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

[tonywig]

Hi All

 

We've had a cube for about 8-9 months now and think it's brilliant BUT finding it hard to let my hens out this time of year (work interfering) and with nothing more than the standard run with the cube they are destroying my lawn.

I don't mind the damage as much as the fact that within 1 day they get left with no grass in the run and, as I work away from time to time and Mrs Tonywig cannot move the cube, they quickly end up with no interest in the cube run.

 

SO I decided to build them a nice big (for my garden) place to live. I've started it already but your expert advice VERY welcome. Before you can help, you'll need to know what I've done (or plan to do) ….. Sorry there's lots of numbers ...

 

 

My intention is to sell the Cube, get an ordinary Eglu (not in that order) and have the new Eglu up on a table in the new run.

 

The whole thing will be up against my garage wall (brick) which gives me something solid to build it all against and should give some protection from the elements. So what I'm left to build is a three-sided house.

 

I've gone for 6' x 9' (about 2m x 3m in French I think) and 6' 6" tall (so I can get in it, unlike the cube). This is (I hope) enough space for them to spend MOST of their time in it (we want them to free range as often as possible but, especially with dark night, it's not always possible during the week).

 

The ground where I am building it is split into (if you can imagine this) two "strips" 3' x 9'. One "strip" used to be a path and has a hard base and pea shingle on top. The other "strip" used to be a flower bed (Mrs Tonywig gave permission - honest) and a bit of lawn. I figure the hard ground is better when weather is horrible and the soft ground gives them something to dig in.

 

I've laid 12" slabs around the perimeter to rest the sides on to (a) stop anything digging under the sides and (b) reduce rotting - about 3" inside the run and the majority outside.

 

I was going to build it from scratch then stumbled upon "Aviary Panels" at my local pet stockist. Pretty well made and I'll strengthen them a little before I risk foxes. Worked out slightly more expensive than DIY but saved me masses of time. They are (mostly) 3' x 6' panels (which made it easy for me). I turned two 18" x 6' panels into two doors and screwed all the rest together (solidly). One of the panels has an opening panel at human height to give me access for eggs without having to go right in.

 

I intend to put a sloped roof on (not sure of material yet but probably corrugated plastic or similar). I hope to run guttering and pipework to run any rainwater into the run to give them fresh water (though of course they'll have their bell jar water container as well).

 

I need to work out the best way to secure the doors yet (still way to flimsy).

 

I intend to build them a Chicky-Gym inside to make life more interesting. The extra height I'll have to play with will let me give them a "3D experience"

 

 

Thanks for reading all this.

Can anyone see anything wrong with what I'm doing or how I'm doing it?

[Lydia]

Hello Tony

 

I think you've reached the same conclusion that many of us have once the winter starts - that the chickens need a permanent residence because the grass gets trashed.

 

Reading through your set up I think you're going to build a terrific space for your chooks. As far as I can see you've covered the main areas - secure base and sides, slabs to stop digging and roof. Make sure the panels you are using are made from good strong weldmesh to prevent Mr Fox or Badger biting through. There's a sticky somewhere about the right stuff to get.

 

9' will be fine for 3 I would say but you might want to make it bigger to accommodate more (they are addictive )

 

The bit you are leaving for them to dig in might get quite compacted after a while so you might want to consider slabbing all over. Also I would try and keep the rainwater out of the run - enough will get in from the sides to keep them occupied and it will get pretty wet if it runs in.

 

Like you mine have a climbing frame and rather like it so definitely put that in.

 

It sounds obvious but make sure you make the door wide enough to get the eglu in and out for cleaning. Also most of us, but not all, find it easier to have the door opening inwards to push the chooks out the way when you want to enter.

 

 

Good luck with it and be sure to post picures of the finished product.

[Jules.]

Sounds really good

My run is 6 by 9 feet, & about 6 feet at its highest point, & is plenty of space for 4 hens. For amusement I have branches at various height attached to the weldmesh by cable ties that they like to perch on, & a higher branch from which I dangle lettuce & suchlike using a piece of string, so they can play chicken boxing My girls don't get out to free range at all a couple of days a week, & the other time they are resticted to about 2 hours a day if the weather is ok, the grasss not too soggy etc, to save the grass & the garden.

The base of my run is on paving slabs like you are planning, with soil inside it. The run panel size was dictated by the weldmesh width, & are 3 feet wide & about 5 feet tall. I'm 5 feet tall too, & can easily walk into the run The roof is corrugated plastic from Wickes, it's the smaller profile type, so has smaller ridges than standard corrugated plastic & so looks better than the larger ridged ones. Cost about £5.50 a sheet, & I got 6, one of which hasn't been used. A tiny bit more expensive than "normal" corrugated stuff. My run is secured to the paving slabs by "L" shaped brackets, so it won't shift in the wind.

 

One thing that I would suggest is that if you have the room to have the cube on the outside of your run like I have, then don't sell it! You will then have the run space for more hens with your walk-in run,& the bedroom space for them & you know you'll probably want more of them.

Personally I think that my run would be fine with 6 hens.

 

Have a look at my Flickr pages for some more run photos.

[tonywig]

Thank you both for your advice. Lots for me to think about there.

 

Jules - I am now going to be too embarrassed to post pics of mine having seen Fowlty Towers

How did you secure the cube to the run? I thought about doing it that way but couldn't quite work out how to do the connection (securely and safely).

 

Lydia - thanks for the info and suggestions (I will check my door size ). I had assumed that "Aviary Panels" would be made from fox-proof mesh but will now do some searching. Might not have been the bargain I thought if I have to redo it all.

 

Thanks again. Will lwet you know how I get on (if I can type with fingers battered by hammer).

[Jules.]

Fowlty Towers was made by my friend who is a retired cabinet maker, & so I can't take any credit for it. Don't be embarressed to show pictures of your run, home-made runs are alot of hard work & you should be proud of your work

My cube isn't attached to the run at all, just butted up to it. The cube is so heavy it doesn't budge an inch. I did originally buy some bungees to attach it to the run, but took them back for a refund as they aren't necessary.

 

I don't even move the cube when its cleaning out time- I just stand it on one wheel so that it tips backwards, which gives me just enough room to push the lid forward & to get my hands in to undo the bolts for the back panel.

 

My weldmesh is 1x1 inch & 16 guage, from Hills of Devon. I used half of it, & sold the rest on.

[surferdog]

This sounds like the run ES1 and OH built for our girls. We had a wedge shaped area between garage and fence which they roofed with corrugated plastic and put aviary panels and a gate on the front. (They built these themselves as apparently they are easy to build).

 

It's very sheltered and the chicks seem happy in there - well as long as they don't catch sight of anyone at the windows when they shout to come out, but then they shout to come in house when they're in the garden so there's no pleasing some chickens

[Jules.]

the chicks seem happy in there - well as long as they don't catch sight of anyone at the windows when they shout to come out, but then they shout to come in house when they're in the garden so there's no pleasing some chickens

 

too true.....

[helenmb]

I've just posted a reply on a similar thread and added this picture as we have added a slot and frame to one of the run panels so we can put our cube on the outside of the run to give them more space inside.

 

We are also hoping to build a mezzanine at Christmas as I was very inspired when I saw one on the forum that MrsBertie had made - I have added a picture and link to her gallery below too:-

 

 

 

This is from MrsBerties gallery here

[tonywig]

Wow.

I am not worthy.

Mine is going to look quite shabby by comparison.

Been thinking over the idea of keeping the cube and as soon as I get finished with work today I am going to go into the garden and try and work out if it will work with cube attached.

[Jules.]

I hope that your cube will fit in the space you have.

[chelsea]

your idea seems to be very similar to what we built before we had the cube -

 

 

the eglus on the platform worked very well as it gave space underneath for the girls to scratch around in and I think they like the idea of "going up" to bed! In a way I really wished we had kept the 2 eglus and not got the cube as we dont like our cube

 

We also bought ready made aviary panels and built them on top of a brick surround. What we would encourage anyone else to do if they were starting out is to do a slabbed or concrete base (which we didnt do ), it would really help through the wet months if you can manage to do it.

 

Oh - and if you are going to keep your cube - double doors on the run are handy to get the cube in and out (as we found out!)

[tonywig]

Chelsea those panels look exactly the same as mine.

 

Any trouble with foxes? I am now, having read all the ather advice, beginning to worry I have wire mesh that might not be up to the job.

[chelsea]

we are rural and have woods a minutes walk away from us and have never seen a fox, I dont know whether its because there is plenty of other rural food around here?

 

We have high (at least 6 feet) secure fence all around our garden and big german shepherd also.

 

We've never had any problems but I suppose everyone's circumstances are not the same....if you have a fox problem in your area maybe you should consider other options??

[Mutrix Farmers]

tonywig - can you come to Margate and build a run for my girls? I would ask OH but I'll still be waiting this time next year.

 

I think all your runs are fabulous. I could knit one but my carpentry skills are very limited.

[speckled hen]

Hi

Your run idea sounds great, I have just moved my girls into their new walk in run, I decided to go for 9ft x 6ft x 6ft (from avaries 4 u) the cube is attached to the outside of the run, well its not fixed on just butted up to it, I have a little hatch so the cube can be moved for cleaning and the girls cant escape into the dogs mouth!!! The only thing left to do is some activity things for them, they are spending most of the day in the cube so I think they need a perch etc. I also have a sloping roof with guttering so just need to get a water butt to start collecting the water (lots of that in yorkshire!). I will try to put a photo on to show you the run, have fun building!

 

 

Click on pic for larger view! Sorry havent got a pic of finished run, oops, best get the camera out!

[Jules.]

Looking good, Speckled Hen

 

I like the little dog door

 

I don't move the cube for cleaning, just tip it back on one wheeel so I can get the roof & the back off, then stand it level again. I have to shut the cube door to stop my girls escaping out of the run

[moomin]

I copied Chelsea!

 

I have a 7ft X 10 foot walk in run and have my Eglu up on a rather lovely slatted table that my hubby un-lovingly crafted for me (he hates the chooks!).

 

The slats let the poo (most of it ) fall through when they walk all over the table, and they go upstairs to bed. Makes the most of the floor space in the run. And they have 2 branches as perches.

 

They seem to be very happy chooks even though they only get out to free range for about an hour or two at the weekends during the Winter months. I can highly recommend 16g weldmesh.

 

Sorry don't ahve any pics of the table. If I get more chooks I will get another eglu for the intros and then put it up beside the other one, on the table. An Elgu is cosier for just two chooks, or three .

 

Good Luck with your run Tonywig

[tonywig]

Thanks for all the advice and info.

Am seriously now considering butting the cube up against the run and forgetting the cube/eglu exchange idea. Makes perfect sense. Have to make a few alterations to what I've already done to do that though but think it will be worthwhile.

 

Mutrix - struggling to finish mine so cannot offer my services