Omlet Eglu Pro Coop with DIY chicken run

[RJM1109]

Hello All,

I am looking to get chickens this upcoming spring and am very interested in the Omlet Eglu Pro chicken coop. I am limited to the number of chickens I can own and the Omlet Eglu Pro seems like the absolute best fit for my needs.

However, I’ve read a lot of reviews and more experienced chicken owners opinions that the Omlet walk in run isn’t the best based on price and quality/safety. A 9ftx9ft walk in run by Omlet is $2000 not including any tarps, roofing, or protection to extreme weather. I know for a fact I can build a bigger, more durable, and safer chicken run for half the price.

I am very handy and would like to build my own walk in chicken run that’s about 10ftx12ft. Has anyone else built there own run around an Omlet coop? If so can you share photos so I can use as inspiration. Even if your run is bigger or smaller then the one I am I’m trying to build. Please share any photos or feedback. I want to make it as safe and predator proof as possible with no gaps or room for error to keep my future hens all safe.

 

[BDutch]

I made a chicken run from a sturdy gazebo tent frame (because we had it and we didn’t use it anymore). We glued the parts with special outdoor glue.
The size is approx 10 x 10 ft.
My coops are on the outside. To make a door in it isn’t easy because of the metal frame. You have to add a framework for it. The netting on top could be problematic with heavy snow.

I have seen hoop coops and hoop runs that are probably more sturdy.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/top-10-hoop-coop-ideas.76490/

 

[RJM1109]

the only photo I was able to find online with a similar idea as me is attached below I wanted to get additional ideas on how people securely and safely attach the Omlet coop to a DIY run with no gaps for predators or animals to get in

 

[BDutch]

If you put a prefab inside the run, it doesn’t really matter what kind of prefab you want to buy for safety if the run is Fort Knox.

If you have a climate with hot summers and freezing cold winters, I don’t think an Eglu is a good choice (from feading).

Its not clear how many chickens you want to keep. 8x10 ft is not much space for 4 -5 medium size chickens, but doable if you buy chickens of a known easygoing and friendly breed. + add some clutter and plan to clean daily.

I would do some research in the learning center and maybe reconsider the choices you mentioned.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

the only photo I was able to find online with a similar idea as me is attached below I wanted to get additional ideas on how people securely and safely attach the Omlet coop to a DIY run with no gaps for predators or animals to get in View attachment 4266732

IF you go with a coop like this (I have a Nestera), put it inside the run, elevated ~3’ off the ground.

We built a 4’x4’ platform to sit the Nestera on, and the chickens dust bathe underneath.

So the answer to your question of how to attach the Omlet to your run is DON’T. Keep the hardware cloth (19 gauge, 1/2”) that you wrap and top your run with intact.

 

[RJM1109]

IF you go with a coop like this (I have a Nestera), put it inside the run, elevated ~3’ off the ground.

We built a 4’x4’ platform to sit the Nestera on, and the chickens dust bathe underneath.

So the answer to your question of how to attach the Omlet to your run is DON’T. Keep the hardware cloth (19 gauge, 1/2”) that you wrap and top your run with intact.

Thank you for the reply!!! I been going back and forth with putting th coop in the fully covered run vs just attaching it. Do you think you can share a photo of your setup for inspiration? Trying to get as many ideas as I can. I do appreciate you responding to my message and your suggestions. I may just put the coop inside

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Thank you for the reply!!! I been going back and forth with putting th coop in the fully covered run vs just attaching it. Do you think you can share a photo of your setup for inspiration? Trying to get as many ideas as I can. I do appreciate you responding to my message and your suggestions. I may just put the coop inside

Sure! It looks like hell at the moment , but here it is (the Nestera is on the end next to the wooden gate):

 

[Mother of Chaos]

As you can probably tell , I don’t aim for anything Tik-Tok worthy in coop design. I try to replicate their natural settings, insofar as is possible, so the “floor” on the run is deep litter, they have a lot of perching space (although much is down now, and the run is more of an aviary. It currently has an 8x20 clear plastic tarp wrapped around the end where they sleep to cut the winter wind, but it’s still open on the inside.

They spend most of their time out in the backyard, destroying anything green, except in bad weather or if they’re uneasy about hawks.

All in all, it’s as minimal as I can get it.

 

[RJM1109]

As you can probably tell , I don’t aim for anything Tik-Tok worthy in coop design. I try to replicate their natural settings, insofar as is possible, so the “floor” on the run is deep litter, they have a lot of perching space (although much is down now, and the run is more of an aviary. It currently has an 8x20 clear plastic tarp wrapped around the end where they sleep to cut the winter wind, but it’s still open on the inside.

They spend most of their time out in the backyard, destroying anything green, except in bad weather or if they’re uneasy about hawks.

All in all, it’s as minimal as I can get it.

Thank you for all the pictures. I know I shared a photo of what I what mine to look like, but that was because it was the only similar picture I could find. I want to build a nice big fully enclosed run for them with as many toys and make it as natural as possible. I plan to let them spend 90% of there time in the run and only use the coop for sleep or shelter during bad weather.

I’m gonna try to plan it out over the next few days and come up with a few different setups with either the coop attached or placed inside the run. and I’ll post what I end up doing and my sketches

 

[FrostRanger]

I would advise against an eglu, for the money you can get either a small used shed or diy a coop yourself that will be cheaper and better quality