Bantambabe Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Tomorrow is the first proper day of my new run project. I can't keep the girls in their run all the time, but OH doesn't like them ranging cos of the mess they make in the garden. So last weekend I went over to Hagley (which is between Birmingham & Worcester) to a place I'd found on the internet that makes aviary panels. They're really good value They do all sizes, but the 6'x3' panels were £12 each, the door panel (6'x3' with a 5' door) was £14, and the 6'x3' half boarded panels (which are seconds - knotty wood!) were £9. So, in all I have the panels to make a 9' by 6' run for less than £130. Anyway, thought I'd keep a diary: This is the area where it will go. I'm sitting the panels on weld mesh and will sink the mesh into the ground. And these are the first 3 panels joined together, (with another leaning against them to stop them blowing over). This was as far as I got last weekend: I've bought corrugated sheets of plasticky stuff for the roof, but still need to get some guttering. I'm planning to sit the eglu up on the patio and cut an opening into the run. That way we won't have to go onto the mud every day. The girls are very excited by all the activity... Then I will be looking to get a couple more ladies - the kids want a legbar for or , and a burford brown for . Hopefully a photo update tomorrow. debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Woman power to you! And those panels were a bargain! Looking forward to pics of your progress! What lucky chickens you have! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 they were a bargain (half the price of our panels) so well done you! How exciting, your chooks are gonna love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted January 29, 2009 Author Share Posted January 29, 2009 The neighbour was bemoaning that she had seen me out there working on the run and that my OH wasn't helping. he's not got the option! This is my project. (apart from the fact that he would huff and puff and find lots wrong with the panels (he's a carpenter)) Of course I might change my mind tomorrow when it's blowing half a hurricane, 2 degrees and I can't move the panels. debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 my husband is a carpenter and there is noway he would have allowed me to buy panels already made.. he whipped up a batch in no time at all But as you want to do it yourself I can understand why you bought them already done I am not technically minded enough to make sucha thing, it would end up lo0oking like the house that jack built I did paint my walk in run panels today though before they are assembled .. again!.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Lucky you and well done, I've just been putting wire along the fence and cursing the hammer. I admire you building your run. I look forward to seeing the progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 That sounds great, we want to build our own walk in run this year. Can I be cheeky and ask for the name of the company you got your panels from? Sounds like a bargain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted January 29, 2009 Author Share Posted January 29, 2009 It's a company called West Hagley Aviaries. They're sited at the bottom end of the Hurrans Garden centre carpark on the Kidderminster road. The chap who owns it (who my son thought was Father Christmas - old chap with big white beard) said he sold £900 worth of panels last week - for people building chicken runs! I'm not sure if the mesh would meet with forum standards - I don't know what gauge it is, but I trust that it will be good enough. I have never seen a fox in our garden - and we have a 6'5" fence all around (altho the Youtube vid link in The Nesting Box might suggest this won't help). debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Thanks for that Debs. May be having a little visit soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 thats some girl power- well done you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I will be watching your every move as we are embarking on the same project!!!! Best of luck to you. It'll will look great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 First update of the day. I've come inside to thaw out! Atleast it isn't raining I suppose Ok so I've got the first corner done. This girl power stuff is all very well, but I could do with two more arms to hold things in place while I drill/screw. I've fixed the corners with these metal plate things I found in Focus. I've got to go there again this morning before I carry on actually, I hadn't guessed correctly how many I would need - or rather, I've been putting extra ones on cos I didn't realise how wobbly it would be. Next came the door panel. I've put this upside down so that we can open it from the patio and step down int the run, rather than having to walk across the veg patch to get to it. The girls are really wondering what's going on Ok, finished my coffee.... Off to the farm shop and Focus and then back out in the cold. Might have to wait for the kids to get home from school to do the panels at the other end as they are half timbered and much heavier. debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Looking good the panels look good quality to me !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Wow, those panels are a bargain. Might have to pay a visit to Hagley myself when time and money allows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 First update of the day. I've come inside to thaw out! Atleast it isn't raining I suppose Ok so I've got the first corner done. This girl power stuff is all very well, but I could do with two more arms to hold things in place while I drill/screw. I've fixed the corners with these metal plate things I found in Focus. I've got to go there again this morning before I carry on actually, I hadn't guessed correctly how many I would need - or rather, I've been putting extra ones on cos I didn't realise how wobbly it would be. Next came the door panel. I've put this upside down so that we can open it from the patio and step down int the run, rather than having to walk across the veg patch to get to it. The girls are really wondering what's going on Ok, finished my coffee.... Off to the farm shop and Focus and then back out in the cold. Might have to wait for the kids to get home from school to do the panels at the other end as they are half timbered and much heavier. debs You have done really well we have got to put my girls roof on so they dont keep getting wet this weekend.Ill have to listen to all the moaning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 Ok, back from Focus with reinforcements. A quick lunch then back to brave the cold. My car says it's 4 degrees. Brr! But the sun has just come out. You'd be welcome to come and feel the quality (as they say) once I've finished ClaireG. We're only a couple of miles from the Northants border - not sure where Crowfield is though. Back to work debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Well done - you are doing a great job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 Just had a bit of a funny moment of the step ladder Realised that in my enthusiasm I've not had any lunch. Short pause to raise blood sugar. (and I've just broken a nail ) debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Ok, back from Focus with reinforcements. A quick lunch then back to brave the cold. My car says it's 4 degrees. Brr! But the sun has just come out.You'd be welcome to come and feel the quality (as they say) once I've finished ClaireG. We're only a couple of miles from the Northants border - not sure where Crowfield is though. Back to work debs Thanks Debs We've just moved from nr Southam and Crowfield isn't that far away. It's near Brackley up the welsh lane. Ouch re the broken nail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 Hey, it's dark now and I'm pooped! Progress update... it's been quite satisfying to see it go up, but I was right, I had to wait for YS to come home and help me with the end panels. I've left a couple of trees in the run, but it made fixing the last corner very tricky The whole thing seems to lean slightly because the ground slopes very slightly. But, in my heath-robinson kind of approach to diy, I see this as an advantage as it means the roof will slope naturally towards the guttering! So tomorrow's job will be the roof, providing it's dry. I chose the half-timber panels for that end as the garden faces south and the prevailing wind is south-westerly, so hopefully the timber will help to keep that end dry and shaded. We shall see...... debs Feel the need for a glass of fine wine now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Looking great Debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Looking good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 i can't believe you are doing that yourself!!!! You are brill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 thanks for all your encouragement everyone. it makes a huge difference. the neighbours just don't understand and don't get excited about it at all. Have to say my right hand and shoulder are starting to ache a bit - probably won't be able to move in the morning. OH seemed slightly impressed ( altho he doesn't know I've been playing with his circular saw yet ). He had lots of suggestions for how it could be levelled out but I explained my rainwater theory and he and then agreed with me. Can't help feeling I might go away one weekend and come home to find he's levelled it and squared up the corners etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Wow, thats looking fantastic! well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
