Nacktschnecken omlet Cube

[Puffin]

I was just wondering what everyone had one the floor of their runs. We are just starting on ours - my brand new lilac cube is sitting in the garage awaiting the run - OH is building the run - he has done three panels and the door panel..so another week or so. The run is going to be almost triangle shaped fitting into a corner of our garden with a fence on one side and we will put a roof on. (Actually that another question what do people use for a roof, we will do a wire mesh roof but want a rainproof cover on top)

Sorry for the ramble, so what do people use on the floor and what do you use for a roof!

 

Thanks

[Ain't Nobody Here]

If you look back at my photos, you can see my floor is soil with Hemcore on top. My roof is translucent corrugated panels (with mesh panels underneath).

[Redwing]

I am thinking eyelets too and have bought some cup hooks for a tarp up/tarp down type of set up - but thats as far as I have got

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Until such time as we see how the WIR deals with heavy rain etc, I've got a handful of IKEA shower curtains which I will fix (somehow ) on the more exposed side and weight them down with a batten or similar (recycled from my Dad's skip, if the heap of stuff beside it is anything to go by when I went in yesterday....I wonder what else I can liberate?!!!) We may move on to the glass tarpaulins, but we'll see.....

 

At the mo I have two sheets of plastic shed flooring attached to the far side to give a bit of shade and rain protection, which works well & means I can still see everything which is happening in the run if I'm indoors. This may all change when the tulip tree comes in to leaf soon....

 

Sha x

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I am thinking eyelets too and have bought some cup hooks for a tarp up/tarp down type of set up - but thats as far as I have got

 

I was thinking cup hooks too but wonder if that'll provide too much "give" in the tarpaulin for the wind to get at. I've got some of these but need to work out how if they'll be too fiddly for the tarp up/tarp down bit (and how I'd fix them at the bottom) . They would keep the plastic close to the run mesh, which I think is the best way to stop it ripping.

 

It all needs to be fairly quick & simple to put up in strong winds, that's my concern.

[hillfamily]

I'm planning to staple or nail the top of the tarps to the frame and then fix the bottoms with cup hooks so that I can roll them up and down as needed

 

Not sure if this will work........time will tell

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Another reason for practising with Ikea shower curtains, cheap enough to not have to worry if the experiments go pear-shaped

 

On the subject of Ikea Pam, when are you available to set another date for a Southampton jolly?

 

Sha x

[ali-s]

My WIR is taking shape slowly. Andy spent all weekend constructing even though the weather was nasty. Since I took this picture all the wire (not weldmesh ) is on the frame and the corrugated roof panels are in place. Hopefully the door will be made this week and a hole cut in the wire for the Eglu.

 

Andy doesn't think it is big enough but there is plenty of space for extensions in the furture.

 

The Eglu will be going where the drill is in the picture. I haven't decided yet if the Eglu will be raised off the ground.

 

 

 

 

I have seen some hanging baskets (the half a circle type which are fixed on to a wall) in Instore for £1.99, a couple of these will be fixed onto the mesh sides for greens. Instore also had a good range of solar garden lights which would look lovely dotted around the outside of the run

[Seagazer]

Ali-s that looks fantastic. I like the idea about the hanging baskets as well.

 

ANH - your girls are very lucky to have the best of both worlds and they have a lovely bit of ground to scratch around in.

 

We redid the patio at the weekend so that it is now level with the concrete base. There is a gap of about 4 inches between the concrete and patio which is filled in with stones at the moment. We're going to leave it like that and see how they get on. I could always put a brick or something so that nothing can burrow through into the run. We decided to leave it all paved in the end but we still have the option to take a few up if we think they need it for scratching.

 

Roll on Friday

[atsw]

Our roof is on

.... and looking really good, well done you . I love all the things you've put in the run for your chooks to play with. A run to be very proud of, that's for sure. Congratulations.

 

Andrew

[atsw]

I definitely need something to prevent rain and wind coming in the sides so I've bought a really big glass clear tarpaulin and some extra eyelets. I plan to measure the sides & door and cut the tarpaulin to fit, adding extra eyelets. Haven't quite decided on the method of fixing it yet.

I shall watch with interest how you tackle this. A bit like you, we have open fields at the end of our garden, which is nice for us, but does mean the wind and rain might be an issue for the WIR during bad weather. OH has suggested installing some sort of curtain rail along the top of the run and hanging a clear tarpaulin which can be drawn back as necessary.

 

Andrew

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I definitely need something to prevent rain and wind coming in the sides so I've bought a really big glass clear tarpaulin and some extra eyelets. I plan to measure the sides & door and cut the tarpaulin to fit, adding extra eyelets. Haven't quite decided on the method of fixing it yet.

I shall watch with interest how you tackle this. A bit like you, we have open fields at the end of our garden, which is nice for us, but does mean the wind and rain might be an issue for the WIR during bad weather. OH has suggested installing some sort of curtain rail along the top of the run and hanging a clear tarpaulin which can be drawn back as necessary.

 

Andrew

 

What a good idea Andrew's OH !

 

We also are in the middle of an open field wind tunnel, a curtain pole may well work....am off to have a ponder & make the suggestion to DH....

 

Sha x

[hillfamily]

OH has suggested installing some sort of curtain rail along the top of the run and hanging a clear tarpaulin which can be drawn back as necessary.

 

Andrew[/color]

 

now that's a thought I could make a few more eyelet holes in the clear tarp and run a curtain wire along the top and bottom of the run panels

[hillfamily]

On the subject of Ikea Pam, when are you available to set another date for a Southampton jolly?

 

Sha x

 

We could all try for after the children have gone back to school at the end of April :D

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Sounds good to me....mine are off already

 

Sha x

[atsw]

I could make a few more eyelet holes in the clear tarp and run a curtain wire along the top and bottom of the run panels

My concern at this stage is not creating a huge sail which the wind could get behind and lift the whole run off the ground .

 

Andrew

[Chook n Boo Mum]

The wind here is strong but not that strong, the posts are set at least a foot into the ground!!

 

 

The roof however is giving us cause for concern, we've got to attach it more securely than the straps...one day

 

Sha x

[hillfamily]

Sounds good to me....mine are off already

 

Sha x

 

at least I have a few more days yet

[Ain't Nobody Here]

OH has suggested installing some sort of curtain rail along the top of the run and hanging a clear tarpaulin which can be drawn back as necessary.

 

I've been pondering this idea . I like it but worry that there will be a lot of "flappage" unless the tarpaulin is secured at as many points as practicable. I've been out fiddling with some Tarpaflex shock cords but don't think the weldmesh would cope with gale force winds and may give eventually.

 

Because I've got various doors to consider I'm thinking about a separate sheet for each panel, secured at the bottom and middle (perhaps stapled?) and turn-downable from the top half. They would probably be permanent so would be easier to turn up in sudden bad weather.

[chelsea]

at the moment we have tarpaulin nailed to the side of the WIR. (for winter)

 

Next winter OH is planning to make some "blinds" out of perspex. They will be attached to each run panel seperately from the top of the run on hinges, and then at night or severely wet days we will keep the run completely protected from the elements with the blinds down. During nicer weather the plan is to "prop up" each blind on each panel. Dont ask me how the propping is going to work yet - idea still in progress!

[Plum]

Well done Alison its looking good and big!!

 

Sha your run is wonderful but I had to laugh at it being empty and the girls in the garden. Have you told them yet.

 

I am so of you all.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hmm, another thought has occurred to me . Is it wise to permanently secure the tarpaulins - won't we need to have access to all the wood of the run for Cuprinol treatment?

 

I've laid out my tarpaulin on the lawn - it's huge . I should have plenty to experiment with .

[hillfamily]

Hmm, another thought has occurred to me . Is it wise to permanently secure the tarpaulins - won't we need to have access to all the wood of the run for Cuprinol treatment?

 

I've laid out my tarpaulin on the lawn - it's huge . I should have plenty to experiment with .

 

are we supposed to cuprinol are runs I'm not sure I've factored in time for that

[Ain't Nobody Here]

are we supposed to cuprinol are runs I'm not sure I've factored in time for that

 

I think so . I think Andrew asked Tony at Aviaries4u and he said it should be done annually. (I'm going to have to be very strict with myself - I'm rubbish at doing stuff like that, hence the rotting garden bench in the WIR .)

[hillfamily]

I'll add it to the list

 

been meaning to cuprinol the front fence and gates for 2 years