docsquid Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 docsquidYou don't have to ditch your cube run, you can use it for introductions of more hens Well, yes, the thought had crossed my mind We had agreed in advance that these three would not be the only chickens, and that we could get three more when they are settled in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 I have kept one of my cube runs for introductions inside the WIR. It's a good idea to have something in place just in case . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 It's a good idea to have something in place just in case . Hmm, wish I had the space for that kind of WIR! The problem we have is wherever you put it there is a manhole cover in the middle of the lawn that constrains the space available, as we can't consign the manhole cover to the chicken run. I suspect I can just about manage the 12ft x 6ft run that the OP had. I'd probably have to get a regular Eglu (or Go) for intros, or cobble together something from the Cube run panels with a cat box inside or something. Or make a divider for the WIR. I won't need a huge run if the chooks are as good as they were today while FR - little angels! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Mine were never good when free ranging...they trashed the garden. That's why we decided to get them such a huge run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 One other question to the OP (or other WIR owners): Did you get the anti tunnel skirt or the weld-mesh base to prevent foxes/rats tunneling? I doubt we'll be able to site ours on slabs - more likely to be on compacted soil with a good layer of woodchip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 We didn't get any mesh skirts as ours is on a concrete base. We didn't want a complete concrete base as we wanted them to have the soil in the middle with an aubiose topping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Dosquid, this is our WIR when it was newly built back in Feb/March and with some "play equipment" added.and all grass removed We've, since those photos, added a separate run to the so it stands back level with the , though still at ground level. It has the anti-tunnelling skirt as per Omlet and the Cube runs are butted up and attached to the WIR, giving the chooks more room inside and us easy access to the cubes for cleaning/egg collection/pootrays/shutting doors etc, though DH is now having second thoughts on the merits of the sloping walls .......though not actually voicing them of course ....we are having a few problems with weatherproofing/protecting it....we will get there & in the meantime I end up soaked every time it rains & I have to go out & re-attach all the shower curtains......suddenly all my problems will be solved and I shall have happy chooks with a hemcore based run ..at least that's what I keep telling myself, I just have to convince DH If you DH is at all handy, PM me I & I can get my DH to talk him through the technical stuff! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Thank you! What a lovely chicken playground you have! We are still in the delicate negotiation phase of WIR at the moment, to be followed by measuring and then discussion with the neighbour! It looks like concrete or slab base might be best for them, as they will get out to scratch on grass quite a lot anyway (they were out all day yesterday - lucky chooks!). However if concrete isn't possible, then a deep layer of sand and Hemcore on top might do the trick. No doubt when/if I have finally persuaded all who need to be persuaded, then I'll be in touch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
