Chicken picking at feet

[Falkor]

Hi all,

 

My 6 bantams have moved into their pre-"loved" cube and currently have the standard run plus an extension. Rum and Raisin are still in thier but are to be intergrated into the cube.

 

I have another extension laying in the middle of the lawn and will be collecting Debs cube run from her next month so will be Cube + run + 3 extensions. I also have a spare door panel so I have a plan.

 

My plan is give the 6 the run and two extensions, put door panel on and then add the final extension with door panel as normal. This will create a seperate section for Rum and Raisin during introductions. However will have problems accessing the larger run area so I propose cutting a door in the side of the run at the cube end.

 

Has anyone done this? Did it work? Would I need to built some kind of frame around the opening to make it stronger?

 

Does this sound like a silly idea?

 

Would appreciate your thoughts before i get my wire cutters out and ruin the run

Edited September 13, 2009 by Guest

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I'd reinforce it somehow Em, will ask DH what his thoughts are & get back to you later ....being as he's the engineer and I'm the one who climbs in & sorts the chooks out !!

 

You may need to remind me though.......

 

Sha x

[kevtheplumber]

shouldn't have to reinforce it to be honest, the metal is quite strong and you wont be affecting the stability of the run

[Space Chick]

Quite a plan you are hatching there Em

 

Glad to know that my cube run will be going to such a good use

[Redwing]

I would cut a small hole in the cube run then place the entire door panel (or as much as it as poss) with the door over the hole then cable tie the panel to the run, this will give you a very solid overlap section so a frame for the door wouldnt be required

[Cooks]

I will assess with you tomorrow when I visit sounds a good plan to me though

[Plum]

Laurmurf has a side panel that she enters the run through, it may be worth asking to see hers. She may have more run panels

[jennybrom]

I've done this on my eglu run and it works great, I use it more than the end door, if you're careful when you cut you can twist bits of the wire to form the loops to put the door peg thing through. Might be issues given the size difference of the doors but if the proper doors aren't reinforced I don't see why the cut one would need to be - depends how much of the panel is left to border the hole I suppose!

 

jen

[Cooks]

having looked at it all yesterday i think the side panel would be a great assett in your set up. I love your girls and could easily chook nap Gin...

[Falkor]

In the big sort out yesterday i discovered the under cube panels from my I am thinking that i can use this as the door rather than having to buy one from Omlet or use the section i cut out

 

Will hinge with run clips, now I just need to come up with a way to keep it closed and secure but still easy to access

 

And NO cookie, you can`t have Gin! how mant times! You are her favourite Aunty though!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

...a bulldog clip........cable ties.........a carabiner clip (http://www.gapyeartravelstore.com/Carabiner-Clips-p-178.html)..I'm going to have a play to test a theory...back in a bit

 

Sha x

[Falkor]

carabiner clip!!!

 

Is that what they are called.....no wonder i didn`t come back with many results when I googled!

 

Await the results of your experiment Sha

[Redwing]

carabiner clip!!!

 

 

They have those in Homebase, two for £1 in the '£1 bins' by the tills, lots of colours (I unclip and clip until I have the colour combination I want ) I use them to secure lots of my runs!

[Cooks]

I will settle for favourite auntie..

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Well I've had a play & the camera was flat so I'll take a pic tomorrow Blossom sat & stared at my like I'd lost my marbles .she's quick that chook

 

Essentially I attached a split ring, like you attach your keys together with, to the door and one on the "wall" of the run and it clipped together nicely , though I'd do one at the top & one at the bottom of the door to make it more secure. I don't think I'd use just the carabiner on it's own to hold the door to the frame as the door would open the length of the carabiner....not a good plan

 

Tasha, how do you attach yours?

 

Sha x

[Falkor]

 

CONFOOOZZZLED!!! (could be the wine! )

 

Sha, do you mean you used the split ring as the hinge or as the secure it shut bit??

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Part of the secure it shut bit ! Have another glass & I'll post a pic tomorrow

 

Sha x

[Falkor]

Part of the secure it shut bit ! Have another glass & I'll post a pic tomorrow

 

Sha x

 

Well if you say so!!! MORE WINE!!!!

[Redwing]

 

Tasha, how do you attach yours?

 

Sha x

 

I clip mine through a couple of 'bars' so they are tighter but there is a bit of play I must admit

[Cooks]

and she told me she didn't drink... tsk tsk

[Space Chick]

and on a school night aswell. Shameful Em

[Falkor]

and she told me she didn't drink... tsk tsk

 

and on a school night aswell. Shameful Em

 

It was medicinal!

Honest!!!

 

Well I got my wire cutters out this evening but couldn`t bring myself to make the cut...maybe at the weekend

[Plum]

How do you smooth the cut ends and what about them rusting? You have me thinking overtime now I can see posibilities opening up.

[Space Chick]

I can see posibilities opening up.

 

Literally

[Falkor]

How do you smooth the cut ends and what about them rusting? You have me thinking overtime now I can see posibilities opening up.

 

OH said he would get his file out and smooth the edges. Then i was just going to dab on some hammerite