BarbaraJ Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 I have been looking to get some chickens for over a year but the chicken out week urged hubby along to build me a coop and run. We are nearly finished and hoping to be the owners of 3 chickens in a couple of weeks so excited! I didn't realise i could join here without an eglu but hubby wasn't paying out for one so it was chickens wthout an eglu or no chickens, hmm not much choice really lol Though i have been eyeing up the cube for the future I think we are nearly ready jjust ordered some bits off the omlet shop and all i need now is chickens, bedding and food i think lol Wondered if you would like to see a pic of our nearly completed coop and run: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Welcome - That looks great. It is all very exciting. Chickens are truly wonderful to have and I am sure you will enjoy it. From your photo - Is that an entrance into the shed as well ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 I was just wondering that - or is it so you can sit in the shed on cold days, and watch them! Welcome to the forum, what a brilliant run - I wish I could make things. Your chickens will love living in there, it's a palace. We welcome anyone who is into chickens, Eglus cubes or wooden coops, we don't mind. What sort of chickens are you going to get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 thanks for the nice welcome. No the window needs blocking off thats why we have a few weeks to go. Block window Pave all round the run Tweaking a few bits in the coop and make a ladder. Got some good branches today to make it a bit more exciting for them. I wa getting my chickens from Thornes but he didnt seem to have much choice , someone gave Cambridge poultry to try so think we will go have a look saturday. Speckeldy's look nice and Belgian blues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonie Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Where in herts are you? I'm near Hitchin, so if you ever fancied bringing your husband over to see what the cube is like is, you are very welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 Stevenage, lol i did broach the subject that if we ever get more we could get a cube, he thought i was moaning about his coop and 'MORE Chickens' think i will have to do this softly softly let him get used to the first 3 lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonie Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Stevenage, lol i did broach the subject that if we ever get more we could get a cube, he thought i was moaning about his coop and 'MORE Chickens' think i will have to do this softly softly let him get used to the first 3 lol He'll end up loving them like mine did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 hi and welcome to this forum. you will find all the help you need on here they are a great bunch of people........and that run is fab well done to your husband Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Don't worry re. husband -Once THEY sample their first 'home-grown' egg ..... mine is hooked now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Hello Barbara and welcome. The coop and run are very Des Res. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 A big hello and welcome from me. The run is fab, what lucky chooks. Arent chickens just great?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 (edited) What a nice welcome, people think i'm mad getting chickens lol but then i'm a childminder too and people think i'm mad doing that!! Only thing i am concerned with the wooden coop is the red mite, i have diatamaceous earth and intend using that from the start, under Aubiose Edited March 3, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 (edited) Hi there and welcome to the forum. Nice looking run and coop, your husband should be proud! Good luck getting your hens, we've got a speckledy and she's lovely - dark brown speckled eggs and she has big fluffy grey knickers! By the way, within two days of getting our first 5 hens my OH took us out to the local poultry place to get two more - they're very addictive. Mrs Bertie Edited March 3, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Hi there and welcome, My girls are from Thornes - I think they are a wonderful poultry centre, if they haven't got what you want at the moment it's worth asking what they have coming in as they get a new batch of POL hybrids pretty regularly. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 Would it be ok to have gravel in the front part of the run and Aubiose in the back where its covered? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Would it be ok to have gravel in the front part of the run and Aubiose in the back where its covered? Sure - but beware that chickens love to scratch around in gravel, so it will end up all over the run! You should see our patio after a good dustbathing session! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 Sure - but beware that chickens love to scratch around in gravel, so it will end up all over the run! You should see our patio after a good dustbathing session! lol so is there anything else i could use? i suppose what ever i use will get mixed with the Aubiose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Great run ! Did your husband use any plans or design it himself ? we have an eglu with attached run but have realised we need to build them a bigger run that I'll put the eglu into. BTW does anyone know if there is a market in second hand runs ? Although I did wonder whether to sell the eglu plus run and buy a cube without run when we've finished the new run. Left to myself I'd keep the eglu plus run to intorduce new chickens and buy a new cube and expand the flock but OH might just calculate the actual cost of 1/2 doz fresh laid eggs if I do that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Left to myself I'd keep the eglu plus run to intorduce new chickens and buy a new cube and expand the flock but OH might just calculate the actual cost of 1/2 doz fresh laid eggs if I do that... Never a good idea to start adding things up Oh and welcome BarbaraJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 4, 2008 Author Share Posted March 4, 2008 Plans well i think they were in his head, its actually probably the first thing he has ever finished making. Most things are half done or get a 'that al do!' I'd keep the eglu and buy a cube too! Huby did sit there last night and say 'when actually will the eggs cover the cost of the run?' he was joking as i don't think so lol though we have people want to buy them already lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Welcome BarbaraJ! Lovely house and run, you must be dying to fill it with chooks. If you are around, please come along to Thorne's on 6th April at 2pm as there is a chicken talk where some of us are planning to meet up. More details in the "get-togethers" board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeanne Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Welcome Barbara. You hen house and run look fantastic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 5, 2008 Author Share Posted March 5, 2008 Getting very excited , even talked hubby round to the notion that if we like keeping them an eglu cube would look great attached to the side of the run he says i'm moaning about his coop already lol but its not that, he hasn't made it very big and i'm worried they will have enough room in there. Especially if i want more So i'm hoping week saturday for chickens but he says may be easter!! oh i'm so impatient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 The run and house look really good. And we need some pictures of the hens too, when they arrive! Milly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 5, 2008 Author Share Posted March 5, 2008 Oh there will definatly be photos, another hobby of mine, something else to photograph, they will be sick of the site of the camera lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...