Solitary chicken - need advice

[alih]

My WIR is arriving on Friday so I am trying to prep the veg patch. I am going to put slabs round the edge and Tony has given me some tips but I have seen some fab pics on here of earth-flattening procedures (Andrew, thinking of you) and wondering whether anyone has any tips, bearing in mind that

 

a. I only have a few days

b. I am not a natural DIYer and don't have lots of equipment

c. it is going to be raining!

 

I am worried about having wonky slabs....so please tell me how you all got such beautiful flat surfaces?

 

Thanks

[Redwing]

I put a wooden frame down and filled it with gravel then sand but the land was pretty good anyway luckily

[atsw]

Sadly, looks like all three things are against you .

 

You need to put time in to get the foundations of the run right (and for it to stay that way). You won't need lots of equipment, but will need lots of energy and patience. The wood frame idea that Redwing mentioned is a great way forward - I did a similar thing as you've seen from my photo's. I used a garden roller to flatten the soil once the ground was level. A spade, rake and a wheelbarrow is all that's needed for that part, start on any high ground, dig out the soil and tip it into the low areas to raise that bit.

 

Then round up some kids and get them to trample all over the area and do as many jumps on it as they like - that will soon compact the soil . I used my own kids, but now that schools are out for summer there should be no shortage in your area . Rain won't help, at all. Sorry .

 

Andrew

[alih]

Thanks guys - I have spent the day compacting, levelling and marking out the earth for the run. Off to get the slabs tomorrow. Will do lots more firming before I lay them, probably on Saturday pm. No roller I'm afraid! Will give you a progress report!

[atsw]

A roller is not essential, firming the soil is though. Also, when buying your slabs get some bags of building sand too. Create a layer about 2" deep and lay the slabs on that. It's much easier to level the slabs as you lay them when they are on sand. A rubber hammer is also great for 'fine tuning' any wonky slabs .

 

Andrew

[alih]

I will get some sand and do the levelling today. Love the idea of a rubber hammer! Very comedy!

[atsw]

Love the idea of a rubber hammer! Very comedy!

I was actually being serious . http://www.wickes.co.uk/Rubber-Mallet/invt/501586

 

 

Andrew

[alih]

Wow that looks fab - will hunt for one at B and Q this morning when buying the rest of the stuff- glad we don't have to go to a joke shop to get them!

 

Thanks, Andrew.

[Falkor]

Well the sun is shining here!

 

Happy slab laying!

[alih]

Sun not exactly shining, but I have slabs, I have sand and, most excitingly, I have a rubber mallet!! Now for the hard work....which may be put off till tomorrow...

[poachedegg]

Sounds like you have your work cut out - good luck.

[Falkor]

How mny slabs have you got to lay?

 

We could race eachother! I have to lay some more for the "extension" WIR

[bellekatz]

Good Luck with the laying (not that I have a vested interest or anything )

[alih]

I reckon about 30 and I'm sure it will take ages....Jayne I shall do my best to get it done, I promise!!

[bellekatz]

When we did our WIR ( now occupied by my huge cats!!) it took hubby and friend about a morning to lay the slabs as area had been done first. Hope the weather holds - can't imagine doing it in the pouring rain

[alih]

Well I laid 3 in about half an hour this afternoon...sand and a bit of cement as recommended by Tony, a spirit level and more patience than I am used to! Stomped all over them and adjusted and they are still level! More tomorrow if time

[atsw]

Fantastic . Once you get into the swing of it the 'slab rate' increases quite a bit. It's always a struggle to get the first few down, so sounds like you've done really well - congratulations.

 

Andrew

[alih]

Thanks we shall see....but more alarmingly, Tony has just emailed to say there is an issue with my delivery and he will ring tomorrow...has anyone else had problems? I am off work etc to sort it out so will be gutted if it all goes belly up...

[bellekatz]

OH no - hope it comes on time - there is nothing worse than spending all that time getting the area prepared and then having nothing to put on it. It's a real anti-climax

[atsw]

Rest assured Tony will pull out all the stops to sort out what ever 'issue' has arisen. There was a hic-cup with the Night Freight delivery of my WIR earlier this year, the consignment got to the service centre in the town near where I live, but then didn't get loaded onto the local delivery van . Tony found out (before I did!) and 'had a word' with the powers that be. Delivery was made mid afternoon on the promised date . I knew nothing of the problem until Tony phone me that evening to check the run had arrived when he told me the whole story.

 

Andrew

[alih]

thanks for the reassurance- I am self-employed and having taken time off to prep this week and cleared the weekend to build I can't easily find the time again and am going away next week!

[alih]

Bad news: Tony has just rung. He is away on a much-deserved holiday and had labelled the runs to go to night freight but their stupid system means that if things are labelled on a day other than collection day it cancels the order for transport. So my run is still at Tony's and won't be here till next week. I am gutted and it has put a real spanner in the works re building - I will have to put back my original fence etc whilst I am away as there are too many chickens to leave in their current run. Which means lots of work and back to square one!

 

Poor Tony is gutted and so nice about it - he was trying to be organised so it's not his fault really.

 

He is going to try and persuade night freight to come tomorrow anyway but is not optimistic as they need a clear working day before delivery....

 

 

am trying to be zen about it....deep breaths deep breaths....

[bellekatz]

Oh no - what a shame. Nightfright strike again huh Hope you hvae enough space for them when you are away..............

[alih]

Well Tony has done it again...he has paid night freight extra and they are now delivering Sat am...phew....several more slabs laid today!!

[bellekatz]

Go Tony