4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[DebC]

Having had a my 4 girls for 2 months and having regular eggs from 3 of them. My husband, despite his initial resistance is a big fan.

 

Even with moving the cube and run around the garden now the weather is getting worse its clear that they are going to wreck the grass. They stay in the run when I'm at work and come out for a bit in the evening.

 

So now my husband is such a fan, I'm working on having a walk-in run. He's not against the idea but wants to know more. So:-

 

What sort of size?

Anywhere to get them from? (ideally to come and make it on site as well, as husband is DIY challanged )

What to put as a base?

any difference to their diet as they will get no grass during the day?

 

Anything else that I may need to know to help in my arguements! He doesn't know that Omlet have a forum and that's where I get my hints and tips from

 

 

Thanks for your help

[chickiepiggies]

hi ya i haven't been doing to long either but this is a pic of my run, also if you look in

 

Eglus, Cubes and Runs ~ Chicken Run Inspiration!! there are lots of good ideas in there and some really good advice.

 

 

 

[DebC]

Sorry, I'm still fairly new to the forum and hadn't realised that there is a separate section for Runs etc!

 

I suspect when I start reading through this section I'll get most of my answers! But any help and hints for the husband still gratefully received!

 

Thanks

[chick wiggle]

Hi, welcome

Lots of people have built their own WIRs but I know lots of people got them from Aviaris4u. My OH built ours so I have no experience of them but loads of peeps do and sure they'll be along soon to tell you all about them.

WIRs are essential i think just because it makes your life soooo much easier. The chickens have more space and definately get a roof. The roof will keep the bedding dry and soak up the poos, they somehow magically dissapear and so cuts down hughely on poo picking and smells and the chooks love scratting about on it looking for treats You have a cube so you can put it on the outside of the run so you dont even have to enter it to collect eggs or clean out the cube.

Look on 'we are all planning WIRs 2' for more inspiration.

Make it as big as you can, cos you'll be wanting more chooks sooner than you think

Good luck

[Space Chick]

I am a big fan of aviairies4u, my run is from there, although I was too far away for Tony to build it, but I had another builder to make it. I also had my own specifications as I wanted a permanent back wall.

 

It was the best decision I ever made

 

My advice would be to go for the largest run you can, as this will allow for flock expansion. I have already had to make an internal Walk in Run extension upstairs and downstairs to allow for more girls

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Another A4u fan here . Have a look at the link in my signature .

 

There's also a huge long thread here . It'll take you a week to read it all (and another to read Part 1 ).

[atsw]

Sorry, can't resist the opportunity to post pictures of my build (which I did myself, although the run came in kit form from http://www.aviaries4u.co.uk).

 

** Click here for pictures **

 

Andrew

[DebC]

Thanks for all the photos and tips for suppliers. It makes me even more determined to get a walk-in run now.

[Lewis]

Looks

 

Are the pillars plastic or metal, and was it expensive?