Solitary chicken - need advice

[Guest]

Hi

does anyone out there built a run that is not as tall as some of the runs posted. I was thinking of putting in either roof panels that I can take off or interchange and a couple of little doors. I am going to Butt the cube up to the run

thanks

indie

OR any good ideas..I just dont fancy a 6foot high one!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Mine is under 6ft so that it'll fit under the garage roof. I reckon I'm the only one going to be in there much and I'm only 5'6" so that extra height would be wasted .

 

If you're not going to spend a lot of time in there I don't suppose you need it to be too high. Just consider if you'll get a sore back by having to bend over when you're cleaning it out.

[Guest]

thanks I have been looking at lots of diff ideas I just dont want a huge high run but enough for the birds to have a stroll and perch. I am thinking with a couple of doors will be able to sweep it out(yep i am 5 6 too) but I just got rid of a green house. Just trying to look at all options will put a roof on though. Some of the aviaries are bigger than my horses shelters!

thanks i have been looking at all the pics sent in indie

[Snowy]

My run is attached to the fence and couldn't be any higher so it slopes from just under 6' by the fence, down to 5'2" at the door side (OK for me at 5'1" )

[Guest]

thanks very much your blog is very nice i remember those patterns ...

Yep I think i am going low medium height....as long as i can broom or rake it out that should b good...am going to make some roof panels out or oduline and pvc so that i can change them(or thats the plan) ie in summer put onduline on(shade) and in winter poss pvc to get the light in etc. I want to leave the cube on the outside so i can access both sides easily etc

thanks..indie

 

So once its built as i will be doing this on my own no OH interest at all!

[maryeadrian]

Mine isn't built yet, but will only be 5'. We can't have it much higher because of neighbors. I'm 5'2", so it won't be too bad to get in and rake clean. The Eglu will be outside the run. This way it will be easier to clean. It will sit on a 2' high table, so no real bending for me to clean, either. And the run still gives me room for perches, bales of hay, dust bath bin and such.

[alih]

I, like indie999 would like a WIR that doesn't impose on the whole gaarden. ANy pics?

[Guest]

HI

I am just awaiting another roll of weldmesh and will continue with my building..

I have managed to keep it a bit lower in height and woud say its about 4-5ft high so will probably just stoop a bit to clean it out..as soon as I can will put some work in progress pics on this site..

At least with a long delivery date it has given me some time to get the run ready

indie(it hasnt cost me much to make but I did have some spare wood posts and do have onduline panels spare)

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Don't have a pic of my WIR (3 sleeps to go ) but here's an artist's impression . I think it fits into a small garden quite neatly!

 

[Guest]

Your wir doesnt take over the whole garden...I am still planning on a type of moveable run too(I did build one a few years ago and it took two of us to move it..that was for a rabbit & it worked quite well..in fact the rabbit hutch was the heaviest bit of it all)...The Forsham handles are really well made on their arks..

 

Perhaps I need to go to woodwork classes(or sorry as I discovered at my sons parents evening Wood Tech ...and Food Tech...I had to check they meant cookery classes!!! )!

 

The Wir shouldnt annoy the neighbours and it is screened by a laurel hedge(which should provide some shade in the summer and any driving wind too)

Cant wait roll on April 14TH!

 

indie999

[alih]

looks fab! Very neat indeed

[atsw]

Don't have a pic of my WIR (3 sleeps to go ) but here's an artist's impression . I think it fits into a small garden quite neatly!

Hi ANH, I'm really pleased to read you're WIR is almost with you - I know exactly how excited you're now feeling! I'm looking forward to lots of lovely pictures.

 

My girls totally love my run. With the sunny days we've had down south recently they have been getting used to the new entry and exit door made especially for them. They also love the new feeding station. I've added a few more pictures to the end of my slideshow.

 

I've also got a load of close-up shots of the actual run construction (joints, doors, woodwork, roofing, feeder stations, gutters, etc etc), so if you need to double-check anything just let me know (I've also sent copies to Tony, so he can incorporate them into the instructions he e-mails out).

 

Andrew

[alih]

Andrew your pictures are amazing. Your run is great! Is it really ok to put together oneself, even for non DIYers?

[Guest]

That is a brill wir..and your chickens are beautiful too..what lucky chicks they are..

You had some good workers helping you too..

Great spot to put chickens in..lucky them

indie

ps mine will not look as posh..... like the hanger rack for the glugs etc feeders

[atsw]

Andrew your pictures are amazing. Your run is great! Is it really ok to put together oneself, even for non DIYers?

Based on my personal experience, I'd say there are two important issues.

 

Firstly, you need to put time and effort into the foundations of the run. Constructing on a flat bed of slabs or concrete will make the whole build much easier. If the base is not flat, then it will make putting the panels up much more difficult because nothing will line up properly.

 

Secondly, you will need two people in the early stages of the build. One to hold the panles up and ensure they are aligned, the other to screw them together. Once that is done, it's a one person job for everything else, as it's really just a matter of adding the 'extras', like the roof and guttering. My run was all but finished within 2 days, the main structure was complete in less than 7 hours.

 

The run was provided by Aviaries4U, each panel is delivered pre-made, you just need to screw them together (all the screws are supplied, as are step-by-step instructions). If you are comfortable using a drill and an electric screwdriver, you can build one of these runs.

 

Andrew

[Guest]

Thanks for the tips...must say Aviaries 4 u look the best i have seen.

 

Luckily my old greenhouse was on a concrete base so I am building it around that...I am determined mine will be the best though

 

I am waiting for some more weldmesh to come into our local fencing merchants & timber too.

 

I do think A4U r v good price...just cant afford this at the mo

 

thanks

indie

[alih]

Thanks Andrew that's really helpful. Am a bit daunted by the slabs thing- was hoping to get away with flatening the earth! did your roof come sloping??

[atsw]

Thanks Andrew that's really helpful. Am a bit daunted by the slabs thing- was hoping to get away with flatening the earth! did your roof come sloping??

I would try to make a solid base. Apart from the construction aspect, setting a run on bare earth might allow a fox or a rat to tunnel into the run.

 

The run has sloping roof, which is an optional extra. You could make your own, the principle is pretty easy. I made a post about it in another thread, which included a couple of pictures that are not on my slideshow.

 

Andrew

[alih]

Thanks so much