Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Cooks]

what I miss?? you getting a walk in now ANH? I am sure you could work out a size that would fit your garden? Even if you had a carpenter come and build one that was custom built just for you

 

My walk in went back up this morning, roof on just a few more bits and the girls should be back in there.

[Cyber Chook]

1 1/2 x 2 (if Aviaries4u can even do that ).

 

 

It was a funny mixture of exciting and a big fat headache, I found, planning my run.

 

I seem to recall that Tony at aviaries4U encourages you to design the run in units of 3, as he makes panels of 1 metre and then joins them up. So, 3 by 6, or 3 by 3, or 6 by 9 etc etc. I think he can do odd measurements, but that might cost more, or take longer, I'm not sure.

 

RE: putting it together, he charged I think £45 to assemble it. I used my recently broken elbows (yes, elbows in the plural) as my excuse, and I'm glad I did, because I think it was worth every penny. He puts it up in no time at all, and knows exactly where all the bits and pieces go, obviously. It isn't tricky, I don't think, but would've been time-consuming, and we wouldn't have done such a professional and straight job.

 

Re: the sliding roof, unfortunately it couldn't be kept as being slidable, because the mesh of the run gets in the way. If you made a sort of slit for it, then presumabley squirrels, rats etc could get in through that gap. What I do now is lift the Cube roof up, and rest it on the mesh. It's a bit of a shame, but quite honestly not that big a deal, and I'm used to it now.

 

I thought I might put a little hatch in the mesh, for throwing corn in when I didn't want to open the main door to the run. But I decided against it in the end, and I'm glad I did because I wouldn't have used it. Also, I considered making a little door for the chooks to come in and out, but again, I'm glad I decided against it. The main door is perfectly adequate. All these things add to the cost, and weren't necessary, at least for me.

 

The only modifications/extras I had put in were the perch, which the chooks all seem to enjoy, and the high shelf, which is very useful for things like spare cabbages and a pot of mixed corn, and only cost something like £12. I'm very happy with my run as it is.

 

HOpe this helps.

 

Caroline

[Olly]

That's very helpful, I've been back on the Aviaries4U website this morning and noticed the perch and the high shelf were options!

 

I only slide the roof open for cleaning, presumably you can just move the Cube away from the run anyway when you do this. I was wondering about a little hatch for chucking in treats etc but I guess I'd just use the main door.

 

Need to do some more measuring, and then email for a quote ... what was that I said above about saving up? I owe it to the economy to spend some money, that's what they want us to do at the moment, surely.

 

Congratulations ANH, glad your OH recognised the importance of this project! I'd just build the biggest run you can fit in the space, and then decide how many hens will fit, I'm never quite sure how much space is recommended but don't forget you will have height as well so if you put a perch or two in, they won't be so crowded. There's bound to be more room than they currently have, anyway. And even if you put the Eglu inside, if it goes on a table they will have the space underneath it to use.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

If I lost one, then I might replace with two but I don't plan on ever going above six chickens.

 

 

Mmmmmm , I thought I only wanted 3....then I wanted some ex-batts........ then I was asked to adopt some Orpies....11 chooks later !!!! And 2 eglus and 2 cubes.... Got the wire etc for the walk-in run last week & waiting for the garden to dry a little & not be quite so cold to build it!!

 

Was trying to work out what to attach to run to as we aren't planning to use paving slabs, great idea to use fence posts though Egluntine. Will post piccies once it gets done!

 

We're basing the plan on this http://www.chickenmobilestagecoach.com (thank you Angels4 for posting!) Don't think it will be on wheels though, may just be too big!

 

Sha x

[Redwing]

If you do decide to stick with three chooks how about 2m x 2m? that might fit in the space between the garage end and side door maybe? its not massive but would be bigger than what you have and easier to access.

 

I saw a run which was square and the Eglu was on a triangle platform tucked in a corner which I thought was very clever.

 

Another option would be to have the Eglu on the outside

 

Regarding Eglu access, my plan is to sit the Eglu on something shiny (like an offcut of lino) then have a hatch in the side of the run and I can swivel the Eglu to get at it from any angle (does that make any sense?!)

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Regarding Eglu access, my plan is to sit the Eglu on something shiny (like an offcut of lino) then have a hatch in the side of the run and I can swivel the Eglu to get at it from any angle (does that make any sense?!)

 

Perfect sense!

 

Sha x

[Ain't Nobody Here]

It's great getting all this input - so many brilliant ideas/suggestions .

 

I've started a new thread so we can all share our ideas in one place .

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=38922

 

I've not had much else in my head since hatching this plan . I lie in bed at night imagining all the different options .

[Olly]

Me too, it's fun isn't it!

 

I think I need to do some groundwork before I start ordering anything though - I will need to clear the raised bed, and lay some slabs. That could take me all summer!

[Tessa the Duchess]

Any 'wish I'd done this' or 'don't do what I did' thoughts from the people who've already got one?

 

That would be a huge help . Especially from eglu owners!

 

I have a walk in run 10' x 6' with my Eglu on the outside, I do like to give it a good hose down once a week and I really didn't want to do this inside the run and make all the Auboise wet. I also have an inward opening door which does stop them rushing out. I regret building my run around an existing tree because it meant there was a gap in the plastic roofing which let the rain in. The tree has now been chopped down and a new sheet of plastic fitted. My chickens have a fenced off 40' x 6' freerange area to save the lawn and the rest of the garden. Since seeing a fox in the garden 5' away from my freeranging girls, DH has built an extension to my run over half their freeranging area, fully weldmeshed but only 3' high, so they can free range and I can get on with my life. When we are out in the garden there is a pop hole which we can open and they can get into the rest of their free range area. Having a walk in run is wonderful really changed my life. Looking forward to reading how everybody is progressing with this.

 

Tessa.

[AJuff]

I have a cube with 2m run butted up to a long but narrow walkin run. I like it this way because the cube run gets sunlight all afternoon whereas the other run doesn't. However I hate swinging round the 2m run when I clean it out and now I'm thinking about building a run round the cube and getting rid of the green cube run.

 

It's taking up a lot of my thinking time!!! I can see why your all excitied too!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You'd better come and join us all here .