Unsecure chicken perches

[Lewis]

Ok ... I've finally ordered the WIR panels

15x6x6 foot which will have the wendy house, and in it (eventually I'm after dinner chickens so the might come out).

 

All hopefully being delivered on Thursday, now just need to get ready for it.

The verdict is out on the floor ... I think slabs, father things concrete around the edge and leave the middle?

 

Just wandering ... how's best to attach the panels together? There will be 19 panels in total (a 6 foor door, 4 ft door and 5 of them are for the roof).

I was thinking of using loose pin hinges (used all the time in theatre) so I can stick the hinges on and just pin it all together

 

The other idea was to use T plates or?

 

 

Any ideas?

[emchook]

I am afraid I do not know the answer to your question .but .Can I just ask where you have ordered your panels from ?

Edited January 2, 2010 by Guest

[Lewis]

Yep

West Hagley Aviaries

It only cost £256 including delivery!

 

Another forum member (Bantambabe) bought some earlier this year and they look good

 

 

Also just though, maybe bolt them together aswell?

[Redwing]

When I made mine I just put two panels in place and screwed through one in to the other then did the next screw in the other direction

[kevtheplumber]

you can either screw them together or use plates like the t one you put up, dont use hinges unles you want them to fold. You can get plates like the t plate but they are just straight or ones that are like an L. I used these throughout my run, they wont move a muscle when fixed.

[Janty]

The great run god, Tony, screws his panels together as Redwing suggested.

[Tutti Frutti]

We screwed ours together too but also used some metal T-brackets, corners and angled joints to reinforce the corners and strengthen the panel with the door in (as it might flex... and it was all made by Mr Frutti ).

 

We found screwfix to be the cheapest.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/19534/Ironmongery/Brackets/Brackets/Tee-Plates-Zinc-Plated-76-x-77-x-16-3mm-Pack-of-10

[Lewis]

Thanks

 

 

Have been looking at B&Q and screwfix so will hopefully get something

[sjp]

unless you plan on moving the WIR often just screw the panels together at about 450mm - 500mm centers use 5mm(No10) dia. screws you get less brakage I find the 4mm(No8) tend to snap when you use them more often, scewfix is one of the better places for screws

here's the B'ham Branches http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/hlp/TradeCounterResults.jsp;jsessionid=BIF4R5UWHIRBECSTHZPCFFA?_requestid=4500551

[rabbitfluff]

Another vote here for screwing them together. I did consider bolts in case I ever wanted to dismantle it, but decided it would be a lot of fannying about. I would definitely recommend getting the easy drive screws - I know Wickes do them - they go in really easy and make the job much faster.

 

I also put a length of wood the across the top of all my panels as part of my roof, so this gives extra support to the joins too.

[Lewis]

Thanks

 

Looks like it might be screws

Was thinking about putting some wood across the top of the front side so the roof slopes back and water/snow drains off.

 

Do you think the 5 roof panels would need extra support some how?

[debbier]

Screwing them together is what the man at Hagley suggested when I visited them last year.

[atsw]

Do you think the 5 roof panels would need extra support some how?

In my run, I screwed a length of wood baton around the top, then the roof panels simply drop in from the top and rest on the baton.

 

 

My run is simply screwed together, three screws on each side of each panel. The baton around the top for the roof totally stabilises everything. I also screwed into the roof panels from the side panels once they were in place.

 

Step-by-Step guide with lots of pictures ** here **

 

Andrew

[sjp]

Thanks

 

Looks like it might be screws

Was thinking about putting some wood across the top of the front side so the roof slopes back and water/snow drains off.

 

Do you think the 5 roof panels would need extra support some how?

 

you deffo. want a slope on the roof as for extra support it really depends on what the roof panels are that is a decision to make when you've got the run on site and the sides up

[Lewis]

Hadn't thought about doint it that way Andrew, I just thought they'd sit on top and be screwed on, might have a look at that.

Thanks for the link, I looked at the one from your sig yesterday and was looking for that page I remember you posted last time

[atsw]

Hadn't thought about doint it that way Andrew, I just thought they'd sit on top and be screwed on, might have a look at that.

Thanks for the link, I looked at the one from your sig yesterday and was looking for that page I remember you posted last time

The roof panels can't sit on top because they are 6' x 3', which is exactly the same as the panels which make up the sides. The roof panels would need to be a few inches bigger all round if they were to overlap the edges of the side panels to be able to sit on top. Screwing a baton around the top inside edge is quick and simple, and gives you a flush finish on the outside.

 

I agree 100% with sjp, the translucent roofing needs a slope. A 15'x6' roof area will catch a lot of water. The general rule is a 50mm slope over a 6' depth. You can have a look at how I did my roof and gutters in detail ** here **.

 

Andrew

[Plum]

This thread is really helping me understand how to go about assembling a run. Thanks.

 

Is the roof secure enough for you to lean over to screw it down? I really can't see how else you can do it

[Lewis]

The roof panels fit if you build the side walls on the inside edge of the front I was thinking of putting it flat on top, and using the metal L's to hold it up, because the A4U runs have the corner joists to attach a baton, mine wouldn't ... still possible to do just not as easy

I don't think I can get my head round it properly until its here the photos are really helpful though.

 

Also thinking about wether to have the wendy house on the inside or outside of the run - have ordered a 4ft door so can do both, and if its inside I can use the door to open the Go from behind ... another reason behind the thinking of split hinges so the panels can be moved really easily

 

I just thought I'd use tall step ladders to screw the roof on from the top, but if you go for Andrew's way you don't need to screw from the top, just the side.

[Plum]

Yes for the drop in roof panels but for the sloping roof I guess you would. It would be too unweildy to assemble beforehand

[Redwing]

My run has a flat wire mesh roof then a sloping roof built on top of that with the corrugated panels that way I knew that the run was secure and the slope was only to divert the rain off

 

I will see if I can find a pic

[Plum]

That is how atsw did his.

 

Interesting idea your drop in pin hinges Lewis. Would it cause there to be too much give in the frame making it unstable or were you just thinking of doing it at an end panel? I guess the roof would brace it all though.

[Redwing]

Here you go

 

[Plum]

Thanks, like the door behind the eglu Is it a store cupboard on the right? and good idea the overhang

[Lewis]

Interesting idea your drop in pin hinges Lewis. Would it cause there to be too much give in the frame making it unstable or were you just thinking of doing it at an end panel? I guess the roof would brace it all though.

Well the plan was to put 2 pin hinges to join the panels together at the sides, then at the top of each put another to attach the roof so it can't wobble in any direction.

 

They're used for literally everything in the theatre (because the sets are in one theatre one week then another the week after so you can just pin it all together) and things have to be strong enough for people to dance on top of them etc so should be stable enough

If it did wobble in one place, you'd just put a hinge on the outside too.

 

 

This looked like one of the cheaper places, they work out at just under 40p each hinge. I might suggest it to father again, see what he thinks .

[Redwing]

Thanks, like the door behind the eglu

 

Ah now that is a separate hutch on legs attached to the side of the run, my big bro and I built it for the Pekin babies. It does mean that I have to swivel the Eglu inside the run to clean it out though as I cant have a door behind the Eglu because of the hutch

 

The overhang is great, I can put things like bottles of ACV and tonic under it and they stay dry