We have chickens in a home made wooden coop. Yes, the foxes come and visit, but they know they can't get in. The eglu can give a false peace of mind - the run is only described as 'fox resistant' and I have heard of hens sadly being got through the mesh. If they encourage chickens though, great!

Claire, Bristol,

We have an eglu and 3 chickens who are great pets for the children, plus we get between 15-20 eggs a week from them. The Eglu may be expensive but I'd rather pay more and not have the annual maintenance or cleaning of a wooden coop, plus no danger of red mites in a plastic Eglu. They're fab!

Lucy, Amersham, Bucks

Clare, great to read your comments, my son is also autistic and very excited about our soon to arrivals!, I was resistant at first but then when I worked out what we spend on eggs a year plus the enjoyment factor it was a no Brainer eglu on its way!
We have alread named our two ladies Betty & Wilma

Melanie, Croydon, Surrey, United Kingdom

Actually one of the reasons the Eglu is as expensive as it is, ios because of the high quality materials that go into making it fox proof. "Chickenwire" is not suitable for protecting chickens from foxes.

Hazel, Windsor,

I have a cube (like an extended eglu) and really love chicken keeping. They are the most educational pets we've ever had for the children and are remarkably easy to look after. My son is autistic and loves the responsibility and routine of looking after them and collecting/ weighing the eggs.

clare, suffolk,

If you did build your own (and it wouldn't be "the same job") with chicken wire, your chickens wouldn't be protected from foxes.

The eglu run is fox-resistant., the eglu requires no maintenance and plastic is easier to clean than wood.

Vicki, Edinburgh,

With many more people keeping chickens, what are the dangers of these birds becoming sources of new variants of influenza?
We are often told of the dangers of humans and fowl living in close proximity, as in Asia and parts of China. Could we be providing an ideal source for a new pandemic strain?

Andrew Cooper, Teesside, UK

I have three Eglus and a cube and they are wonderful. Easy to maintain and well designed, and fox resistant. The hens are happy in them.

There is no smell if you look after the hens properly rats are easily dealt with.

This article is very badly written.
Proof reader's day off?

Anne, Sheffield, England

Anything's better than battery cages, but I think they're horrible. Our hens can fly into trees, take shelter in dense bushes and have loads of room to explore.

gerry, exeter, england

You can make a chicken house with chicken wire, plywood and 1x1, it is true, but you won't have chickens for long.
I have 2 Eglus and a cube and they are marvellous, and I am not a snob, nor do I have more money than sense. Eglus are good value and cost no more than many wooden coops.

Anne, Sheffield, England

No Hywel Not all of us has your mean srteak toward animals Good luck to those that buy Eglus for unlike Hywel ? they are paid back in kind.

TOOLGAIN, Paddock wood kent, Britain

We have two Omlet cubes and an eglu. Our hens our loved by our neighbours and their children. We grow our own fruit and veg and feel that our son gets much more out of the garden for understanding where his food comes from. Don't knock hen-keeping. If it's not your choice, that's fine.

Jan Aldridge, Lowestoft, Suffolk

you know you can do the same job with some chicken wire, plywood and 1 by 1 for a fraction of the price... those eglu eggs are sure expensive... how many years would it take to get your money's worth on that at just six eggs a week...... just shows, some people do have more money than sense...

pcooke, Gloucester,

Only a mug would pay £360 for on of these Eglus. They're stupidly overpriced.

Hywel, Newport, Gwent

Don't understand the snob comment. An Eglu is a well designed chicken house, no more expensive than many on the market.

When did Chris Evans become and MP?

Anne, Sheffield, England

I have an eglu. No rats, no smell, and like Christian I wouldn't be without my two chickens.

And I'm no snob, thanks. I'm amazed that the Times published that comment!

Helen, Leeds,

There is nothing new under the sun, we used to all keep chickens in WW2,and even the odd pig! then is became non U It just goes to prove that what goes around comes around. There is nothing better than no pestisides,travelling, and knowing where it has come from,satisfaction guanteed!

Ros, Wellingborough, England

Every snob should have one!.

Sean Hamerton, York., England.

Absolutely wonderful idea! Nothing better than homegrown!
Veggies or fruit or eggs!

marie peters, mandeni, kwazulu-natal, south africa

£360 minimum for 2 hens and a peice of plastic!!!
I'm in the wrong business.

Jonathan, Cheshire,

Judging by paragraph 3, these four students from the Royal College of Art and the Miss Pepperpot (??) do seem to be wonderfully productive every week...

Andrew, Shrewsbury,

It is illegal to keep foxes as pets.

Madeleine, Sheffield, England

I've got two pet foxes - I didn't know one could get 'rescue chickens'; I might order a few..

Mike, Brighton, England

Just to put the damper on another silly story, the titles of many modern houses include a covenant preventing the keeping of any animals other than the usual domestic pets (cats and dogs). I saw one last week that specifically banned the keeping of domestic fowl on the premises.

Roy, Oxon,

We have two eglus and 5 chickens and wouldn't be without them! The eglu and run keeps them safe from foxes and the eggs are delicious!

Christian, Nr Thruxton , Hampshire

Its not just the foxes you have to worry about, its the rats and the smell!

Tom White, Geneva, Switzerland

I bet all those newly arrived urban foxes are very happy.

:-)

John Kerr, Edinburgh,