Maccbean Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Hi I just wanted to show off our run which took two weekends to build. I think it is fantastic, and all we need to do now is to put covering on the roof (which is meshed to make it fox proof). What do you think? Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Looks fab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 What a great looking run. I really like the slanted roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Very I am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Looks Fantabulous!! Andyman is still building mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiraz Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Looks great , blue is so Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 That looks brilliant - lucky chickens . Don't show mine, they'll feel very short-changed . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccbean Posted August 26, 2008 Author Share Posted August 26, 2008 Thanks, glad you like it. It was tedious tapping the never ending staples through the wire into the frame, but definitely worth it to save the worry of Mr Fox being able to get in! Being a first timer, just got all the following expectations/anxieties/worries to get over: 1. Will I ever be able to hold my chickens? They are so not interested in me yet (however, just ordered three tubs of dried meal worms to try as bribery) 2. When I do finally hold the chickens, I'm terrified of the wing clipping, daft I know , but having to cut my Freddy's toe nails when he was a pup was fairly traumatic and I'm doing a like for like comparison! 3. They won't drink from the glug (but that's another thread) 4. Am I a terrible owner for not organising a dust bath in advance? I just didn't think about it and now have to think about where I can fit some sort of container in. 5. Looking through the list I don't have any of the stuff yet for worming, mites, hard shells, ensuring hard poos etc etc. I'm thinking did I not think this through properly? 6. When will I get my first ! Questions, questions, questions, where will they end? Cheers Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 1. Will I ever be able to hold my chickens? Try stroking them through the pophole at bedtime or even picking them up for a cuddle. Also, try sitting on a bench with mealworms in a container - they will soon learn that they have to jump on your lap to get them! Then you can stroke them gently. 2. When I do finally hold the chickens, I'm terrified of the wing clipping, daft I know , I didn't have to do mine but I think there are a few threads about wing clipping if you do a search. 4. Am I a terrible owner for not organising a dust bath in advance? I just didn't think about it and now have to think about where I can fit some sort of container in. You don't actually have to provide one - they'll just find their own either in the run or in a flowerbed. Mine don't have one (they ignored the cat litter box so I removed it ). 5. Looking through the list I don't have any of the stuff yet for worming, mites, hard shells, ensuring hard poos etc etc. I'm thinking did I not think this through properly? You really don't need to get everything right at the start. Take it slowly and decide what to buy once you're settled. 6. When will I get my first ! How long's a piece of string . Questions, questions, questions, where will they end? They probably never will! I'm still asking questions a year on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 It's brilliant .... more photos please! How did you find out enough to plan and make the run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Nice run! Yes you will be ble to hold your hens, once you get he mealworms through you will have new friends for life and will be tripping over them every time you set foot outside the back door. Some don't like being held, but most will tolerate anything for a mealworm I've never put out a dustbath, even when ours weren't free ranging, they make their own in the run, in the flower beds, whereever they can really Don't worry about the wing clipping, firstly you don't have to do it if you don't want depends on what your garden is like if you are letting them out. If they're confined to the run I wouldn't bother. If you do do it, get a second pair of hands, one of you holds the hen, the other stretches the wing out and you can then see REALLY CLEARLY where the feathers are that need clipping. So don't worry, it's not as bad as you think, it's not as hard as desperately looking for the vein in a claw so you don't cut it and make them charge about bleeding all over the kitchen floor! I've only ever had mite powder for the hen house / run, and citronella to make the place smell nice. I recently added garlic powder which STINKS in the box but apparently stops their poo from smelling. Actually I've got purple spray, but didn't get that til we had a pecking issue, and I've got flubenvet, because everyone on here seems to worm their hens so I thought I'd better. But you don't need all of that to start with so wait and see how you want to look after your chooks As for when will I get my first egg? Ditto what ANH said - how long is a piece of string? Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccbean Posted August 27, 2008 Author Share Posted August 27, 2008 Ah, thanks to both of you for your reassurance and advice. I know that sometimes I think that there is a straight right way and wrong way, and of course that's not always the case. Hopefully, I'll be a really quick learner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccbean Posted August 27, 2008 Author Share Posted August 27, 2008 It's brilliant .... more photos please! How did you find out enough to plan and make the run? Thanks Steve. To be honest, we looked at the chicken run inspirations photos and got our ideas from those (actually, xscrunchee's run was the one we were aiming for). From there we had to base it on the width of weldmesh we used (600mm), so the panels had to be made that wide. The rest of it was about fitting in the exact space we had allowed (1.6m x 4m). Once we made all the panels, it only took us about 1½ hours to put it together. Cheers Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 It's brilliant .... more photos please! How did you find out enough to plan and make the run? Thanks Steve. To be honest, we looked at the chicken run inspirations photos and got our ideas from those (actually, xscrunchee's run was the one we were aiming for). From there we had to base it on the width of weldmesh we used (600mm), so the panels had to be made that wide. The rest of it was about fitting in the exact space we had allowed (1.6m x 4m). Once we made all the panels, it only took us about 1½ hours to put it together. Cheers Debbie Thanks Debbie. I don't suppose you have any idea of what it cost you in total to build? We are thinking about making a walk-in run .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccbean Posted August 27, 2008 Author Share Posted August 27, 2008 Hi Steve As a matter of fact, I think I can: 4 x front 1mx2m high panels including a gate 4 x back 1mx1.65m high panels 2 x side 1.6m wide panels 4 x 1.65m roof panels 4 x 1.65m floor panels All covered in welded wire mesh 1x2 inch wood (local timber yard) - £100 ½"x½" Welded wire mesh each roll 19g 6m long x 36" wide (initially bought from ebay, but didn't buy enough and had to pay a premium at Wickes) Ebay 4 x = £55 Wickes 2 x= £45 4 x packs 200g Galvanised staples = £13.50 Hinges, k"Ooops, word censored!"s, bolts, locks approximately - £25.00 Think thats it! Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 your run looks really great- all the hard work is worth it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Hi Steve As a matter of fact, I think I can: 4 x front 1mx2m high panels including a gate 4 x back 1mx1.65m high panels 2 x side 1.6m wide panels 4 x 1.65m roof panels 4 x 1.65m floor panels All covered in welded wire mesh 1x2 inch wood (local timber yard) - £100 ½"x½" Welded wire mesh each roll 19g 6m long x 36" wide (initially bought from ebay, but didn't buy enough and had to pay a premium at Wickes) Ebay 4 x = £55 Wickes 2 x= £45 4 x packs 200g Galvanised staples = £13.50 Hinges, k"Ooops, word censored!"s, bolts, locks approximately - £25.00 Think thats it! Debbie Wow - thank you Debbie ... so just £227 all said and done!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 You would also have to add if you wanted a roof on. I think I worked out our run (viewtopic.php?f=5&t=30900 ) cost us all together just over £300 that takes into account the roofing and the slabs too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 It is all so very very tempting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccbean Posted August 29, 2008 Author Share Posted August 29, 2008 It is all so very very tempting! Go on, you know you want to, ha ha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
