What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[beach chick]

dont know if anyone has ever done this? my cube is coming without a run (money reasons, and because it will sit within electric fence zone). I'm thinking I could use acrylic plastic around the sides beneath it to provide a dry, wind-free zone. working on theory of 3 (or maybe 3 and half) pieces, tied together at the corner with cable ties.

any reason anyone can think of why I shouldnt do it like this?

[Plum]

Sounds good. I was thinking of doing that on 2 sides at the back but how do you cut acrylic? I tried cutting it before but it just split and shattered, even though I scored it first.

[beach chick]

ooh, I dont know, it was going to be the next request to the husband, after a) telling him I'd ordered one and b) asking him to put it together for me!!

 

I think I'd assumed I could buy something roughly the right length, and then drill/melt holes at the ends and use cable ties to keep it all together (which is how we did the eglu run covers).

 

will have to get head round it once the cube has come!

[Plum]

Priceless, another OH who doesnt know a cube/eglu is on the way.

I shall watch out for how he gets on then.

[farmerJules]

Sounds good. I was thinking of doing that on 2 sides at the back but how do you cut acrylic? I tried cutting it before but it just split and shattered, even though I scored it first.

 

 

best to use a jigsaw with the proper metal/plastic blade, clamp a straight bit of wood to the perspex and run the jigsaw alog the side of this straght edge to keep your cut straight

 

sounds like a good plan

[Redwing]

FarmerJules has the right idea above, put masking tape both sides of the plastic along the cut line and when you saw it there will be less heat from the friction and the plastic won't melt back together behind your blade!

 

Another option if you are looking for a windbreak rather than a completly dry area is the thick green plastic shading you get for greenhouses, its like a holey sheet of plastic (the stuff we have is really thick) and you could put ties through the small holes at the corners

 

or how about the clear plastic runners you can get for your hallway to protect your carpet - that stuff is quite thick, you could use a hot skewer to pierce holes in it for ties and it would go around with no joins

[Plum]

Wow impressed with ideas from an ex young professional, newly appointed country bumpkin.

What do you reckon beachchick? Thanks

[beach chick]

that carpet runner idea's a good 'un and could poss be cheaper than acrylic sheets .... will investigate the widths once my is in place. otherwise Mr. Beach chick will have no problem with cutting acrylic to size if I ask him nicely enough

[Milly]

The only thing that might cause a problem with boxing in the back is that this is where the pedals are to raise and lower the cube to move it around. But I would be interested to hear how you get on as it would be good to make it into a sheltered area. Getting the chickens to actually shelter in it would be another matter altogether

 

Milly

[Plum]

At least we'll have been a good chicken mums and given them the chance. Bet they'll just go and sit in the cube

[beach chick]

prob wont move ours once in it's situ. as for the dry space - well it'll be up to them!!!

[beach chick]

I do love my OH... he has some translucent stuff called corex which he uses for work. you can cut it with a stanley knife to whatever size you want, so when my cube comes (a week tomorrow!!) he will sort it out for me - bless him

[Jules.]

The underneath of my cube always stays dry, & it doesn't even have a run on it.

[beach chick]

really Jules? just looked at your photos, and it looks as if you are much more sheltered than us. ours will be in our field, and its pretty wind/rainswept, so I think I might need to provide more shelter... but would love to hear if you think we could do without!

[Jules.]

Hmmm. In a field it might be a tad different

[beach chick]

that's what I'm thinking... you've got that nice fence up near the back, but ours will be freestanding in the middle of the leccy fence zone. there are trees and things for shade, and a huge old log and garden table for perching on, and generally it is a great environment, but shelter and dryness is in short supply.

it's due to come on Weds 26th!!! only problem is I am away for work all day that day and shall just have to hope DH is working from home on the thurs and can be persuaded to build it for me.

[Jules.]

that's what I'm thinking... you've got that nice fence up near the back

Don't get too close to the fence- I think the ivy is holding it up