CannyCat Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 My partner and I are planning on putting the eglu on concrete, with hemcore in the run - much easier to keep clean than the grass. However the concrete is quite uneven; in one place, it leaves a 2cm gap between the run and the floor, for about a 30cm length. Is this big enough to be a problem, fox-wise? I can put some bricks on the run edges there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 I would definitely recommend some bricks on the run skirt if the ground is uneven - if you have foxes in your area they will be very persistant and will try and get in at any "weak" point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 Mel's right. Give a fox an inch/2cm and it will take a mile/chook Weight that skirt down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CannyCat Posted September 10, 2006 Author Share Posted September 10, 2006 Mel's right. Give a fox an inch/2cm and it will take a mile/chook Weight that skirt down Wow maybe I'll just keep them on grass with woodchips instead of the concrete then... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 Mine are on grass and when I brought my eglu I also brought some omlet screws that fixes the run to the ground for extra safety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 We use the screw things too, but I think it depends on your soil type. I think it was Gallina who had them, but she has sandy soil and they just cannot hold the run down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 When our girls just had the ordinary runs we found our soil to sandy and light to hold the pegs and would use bricks etc., to hold the skirt down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xraylady Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 We put the Eglu on concrete too -although ours is not uneven. My left-brained husband worked out a solution which has the run as impenetrable as Fort Knox. First we set cinder blocks (breeze blocks in UK?) on the concrete to support the Eglu & used the same size blocks in a ring directly under the run skirt. Needed to shift the blocks about a bit to get a close fit. Next, we slid the Eglu+run off, and filled in the run space w'chips. Then we positioned the Eglu+run back on top. So now no entry possible from below. Then we chose smaller, more attractive, pavers - like you use for a patio -all the way around on top of the skirt. These are light enough that I can easily remove them all, to move the Eglu+run off, but their combined weight prevents a predator from lifting the run - even if they manage to get some of the pavers off. Cleaning out the run is easy. I lift off 6 pavers on skirt by run door, remove the front panel of the run, slide the cinder blocks from that section out of the way - which is easy on concrete - and rake out the soiled chips on to a tarpaulin. I was skeptical about how it would look - but with the pretty pavers on top and some curved stone edging around the eglu itself, it looks very nice! Access to the poop tray is easy - because the Eglu itself is higher, supported by the blocks. We hooked a wooden chicken ramp to the blocks under the run door - so the girls can get to the yard when it is Free Range Time. The blocks were just over a dollar each and the pavers were under a dollar each. If you have an uneven spot on the concrete I think you might have to put some fill-in concrete down first so the blocks dont wobble too much. Don't ask me how you do that - I'm the right brain one! If my husband were home, I'd post a photo - but he has drill this weekend with his Army Reserve unit - so maybe later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 Do post that picture xraylady. Love to see how you have done it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CannyCat Posted September 10, 2006 Author Share Posted September 10, 2006 Do post that picture xraylady. Love to see how you have done it Yes, pictures! My OH made a wooden edging to keep the chips in, which we have put around the eglu. Luckily it is such a close fit, that where the eglu doesn't meet the ground the wood does, and visa versa - so it's pretty secure now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xraylady Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 OK, OK, finally, finally, FINALLY!!!!! After much hair-pulling & cursing, I have successfully put 2 pictures in the gallery thingy. I am inordinately proud of myself - computerese looks like dyslexic Serbo-Croatian to me (apologies to all Serbs & Croats). Bloody brilliant. So if you want to look at my hyper-defended run set-up, in the gallery I describe it as Fort Knox for chickens. The radar tower & Exocet launcher are being installed next week. . . PS You'll have to find your own way to the pictures on the gallery I'm afraid. My poor brain needs a rest. Please overlook my embarrassing initial screw-ups also. But still, I am a very clever old thing dontcha think? (gosh I hope they are still there. . .) http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=10058 http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=10060 I've just popped a couple of quick links in for you. - LJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 That looks brilliant. It will certainly make Mr Fox scratch his head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Brilliant!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 That looks great xraylady Very neat and tidy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CannyCat Posted September 12, 2006 Author Share Posted September 12, 2006 Wow, really stylish too!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
