БАНК-НЕВА - кредиты, подарки и личные отношения

[Jac and Rory]

I need to change my chicken set up. I have a cube with 1m exension and 4 Black Rocks. I need to move it to a new location and put slabs under whole run.

 

The new position would allow me to extend the cube run with another 2 or 3 extensions (saw some say they have 5 (?) held together by velcro in palces for easy detachment for cleaning - seems a good idea). I would only need help laying the slabs and it could all be done fairly quickly and cheaply (by comparison with my imagined cost of a WIR).

 

Getting a WIR would take quite a while - first, I have to get OH to come up with the idea himself and then there's all the planning/building etc.

 

I want to keep the chooks in the run more (permanently?) as OH mad about garden destruction and I regularly see the fox around in the mornings (and next door feeds the fox). For years the fox has had a regular route through our garden. I have a netted area but the wing-clipped chooks regularly escape over and under and I also worry about them getting out to the road.

 

I want to minimise my guilty feelings about keeping them in a run and would like to have plenty perches/boredom busters - do you think it's possible to achieve this with standard cube run/extensions? Any ideas on what to do?

 

I'm concerned that by taking the quick and easy option of extending the cube run, it will only work out more expensive overall in the long run (no pun intended!) if I end up realising the only solution is a WIR?

 

All thoughts very gratefully received!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I would say go for the WIR straight off but I'm biased, having one myself . I'm probably not that far from you so if you'd like to see my WIR in the flesh (rather than in my signature!) feel free to PM me .

[Doodledootoo]

I'd say WIR every time, purely because it's easier to clean and get in to 'be' with your hens and moving your perches and boredom busters around is waaaaay easier!

[Lewis]

WIR

It does give them a lot more space, as they can use it vertically with tables/platforms and perches, but also you can go in with them.

 

Ours is still sitting in the garage yet to go up but they will be in it most of the time - free ranging at the weekends and sometimes after school and I wouldn't be worried about that.

Its also down to looks - our garden wouldn't really suit an eglu train, but some people have more modern gardens which wouldn't suit a wooden WIR.

[Egluntyne]

WIR gets my vote too.

[Cooks]

and mine.. I think if you went the extra run route you would eventually only end up getting a WIR so you may as well get one from the beginning..

[veggiemad]

Hi

 

I currently have a cube plus 2 extensions and have got plans for a walk in run from a company that sends you panels that you then put together. I got a quote for a 15ft by 8ft (6 ft high) WIR £324 delivered, so thats what we are doing. I find it hard to clean out the cube run even with the larger door for access plus i miss my hens pecking around my feet etc (as they dont FR anymore )- cant wait to get a chair in the wir and start having little chats again!!

 

I'ms ure whatever you decide will be right for you, but i've gone from an eglu -standard run, to eglu + extension to a cube , thena cube with 2 extensions and now a WIR!!!!#

[Jac and Rory]

Thanks for all your comments - it's such a help to hear from all of you experienced chicken people.

 

So, item one on the WIR plan.... plant subliminal messages in OH brain (had plenty of practice at this over whole chicken arrival but this is a big step....)

 

Thanks again

 

PS Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here - I will PM you and see if you are there!

[Olly]

sounds as if you've already made a decision ... but WIR definitely, I wish I'd done it ages ago. By the time you've bought 2 or 3 extensions and had them delivered, you're probably halfway to the cost of a WIR. And you will almost certainly be able to sell your existing run - I've just sold a Cube + run, and I had far more people asking to buy just the run and the extension, than wanting the whole kit.

 

For me it's much less obtrusive in the garden, and it makes looking after the hens much easier - oh, and it's much nicer for the hens, too!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Looking forward to meeting you tomorrow, "Jac and Rory" . (Your OH will be putty in your hands once he sees how great a WIR is .)

[sage]

Hi,

Im looking at buying a cube but am in undecided as to get a wooden WIR or a 1m extension run.

Do you get red mites with a wooden framed run or do the mites go for the house.

 

Cheers

Sage

[chick wiggle]

Hi Jac and Rory and Sage. i would also say go for the WIR, I started with a cube and run then got an extension. If I knew then what i know now, i would definately have saved the money on the extension and gone straight for the run.

At this time of year the girls spend an awful lot of time in there and you can give them so much more entertainment in a WIR. Plus it makes looking after them, cleaning etc sooooo much easier.

Hope you have a good and 'succesful' day at ANH's tomorro, Im sure once your OH sees her run he will understand how much better one would be - fingers crossed for you

 

Sage, red mite dont wander far from the housing. i usually spray the wood of the run about 2 - 3 ft from the house with poultry shield just in case, but im just a belt and braces kinda girl

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I think red mite only like dark places (hence the insides of a coop) so, as a WIR would be mostly in the light, it's unlikely they would lurk there .

[Space Chick]

Another WIR vote

 

I have had football seats installed in mine for me to sit in there with the girls

 

They have numerous tables and perches, so it is far more exciting for them, as you can play with the height.

[Jac and Rory]

Many thanks for all your replies. I found an opportune time to show off ANH's WIR photos to OH and we are sold! Next step though is to slow down the military style action plan OH is coming up with and make sure I get what "we" want!

 

I even phoned Tony at Averies4U. He reckons if you can build MFI flat pack then you can put up one of his standard WIRs. Unfortunately OH never been good at MFI and I'll have to stop drooling over the octagon WIR (I asked the price - would need to sell every egg ).

 

Well, you can see I didn't need much persuasion to go down the WIR route but very grateful for the confidence all your comments give me that it's the right thing to do! So looking forward to them having lots of perches and sitting with them (bought a garden folding stool for the purpose but football seats sound a bit of a must!!).

[chick wiggle]

We promise you wont regret it, the WIR is one of the best things i ever got (apart from the chickens of course )