4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[StephanieSB]

 

Thanks to reading about the use of shower curtains here on the forum, I was able handle today's downpour. How lucky was I to find a shower curtain that matches the run?

Edited July 3, 2008 by Guest

[The Dogmother]

and aren't they just the best Stephanie?

[StephanieSB]

and aren't they just the best Stephanie?

 

Absolutely great. Allowed them to stay active, rather than just huddling up together in the dustbath. And kept the ground dry, so that my OH doesn't freak out seek a mud-pool scratched into the lawn when he comes home.

 

One green shower curtain = years of marital harmony

[The Dogmother]

My eglu run + extension had the shower curtains on it all last 'summer'. It gives them somewhere to stay out of the elements and keeps the feeders and dustbath dry too.

[StephanieSB]

I don't spoil my son this much! When it's raining, he runs outside in nothing but a nappy and his welly boots -- but stray wittle wet dwops of water falling on my wittle chookies? Never!

 

[Electricbarbarella]

ott, never

Bless them, your cube is lovely, I am thinking of orderering an extension for mine coming next week, would you reccomend it?

[StephanieSB]

ott, never

Bless them, your cube is lovely, I am thinking of orderering an extension for mine coming next week, would you reccomend it?

 

Absolute, without a doubt. Definitely worth the money if they cannot free range and/or will spend most of their time in the run. I have 3 and until my garden gate is fixed and they are at the very least tame enough to come to me when I rattle a bowl of mealworms, they cannot be allowed to range freely (also, we are in the midst of chasing off a day-and-night-time hunting fox, so...). They lived with the regular 2m for several days, then the 1m extension was put on and in less than 10 minutes, they were happier, the feather pecking that was going on stopped, they wre more active... Well, so it seemed to me

 

p.s. -- and the more room, the gentler on the grass. I do need the hubby to help me move the cube now though (him holding front and me holding back and maneuvering.) I can do it on my own if all I am doing is dragging it backwards a bit or pushing it forwards a bit -- but any degree of sideways or any maneuvering around requires someone up front.

[Electricbarbarella]

I was going to get 6 with extension, do you think that is too many?

[StephanieSB]

I was going to get 6 with extension, do you think that is too many?

 

No, not for them -- 6 would be happy indeed, and Omlet even says 6 large hens or 10 small in a cube with an extension. Myself, I would run get three more this weekend, if it wasn't for the practicalities of poo. I just cannot fathom a doubling of the poo factor right now. I have promised to move the cube pretty much daily and rake and reseed and just generally keep the lawn in as good condition as possible -- so far, ti's going very well, but I would fumble under the weight of more chicken excrement at this time in my chicken rearing life. Maybe when we decide on a spot for a permanent standing, I will run go get 2-3 more!

[Electricbarbarella]

I have a fairly small garden so it will be staying in one place whic the chooks are more than welcome to wreck, my mum is a very keen gardener and is looking forward to recieving her poo.

They will not really be asble to free range as the rest of the garden is not really chook proof.

I have just been out in the rain and marked out with wooden slats on the ground where it will be going and it doesn't actually look that much igger with the run.

I was going to order an extra cover but I will do the shower curtain thing instead, how do you fasten it on.

[The Dogmother]

Having worked with cubes at Omlet shows, I'd have an extension on the run if I had one, and have it in a permanent site with Aubiose in the run.

[StephanieSB]

I was going to order an extra cover but I will do the shower curtain thing instead, how do you fasten it on.

 

Well, it's not actually fastened down, but the material and weight of it allows it to mould to the run roof with little help.

 

It's an "Aqualona Plastic" shower curtain, if that matters -- don't know if one of those fabric curtains would work well. The end that is normally the bottom part of the curtain (the end with no ring holes) slips neatly into the groove where the top and sides of the cube meet the run roof (once you have it, you will know exactly what I mean, but hard to describe). And the other end, I have small velcro strips strung through a couple of ring holes and fasted to the run roof. But zip ties or looped rubber bands would do just fine. And I did just order some mini trigger clips from eBay that I hope will solve all my run fastening needs for the future. Will let you know how they work out.

 

update: if I can get hold of the little bungies Egluntine has (below) those are the best. My mini clips just arrived -- TOO MINI -- I'll have to exchange for "small"

Edited July 3, 2008 by Guest

[The Dogmother]

The curtains on my run are fastened on with bungee hooks like you get on the Omlet shades.

 

I used some Arro plastic eyelets - £2.99 for 8 from Millets and some bungee hooks from B&C. Really easy and my first one lasted for 3 years

 

BTW, I have found IKEA shower curtains to be the best.