eglu vs traditional coup

[peppermint patty]

Hi I have decided to get some chickens but I am torn between an eglu and a traditional wooden coup.

I have been told by friends who have an eglu that they are much easier to clean as they are plastic. Also aapparently the mites and other bugs find it harder to survive therefore healthier chickens.

The other side of me thinks that a traditional wooden coup would look better and is cheaper which is also a bonus!

I would appriciate any thoughts from people who have chickens or indeed if there are any other options

[Shirley]

well... for me, if we had to buy an eglu in order to keep chooks then we'd never have been able to afford it. The wooden chook houses (you can make your own) are so much cheaper. I guess that the number of chooks you intend to keep will also influence your decision.

[Mr and Mrs luvpie]

we initially wanted an eglu but went for a wooden house which is perfect, they arnt difficult to clean as you can get ones that open up and come apart easily. The eglu's doo look fantastic but they are very expensive compared to a wooden set up.

There are a load of websites selling wooden houses and runs.

We're new to keeping chickens but they are fantastic pets and the eggs do taste amazing!!

[weatherwax]

Eglus are great for people with limited space and limited time, they are quite expensive though, we did look at them but decided against them as being too small for what we wanted.
we bought our whole set up from one place and it was really good quality and really easy, the wooden coop and run is lovely and fits in so much better with our garden.

[red]

I've never like the look of eglus - they look a bit playmobil/little tikes to me! - but that is a matter of taste I guess. Not having had one, I don't know what the drawbacks are. but the price is definitely one, you could buy an awful lot of eggs for that.

[Trace45]

I'd go with what you can afford.
My hens have a converted shed and a run made out of chicken wire/wood. I can see that the plastic eglus would be easier to clean and no nooks and crannys for mites and other bugs to hide in! Also good to move them around for grass eating/scratching. My hens are stuck with grass clippings from lawn mower after laying waste to their run!
Good Luck

[contadino]

Having just diagnosed our lack of eggs down to an infestation of mites, I'd say that if you have loads of spare money, and are planning of keeping a small flock, go for the eglu.

There's no way I could've afforded one, so it's been a case of cleaning the house out thoroughly.

[red]

blow torch em, Contadino! we got ours under control, and the eggs came back

blow torch prolly a bad idea in an eglu....

[agapanthus]

Give me wood any day....especially if they are made from old pallets.....I really dislike plastic!! ....sorry