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Eglu Go or Classic?

11 replies

superhands · 15/05/2014 19:05

I can't work out the difference between the Go and the classic houses. Does anyone know? I'm thinking of getting 3-4 rescue birds so don't know if this house will be big enough as I think these will be considered larger breeds and both houses seem to hold 2-3 larger breeds. Not sure if i can spring for a cube!

OP posts:
bochead · 16/05/2014 00:30

Separate door to access eggs in the classic plus more interesting to look at.

For the Go you have to remove the whole back door to get at the eggs, BUT the Go offers the option of a stand to have it at waist height, which can be easier on your back than o the floor. (Look at the new Go UP, which is more like owning a mini cube). The Go is cheaper to manufacture, so cheaper to buy.

Both take the same number of birds, so unless you want the Go UP for health reasons, or the classic version to be trendy it probably comes down to cost. Both cater for the same number of birds. I personally don't think the runs are big enough on either model for full time use, so ignored those in favour of building a larger walk in run myself.

I have a Go simply because that's what came up on ebay second hand in my price range first.

Solway plastic houses are cheaper than omlet, as are greenfrog designs and arkhaus in the larger sizes, so you may want to take a look at those.

CuddyMum · 16/05/2014 15:33

I'm going for the Go Up with run extensions to take it to 5 or 6 metres if that helps. :)

MyICDiscalledsparky · 17/05/2014 12:12

Keep an eye out on ebay, gumtree and preloved. Cheap ones do come up sometime. I would just get whichever I could get hold of. Make sure if you want three big birds that you get a mark 2 classic and not a mark 1. The mark 1 coop is a lot smaller. You can tell on ebay pictures which is which by looking at the egg hatch. If the handle is up to the left, it is a mark 1 and if it is more in the middle it is a mark 2.

Mark 1 www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Omlet-Eglu-Chicken-House-/111354858071?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry&hash=item19ed444a57

Mark 2 www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Eglu-Omlet-Chicken-House-Coop-Green-/331200798024?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry&hash=item4d1d1b1d48

bochead · 18/05/2014 09:41

There are some plastic 6x 4 shed on ebay from argos at the moment for £200 apiece - easy to add a pop hole branch and perch + ventilation holes. (and a shelf for food storage?)You could also build a roofed walk in run big enough to add on for another £100 if you got the avery panels off ebay.

So for £300 you'd end up with a solution that would actually give your hens much more space, be nicelywinter proof and easy to clean out for far less than the cheapest omlet offering. It would also give you the option of expanding your flock to 6 or so if you catch more hens disease.

Can you tell I'm considering this option for our new house as one Go is not going to be enough. Grin. DS & I have a bad dose of more hens and our chicks are just 3 weeks old! (2 pullets and 2 boys - we'll hang onto to one lad the other will go in the oven).

To be fair DS has been involved with community farms since toddlerhood, we've just never had our own garden before. So I know it's not just a phase (as he actually enjoys mucking out!) and at nearly 10 is old enough to take proper responsibility for looking after them with adult oversight. I am sticking with bantams so he can help with tasks like wing clipping and checking for mites as these are small enough for him to handle with just my supervision rather than the properly qualified bods at the community farm.

cuckoo marans bantams seemed to fulfil my requirements of being fairly hardy & clean legged in a wet climate, reasonably good egg producers, autosexing & not too flighty. (some of the bantam breeds are very prone to mareks, don't produce enough eggs of a reasonable size, have feather legs which can cause problems in mud etc, etc).

I think we'll keep the Go + 2m run long term just as a sick bay/broody space and adapt a plastic shed + walk in run as our "main" coop for our adult birds. If I had the money I'd spring for a greenfrogsdesigns coop instead of the shed or a cube, as these have really impressed me when I've seen them in the flesh.

I'm not 100% convinced about getting ex-battery hens if you are a first time chicken keeper as they need quite a bit of tlc & healthcare knowledge at the start. It's easier to get healthy hybrids while you learn about chicken keeping. They also don't seem to live more than a year or two after rescue, going on the experiences of friends, which can be very upsetting for children.

FrancesNiadova · 18/05/2014 11:34

Yes, I agree with bochead. Eglu are so overpriced, you'll get much more for your money if you get a proper hen house & run if you want one.

Battery hens, yes, I really like the idea of giving these girls a decent life, bless 'em, but my neighbour had lots of problems with hers & very few eggs. They didn't live long either, it really was quite upsetting.

We get hybrids from our local poultry supplier. They're great, sturdy enough for the DCs to handle & ours live about 4 - 5 years, they lay well too.

bochead · 18/05/2014 13:46

www.backyardchickens.com/a/our-garden-shed-chicken-coop

www.downthelane.net/convert-shed-to-coop.php

These links give you an idea of the sort of set up I mean. Using a plastic argos shed will give me the same red mite/easy cleaning advantages of a cube without the high cost! The top link shows a decent run - again cheaper and larger than the elgu ones. I do think the runs on the omlet products are too small for more than very occasional use - especially if like me, you don't want to let the chooks free range full time (perhaps cos you'll be at work?).

CuddyMum · 18/05/2014 22:11

I was ready to order the Go Up. I had some questions and emailed Omlet but no reply. Anyway, I've ended up winning a classic with a 5m run on eBay and it's only half an hour away!

bochead · 19/05/2014 08:50

Go you CuddlyMum - hope it was a bargain Wink.

One nice thing about the omlet products is that if for any reason you decide chicken keeping is no longer for you, want to upgrade to a bigger coop etc later - the resale value seems to hold well.

MyICDiscalledsparky · 19/05/2014 19:50

Cuddymum, well done. Hope You got a good deal.

CuddyMum · 21/05/2014 17:28

Yes, saved lots and just off to collect it! Omlet never replied so it was meant to be.

Lanabelle · 21/05/2014 17:47

For the record omlet eglus are expensive but ideal for the lazy. One quick going over with the pressure washer and its sparkling

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