worries me and feather shapes. I am posting a few photos that were made this morning.

 

[GamRich]

I'm so hoping a hen, the coloring worries me and feather shapes. I am posting a few photos that were made this morning.

I had to figure out the coop light at first as well- it's a setting and is set to off by default.

My girls try to tuck themselves in well before dark, so it'll take some fiddling to find a time that works for you so that the light will be on when yours want to go in. I use the light setting for opening and closing, and I think I have it set to close at 35... really early. To help the girls get in there when they want to, I have a solar spotlight for gardens that I stuck against the run (so it gets sun) but it points right up to the coop doorway. The solar panel you see on top is for a motion activated security light I have for when my dog goes outside so he can see in the dark. He also hates when I'm in the run and just runs circles around it. He's worn the yard to dirt in a very distinct path all the way around haha

 

[BlissyChick]

I wanted to share my thoughts on the Omlet Eglu coop which I've had for about a year now. I have the coop in a 9' x 24' walk-in run (also by Omlet). And they free range in my suburban backyard half the day. It works great for us! But I agree that it's not big enough for more than 4 standard sized chickens. I have 4 girls and they are pretty packed in there. I think 3 standard size would be the perfect fit. I live in Southern California so the weather is really nice so they only sleep and lay in there but otherwise in their run and the yard. I agree with previous post that if you live in cold weather, the Eglu would not be a good coop for them to stay in during bad weather since there is just not enough room (and dark...no windows just small ventilation slits). They can't even flap their wings with them all in there. Another thing to think about it with the Eglu is that they don't have traditional roosting bars so the birds just pile up inside and move around to settle in and throughout the night. My sweet Red Sex Link at the bottom of the pecking order can't simply get on a perch and be because the other girls can easily get to her and peck her. It's not bad and she never gets hurt and settles in after a few minutes. But it's just something I would never have thought of before...as I'm new to chickens and these Apr 2021 girls are my first!

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I love the tables you have to the left of the picture - how did you create those?

 

[linguini]

I'm so hoping a hen, the coloring worries me and feather shapes. I am posting a few photos that were made this morning.

Do you see any saddle feathers - long stringing feather near the tail - coming out? that's a more reliable indicator for roosters.