plastic or wooden coop

[buxomblonde]

Just at the considering stage but wondering if someone could talk me through the pros and cons of an eglu and wooden coop. What are the best wooden ones? Ta in advance

Hello! We have a wooden coop that DP made himself. It's big enough for 4 chooks, and has a long run attached to it so they can run around. I've not seen an eglu in person but they seem really small, but then again so can some of the wooden coops. The advantage I can see to the eglu's is that they're easier to clean!

I have a fabulous wooden house, from Smiths sectional buildings. It's called the Thicket and I love it. I chose wood because it looks better in my garden, and you get more for your money. The plastic coops are easier to clean out, and there's no real maintenance (staining every year etc). Also, it's easier to adapt wooden coops when you get the bug, and start adding to the flock.....

Thanks for that. I like the sound of easier to clean but def prefer the look of wood. can't decide

any other opinions?

Hi BB. I had the same dilemma as you, I prefer the look of wood, but was attracted by the ease of cleaning out a plastic house. In the end I opted for the Omlet Cube which is v.v.easy in terms of cleaning out. It really is a case of clean the droppings tray every 2 days, and then give it a more thorough clean at the weekends.

Having said that I am looking for a second house now, and will be opting for wood as I simply cannot afford a secondhand eglu at the moment .

Salty ... are you expanding your flock???

I have a cube and an eglu. I have spent today putting an extra run and a mezzanine level on the cube - I totally heart it. My ladies will have so much room when I'm only my holidays - usually they free range under the tree at the end of the garden. I've fenced off a section next to the cube.

Maintainance is easy, which is great as we're often very busy.

I am Millie

Four is not enough. I've put my name down for re-homing three ex-batts .

Everyone was right when they said that chicken keeping is addictive .

LOL! Good for you! When do you hope to get them? How are your current girls doing with being handled? Mine are still really wriggly and hate me lifting them - there's no way I could ever turn them over to examine their vent if I had to ... they'd go nuts! I'm hoping that when they come into lay they'll calm down a bit.

They arrive on the 24th. I've no idea what I am going to house them in though - I'm back to the old debate of eglu vs. wooden! How are you getting on with your Maggies? DO you have a pull out droppings tray to make cleaning easier? I can't justify a FsF house at thie stage (dh would divorce me), but I have found a site that sells decent looking wood houses (tanalised timber, only screws used, no felt etc) which I am tempted by. No droppings tray though.

YY - mine are v.wriggly still, and need much coercion to go back in the run after some free-ranging. I'm not sure that chasing them around the garden is a positive step towards taming them . I find late in the evening, when they are starting to roost is the best time to pick them up for an inspection.

Not long til 24th Salty! I love my Maggies ... it does have the slide-out poo tray and I find it being on long legs absolutely brilliant - I wouldn't like to be kneeling to poo pick every morning. They are, like the Cube/Eglu, pricey though so I can understand your DH - mine would do the same!! I only pull the droppings tray out when I'm doing a big clean - keep about 1-2 inches of aubiose on it so I just pick the poo out every day.

Am a bit worried about redmite at the moment. Ruffled Nigella's feathers under her belly last night and then noticed a red mark on my finger. Thought no more of it until I flicked a red spider off myself this morning, killing it, and my arm was streaked with the same colour of red. But redmite aren't red spiders - right? They don't show any sign of infestation and i haven't seen any hiding under the perch which I lift out every morning. However, last weekend should have been my 'big clean' weekend and we had guests so I didn't clean & spray with Poultryshield - will do so tomorrow. And will wipe under the perch tonight with a piece of kitchen paper to see if anything shows up. Oh the joys! And still no eggs

How did the wiping with kitchen paper go? Fingers crossed it's not red mites - ugh!

We're certainly learning fast, you with your red spidery things and me with my evil broody pancake

Question r.e. dropping tray was to do with my other thread . Poo picking the Aubiose sounds like the best way forward!

I have gone through two wooden coops. I bought the first one as it seemed a good 'all rounder' - but it was cheap and feel apart after just one year(made in China). We then did alot of research and made our own! Really heavy duty - could budge it! Lovely, but wood expanded in winter, doors would get stuck up, then it would shrink in the summer and leak. Very time consuming cleaning etc. Friend has an eglu - really good product but I'm not keen on the look of it (a bit too modern for where we live). We've now got a 'Little Barn' Plastic coop. Great to clean - lid opens right up so the whole inside is easy to get to. Hens love it. No run, but the girls are all free range anyway. No maintenance what so ever. Pricey but we will never need another one. It would now go for a plastic coop every time. Life is so much easier (and pleasant!)

i have got this but got it on ebay for £20 less.

We're getting 3 hens tomorrow for it. It's very well made, was easy to build up and looks so pretty

I wanted an eglu but they are soooo expensive does anyone ever see any pre-owned ones for sale. I am sure there must be some out there but I can't find any!

There's loads on eBay - the only drawback is that they tend to hold their value really well so they go for around the £250 mark.

Best place to look is on the Omlet forum:

2nd hand eglus