Falkor Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Debs, that is amazing! U R AMAZING! And you did it all today!!?? I was waiting for OH/Dad/FIL/little bro to come and build my run that after seeing you I think i might just go for it! * disappears to look at panels on ebay!* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I'm truly impressed. It is wonderful, you've got me wondering now. What I am waiting to see is what arrangement you are having for the step down into the run from the patio. Are you going to give yourself a ladder like the chooks have on the cube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 Yes a ladder is the plan. I bought one for a fiver at the place where I got the panels. Hopefully I'll be able to show it if I get that far tomorrow. The plan at the moment is to cut a hole through the mesh on the panel next to the door and then attach a separate bit of mesh to the fixings on the (where the run usually attaches) - post this mesh through the hole and peel it back to fasten to the panel mesh. That way there shouldn't be any gaps for Monsieur Renard to get in. I just have to check first that the patio is wide enough to be able to pull the poo tray out. Then I'll screw some wood across the frame and attach the ladder. (sounds so simple when I put it like that ) I'll be glad when the eglu is off the floor - the girls are always blocking the doorway with the woodchip and it's horrible leaning in thru the eggport and s"Ooops, word censored!"ing the doorway clear each evening. I need to build a block step inside the run too so that it's easier to get in and out - might let OH do that as my cement mixing and block laying skills aren't up to my drilling & screwing skills. debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Wow Debs I'm seriously impressed. Go Girl Power! Are you available for hire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Debs, is your run on anything? Like slabs etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Wow, I think that's brilliant! I wish I had somewhere round here that sold panels, I keep wondering whether I could build my own but realistically I think I will end up buying a ready-made one as my DIY skills are limited. Girl power! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 Hey, I remembered to have some lunch today and to feed the kids! Right, well the day dawn sunny but a bit windy for putting corrugated roof sheets on, but I've managed it. OH let me use his battery drill as well as mine (inherited from my dad) which made things much each easier as I could have one set up as a drill and the other as a screwdriver and that was a lot less faff. I've got all the roof panels on. As you can see it's a bit saggy, so I filled the overlap with bathroom silicon sealant and then once I had finished threaded garden canes and wire through the roof supports to level it out and encourage the sealant to stick. I have put weld mesh under the walls, and this is buried on the outside edge to try to prevent tunnelling - I'm not sure you can ever truly keep rats out, other than on a concrete base and I couldn't afford tthat, but it should be a deterent I hope. Once I've sorted out the floor - I think Stalosan and Aubiose, but I need to get that next Friday (my day off) - I'll need to sort out the eglu attachment and the girls will be able to move in. Like I said yesterday, it's a bit heath-robinson, but it's all my own work. I suppose the first rain/wind/ or the forecast snow will be the true test. Thanks for all you encouragement. I'm sure lots of you could do the same, it wasn't that tricky honest. debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 You deserve to be awarded a diploma in Engineering! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 Thank Eglutine. The photos don't really show some of the dodgy angles though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I'm seriously impressed . You make it all look so easy (although I'm sure it's not ). Got me thinking too (like some others!) . I'll be watching with great interest till your project's finished . (And bookmarking it to give me encouragement if I ever get round to copying you .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 That looks great We're going to put slabs down first but I think we're def going to get the run panels from West Hagley Aviaries, well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 hi debs. hope your ok. well done you - who needs men anyway! having done something similar last weekend (with step by step photos to upload at some time), i bagged some cement and ballast - it was really easy 1 shovel of cement to 5 shovels of ballast and sprinkle lightly with water when wanting to set. luckily i had some slabs left over - it might be worth looking on freecycle or something. i think it will just make it more rodent deterrant. love your panels. with mine - we didnt have the fortune to find ready built panels, so i used 6 x 3 trellis and pinned weldmesh on each panel (cost about £12), and the weldmesh £20. i had some fence postss left over in the garage, so just recycled it. with the trellis - i find that i can adjust the wood strip to the required height etc and therefore make it more secure and accessible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantambabe Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 Hi Bobby, good to hear you. I'm going to see how it goes re: the rodents and keep putting bait down under the shed. I haven't seen sign of any since the first time one tunneled into the eglu run and stole the eggs - having said that, the poison has been disappearing. If I find I still have problems I can retro-fit some slabs from freecycle. I've just responded to someone on freecycle with some bricks to spare, so I can build a step to get out of the cage. It's quite a big step up for me, and if the kids get in there they can't get out without help ( hmm.. now there's a thought.. ) Your run sounds very clever. Isn't weldmesh evil stuff though. You need thick gloves! debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 (edited) it is a pain but i fold it first then its not too much bother to pin in - otherwise it shread's your hands. i did some bricklaying once -having been challenged and built a small step, when you can concentrate on the levels and the mental image of what you are going to build, it is relatively easy, you just need to make sure that you have plenty of hardcore in between wall and step height. i'm good at cadging things that are surplus to requirements (that i can use), so will keep an ear out for some slabs Edited January 31, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Blimey, im not around for a while and come back to find run complete! Well done it looks fantastic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Woohoo Debs, how clever are you? It looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgirl73 Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Ye Gads!! I am impressed!! I wish I was able to do that, rather than waiting for my OH to 'get around to it at some point' Well done you. I look forward to seeing the pics of the girls in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Wow, that looks BRILLIANT! Well done you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
