Dianeuk Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 I found some wonderful pictures of purpose built chicken enclosures but I'm blowed if I can find them now anyone got any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 I'm just the same Diane! Try these for inspiration - Chicken Run Inspiration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianeuk Posted January 1, 2007 Author Share Posted January 1, 2007 thanks for that it is exactly what I was looking for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Let me (or any of the others) know if we can be of help in any way. The Hubby ,who built ours, is a great source or advice when it comes to building things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabbagepatch Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 It all looks fab. At the moment my three girls are mostly penned into the eglu and run and I feel really bad about that. I let them out to freerange when I can, but working fulltime means that realistically it's only the weekends when they can have a lovely wander about this time of the year. Now, do I perservere with the eglu and run, after it was marketed as a happy environment for chickens all year round, free from problems etc, or should I provide something better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Mine are in theirs full time, and they maybe get let out for an hour or two at weekends when we are around and Mr. Fox isn't. Mine are happy, and when I let them out, they often just wander back in of their own accord. I think the guilt about being unhappy is all in our minds..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggins Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 I agree that it's probably mostly in our minds. However, one of my chickens had a definite tendency towards caged animal syndrome ... pacing backwards and forwards and looking for a way out. I couldn't bear it so had a large coop built. Whilst she still displays similar tendencies if stuck in there for any length of time, I feel better that there is more space, more to do ... Not sure why I'm so worried because they free range almost constantly (and they've invariably come from little cages so anything has to be preferable to that sort of environment) but, on the odd occasion when I must keep them in, I don't feel quite so bad about it. I love my chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 (edited) Mine did the caged tiger thing too, and it really upset me for ages when we first had them.... Then I moved them to where I could see them from an upstairs window and they couldn't see me and guess what? They don't do it when you're not around.... Mine were pacing the moment they saw me as they thought in their tiny chickeny brains... "oh, good, here she comes, food". They still do, every time I come into view, but I know its a ploy now! Watching them from upstairs is great: they are seriously chilled chickens, scratching, preening, pecking and socialising with eachother. Edited January 3, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Now I know there are nosy neighbours out there peeping from behind their net curtains but how FAB is it that there are others like me (steady!) who have to hide from their chooks and peer round corners and from upstairs windows (impossible in our bungalow......) just to have a look at them without them knowing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleHen Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 I find this too - as soon as I'm in sight - even through the kitchen window - they start pacing. You could make sure there are things to keep them occupied in the run, we can a perch in there that they spend a lot of time on preening themselves, and I try and change a log every few weeks to make it more interesting for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 I love your brigh yellow mark 2 eglu Annie!!! They should make them again!!! Mine pace up and down when Starlet gets out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Mine are exectly the same Annie, if they can't see me they are as happy as larry. But they throw themselves at the run door when they can see me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Mine are exectly the same Annie, if they can't see me they are as happy as larry. But they throw themselves at the run door when they can see me Yep! We get that too, but I am sure the Laydees have learned how to shout at me too!!! They have to make a lot of noise to tell me that they really aren't happy about being shut in the run, so they are free range all day and we lock them up at night. Thank goodness we don't have a fox problem! A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
