Omlet Eglu Cube vs OverEZ: Plastic or Wood for Your Flock?
One is a twin-wall plastic house built to be hosed out; the other is a 320-pound wooden coop with a walk-in door. Here is how they compare on the facts their makers publish.
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Omlet Eglu Cube Large
Omlet says 6 large or 10 small hens; inside floor about 34 x 33 in (under 8 sq ft), per Omlet. Details below.
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OverEZ Classic Medium
Maker says up to 10 chickens; wood, made in USA. Outside footprint is about 18 sq ft, so plan on fewer hens by Extension guidelines. Details below.
Check Price on Amazon →Both coops sit at the premium end of our chicken coop roundup, and both claim more hens than their floors support by Extension guidelines. Here is the side-by-side, using only what the makers and listings state. For the full detail on each, read the Eglu Cube review and the OverEZ review.
Side by side
| Omlet Eglu Cube Large | OverEZ Classic Medium | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | UV-stabilized polyethylene and powder-coated steel (listing); two-inch insulated panels (Omlet) | Wood with treated resin flooring and siding (Hatching Time) |
| Dimensions | 39.37 x 37 x 25.59 in (listing); inside 2 ft 10 in x 2 ft 9 in (Omlet) | 50.25 x 52.5 x 62.25 in overall (listing); no inside size published |
| Weight | 55.8 kg, about 123 lb (listing) | 320 lb (listing) |
| Maker's hen count | 6 large, 8 medium or 10 bantams (Omlet) | Up to 10 (listing) |
| Realistic hen count* | about 2 standard hens (3 at the 2 sq ft minimum) | at most 4–5 standard hens (9 at the 2 sq ft minimum) |
| Run | Not included in the Amazon listing | Not included; ramp and chicken door only |
| Cleaning | Slide-out droppings tray, wipe-clean surfaces, hose-down (Omlet) | No removable tray stated; moisture-resistant resin floor (Hatching Time) |
| Nest boxes / roosts | Built-in nest area with fixed tray (Omlet) | 3 nest boxes, 2 roosting bars (Hatching Time) |
| Doors and locks | Two-step coop lock (Omlet); lift-off egg port | Lockable man door, chicken door and nest lid (Hatching Time) |
| Assembly | Three boxes, built A to C with Omlet's videos (listing) | Under 60 minutes with a screw gun; panels pre-assembled (listing; Hatching Time) |
| Made in | Not stated in the listing | USA, by Amish-trained craftsmen (listing) |
| Warranty | 10 years (Omlet's site); 180-day money-back guarantee (listing) | 1 year manufacturer (listing) |
*Our calculation from Extension space guidelines: 3–4 sq ft per standard hen, or Penn State's 2 sq ft minimum with daily run access. The Eglu figure uses Omlet's inside floor (about 7.8 sq ft). The OverEZ figure uses the outside footprint (about 18.3 sq ft) and is an upper bound. Check your own numbers with the coop size calculator.
Which one to pick
- you are keeping two or three standard hens (or a few bantams) and will give them a run;
- fast cleaning matters more to you than anything else;
- you want something you can move around the yard, or add wheels to (Omlet sells them);
- red mites in wooden coops have been a problem for you before.
- you want room for four or five standard hens in the house itself;
- you want to stand in the doorway to clean and collect eggs, with a man door and three nest boxes;
- you like wood and want to add your own hardware cloth, hooks and shelves;
- the coop will stay in one spot for good.
Plastic vs wood: mites, rot and heat
Mites
University of Kentucky Extension says chicken mites (red or roost mites) spend much of their time in "cracks and crevices in the shelter and roosting area," so control is aimed at the building. Smooth plastic gives them fewer places to hide than wood joints and rough boards. Northern fowl mites, though, live on the birds, so no coop material stops them. Check your hens either way.
Moisture and rot
Plastic does not soak up water. Wood can, which is why OverEZ uses treated resin flooring and siding where droppings and humidity collect, per Hatching Time. Whichever you pick, Extension services agree the bigger issue is airflow: Illinois Extension calls for a draft-free but well-ventilated coop to keep ammonia and moisture down, and Minnesota Extension warns that moisture plus cold leads to condensation and frostbite.
Heat and cold
Omlet says the Cube's insulated panels keep it cool in summer and warm in winter. OverEZ cites radiant-barrier roof sheathing for summer heat (Hatching Time). Neither replaces the basics. Arizona Extension lists shade, water and ventilation as "the three most basic needs" in summer, and Penn State notes shade should not block air movement. In winter, Minnesota Extension advises against metal or plastic roosts, which hold the cold; wooden 2x2 or 2x4 roosts work well.
Plastic
Omlet Eglu Cube Large Chicken Coop
Best for a small flock with a good run and an owner who wants cleaning done in minutes.
Why it made the list
- Slide-out tray, wipe-clean plastic
- Insulated panels and two-step lock, per Omlet
What to watch
- Small house floor
- Run sold separately
Wood
OverEZ Classic Medium Chicken Coop
Best for a permanent setup with four or five hens and an owner who wants walk-in access.
Why it made the list
- Man door, 3 nest boxes, 2 roosts
- Lockable doors and nest lid
What to watch
- Heavy and hard to move
- Window screen needs hardware cloth
Frequently Asked Questions
Which holds more hens, the Eglu Cube or the OverEZ?
The OverEZ. Its outside footprint (about 18.3 sq ft) is an upper bound of 4–5 standard hens, compared with about 2 on the Eglu Cube's 7.8 sq ft house floor, using 3–4 sq ft per hen.
Is a plastic coop better than wood for mites?
For chicken (red) mites, which hide in cracks and crevices in the coop, smooth plastic helps. Northern fowl mites live on the birds, so material makes little difference to them (University of Kentucky Extension).
Do either of these coops come with a run?
No. The Eglu Cube listing on Amazon says the run is not included, and the OverEZ comes with a ramp and chicken door but no run. Plan on about 8–10 sq ft of run per hen.
Which is easier to assemble?
OverEZ says under 60 minutes with a screw gun because panels arrive pre-assembled, but at 320 lb it needs several people. The Eglu Cube ships in three boxes built in order, and the listing says it may take some time.
Sources
- Omlet: Eglu Cube chicken coop product page
- Omlet: Eglu chicken coop comparison (internal dimensions and hens housed)
- Hatching Time: OverEZ Medium Chicken Coop specifications
- Penn State Extension: Small Scale Poultry Housing
- Poultry Extension (extension.org): Space Allowances for Small and Backyard Flocks
- University of Kentucky Extension: EF516, External Mite and Insect Parasites of Backyard Chickens
- University of Illinois Extension: Winter Care for Backyard Chickens
- University of Minnesota Extension: Caring for Chickens in Cold Weather
- Poultry Extension (extension.org): Managing Backyard Chickens During Extreme Summer Temperatures
- Penn State Extension: Hot Weather Management of Poultry
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