Daywalker Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Hi all, I have a 6x4 greenhouse that I would like to convert into a run for the girls. How much glass should I remove? I have a roll of weldmesh to use in place of any removed glass but I'm worried about them overheating. I plan to keep the roof glazed, should I shade this in some way? Thanks in advance. Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faye&Ant Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Any glass structure is not really suitable due to overheating no matter how many panels you take out or use, and the obvious danger of glass smashing. I would personelly just use the frame if its strong enough on its own and weldmesh it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 I can vouch from this through experience! I used to house some of my chooks in a greenhouse. But it got destroyed in the storms earlier in the year and came crashing down! Luckily all of the chooks were free ranging elsewhere so they were unharmed. Therefore I would also recommend removing ALL the glass and just using the frame! You could use perspex/acrylic sheets to add see-through protection from the elements on the roof and maybe for the bottom 3/4 of the sides? Leaving weldmesh for the top quarter of the sides? The acrylic sheets will offer good ground level protection from foxes and also stop direct draughts, but the weldmesh should ensure adequate ventilation. I would also keep a thermometer in their and check it regularly... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Ahh conflict of ideas here! Our old greenhouse is part of the chooks run, the back (up against the fence) is still glass, the front and one side is weldmesh throughout and the other side is open to the rest of the run. The weldmesh is secured by the greenhouse clips and OH screwed holes in the metal frame so he could thread wire through to further hold the weldmesh. The roof is still glass and although I get your point about it shattering if I was to change it I would look at Perspex as they like the shelter it provides. We have got some greenhouse shading to put over it - but a Buddlea does hang over it to give some shade. I did go in it yesterday afternoon and it was fine. I wouldn't though, leave the perpsex around the bottom, purely because in my experience it becomes slightly brittle over time and a fox lunging at it could break it. Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daywalker Posted June 9, 2008 Author Share Posted June 9, 2008 Maybe I'l buy a couple of roofing panels from B&Q or somewhere. I like the idea of keeping the rain off, I use Hemcore. I take your point about the glass, I'll take it all out. Probably right about the perspex becoming brittle as well. I'mm going to incorporate the eglu and run into the g/house too, give a little more room. We're thinking about getting 2 Calders to go with our 2 Gingernuts, (Nuts being the operative word ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daywalker Posted June 9, 2008 Author Share Posted June 9, 2008 Maybe I'l buy a couple of roofing panels from B&Q or somewhere. I like the idea of keeping the rain off, I use Hemcore. I take your point about the glass, I'll take it all out. Probably right about the perspex becoming brittle as well. I'mm going to incorporate the eglu and run into the g/house too, give a little more room. We're thinking about getting 2 Calders to go with our 2 Gingernuts, (Nuts being the operative word ). Weldmesh is 19 gauge, please tell me thats ok?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 The weldmesh could do with being 16 gauge. Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daywalker Posted June 9, 2008 Author Share Posted June 9, 2008 is 19 not usable then? I don't want the girls at risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 We've just extended our run to incorporate the greenhouse. The only glass we removed was to give the girls access. BUT it's part of a VERY large run and although we appreciate it will get too hot in summer there is no need for the girls to be in there - anyway they free range most of the time. In the winter it will be dry and snug and they may well love that - it has a dirt floor so lovely dry dustbathing all winter. If the glass starts to break we will replace it with persepex but only if we need to - I'm not going to rush out and do it, the chooks have lived in the garden with this greenhouse, as has my son without ever breaking the glass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 is 19 not usable then? I don't want the girls at risk. 19 gauge be bent with your fingers, we use it for bird avairies. 16 gauge is heavier and cannot be bent with fingers and will withstand the powerful bite of a fox. Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickens@61 Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 we converted an 8x6 (timber frame) greenhouse to make a walk-in run. we put solid panels on for the roof and mesh for the sides. one side of the run is wood, because it is the adjoining wall to the coop. initially i wondered about leaving the glass in for the roof and just shading it, but then i was talking to someone who had done exactly that and the glass roof was ripped off by high winds one night.. so i changed my mind! it does keep the run dry/clean having a solid roof on, and there is no worry about wild birds sitting on top and pooping in sorry, can't help with the mesh issue - we used the wrong one anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchlayer Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Oh "Ooops, word censored!" it looks like I got 19 gauge then, all around my run. Hey ho. Haven't seen sight of a fox yet, but we do have an much stronger outer garden fence, and a dog whom I get to walk regularly between the run and fence and behind their box. Fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
