Orange Eglu Cube Coop

[ISSOLA]

After having personally having invested time, money and labor to build a chicken coop (with help of husband), and having gotten attached to AND lost 2 small batches of chickens to predators over 2 years; I decided to take the giant leap and did what I never thought I would do - which is to buy the EGLU CUBE.

A fisher cat, and a group of raccoons got to my chickens. And it really, really hurts when that happens. Three separate occasions: broken feathers, and bodies strewn headless around outside and inside the wooden coop tell a sad, sad story.

So I did it. And here are the pics:

The larger wire mesh of the Eglu Cube, is a risk for intruding dexterous raccoon hands; hence, 1/2 inch wire mesh was attached to it with plastic ties. This was advised my fellow BYC angels4 too! (Thanks Mark...)

The GRUB feeder help decrease billing. Rain does not get into the feeder well.

Happy chickens, I think!

Nite nite into the coop...

Mark -- angels4 -- BYC member, allowed me to see his eglu cube, before I made my decision to purchase the coop. A big thanks to him; for sharing.

I put the chickens in there at 7 weeks old. At first, they slept below the eglu. So I decided to put them into the roosting area myself at dusk and close the eglu door. I let them out by 7 am. After two nights, they went up to roost nightly by themselves without any prompting.

The 1/2 inch wire mesh is important to anyone who lives near the woods. Our home is by conservation land. We have seen skunks, opposums, fisher cats, coyotes, foxes, and a family of raccoons. My husband calls it "night theater." We also get flying squirrels, and they attack the bird feeders.

We shall be placing chain-link fence flat on ground towards the woods where the soil is softer to prevent digging. There is a skirt of wire mesh surrounding the eglu cube, as part of its design; but I just want to be safer.

I don't want to lose anymore pets! Yes! THEY are PETS!

The only predator that can take this down, I think, is a bear; and perhaps - a very, very smart raccoon, who may in time, learn how to open the fence's door by lifting the run pin. AND if they get that smart, I'll eat my red sox hat.

 

[redhen]

I have always liked the Eglu! Maybe i'll get one some day.

 

[cowman910]

what is that big orange thing ion the first picture? I think the eglu makes a very good coop for some one who doesnt have the knowledge or time to build a coop. I love it!

 

[Kansaseq]

That looks really easy to clean and I like the design of the food dish. How well does it ventilate? It is easy to lock up tight at night? I looked at a smaller version and it was very pricey. Yours looks even bigger. Dare I ask what it cost?
Kudos to you for doing what it takes to keep your girls safe, and thanks for sharing.

 

[elmo]

Is that a wild bird feeder right next to your run? Just a thought...you might want to move it. Wild birds do carry mites (among other things), and there's no reason to encourage them to hang out near your chickens.

 

[JoeP]

ISSOLA !! Take it easy on the red sox hat! You know how it is.
Eat a Yankees hat if anything!

Go Sox!
(I know, they just gave us a spanking, Oh well)

 

[Lady Henevere]

Congrats on your new Eglu! I have had the Eglu Cube for a while now and I absolutely love it. The orange looks great in your garden.

 

[ISSOLA]

Quote:
I think you mean the big "GLUG" on the right? On the right of top pic is a nipple waterer. The "GLUG" is filled from the top opening. The chickens drink from bottom 3 nipples (can't see well).

I agree that it is a very good coop. I was amazed at the thought and sensibleness put into the design of this coop, as I was putting it together from the different pieces in the packaging. Just great for laying hens.

 

[ISSOLA]

Quote:
I cleaned it today, and it was easy. Mind you, it was a simple clean today, which is replace the wood shavings, wash the plastic roosting bars and sun them dry. Deep clean will probably occur once every 4 - 6 weeks; and not at all during winter cold months.

It ventilates well enough. You can see the vents only close-up, and the vents are at the back, and the sides at front. That works for me; since it means the raccoons can't see them either.

The front orange door (not the run wire door) will lock tight if you choose to do so. That means that you must be around in the morning to let chickens out. I chose to slide the door not to lock or close, but leave a 2.5 inches of opening to allow better ventilation at night (it has been muggy lately). This morning I got up later then usual, at 8am, and found my chickens have nugged the door, and gotten out of the small opening ( and because I did not lock it.) As my chickens get bigger, I plan to leave the orange door (that slides) open all the time.

The cost is ~$1300.00 shipped to the nearest major greyhound station. For me, it is Boston; and THAT was the worse part getting the coop. The greyhound packaging area in Boston was very difficult to find, and not to mention the traffic.

I have had researched cost of getting other hen coops in the US (you know what and who they are); and the cost is comparable.

 

[Catalina]

Ooooo very nice.
The eglu is the reason I started thinking about getting chickens. I didn't buy one, but I got chickens!

I still would like to get one, but I worry the weather here in MN would be to harsh for it.

Let us know how it holds up in the winter.