Omlet server

[Doodledootoo]

Imagine plastic run panels, with plastic coated mesh. They could make plastic Eglu tables, perches and other bits and pieces for the hens to jump on etc.

 

If they made several different shapes and sizes, imagine how many happy hours you could have, designing your own run - perhaps using a CAD type design program with all the Omlet run parts pre-loaded!

[Lewis]

Maybe let them know

 

People have mentioned them before - I'd get one! They'd have to sell the different panels for doors and attaching eglus/cubes too

Don't know how stable they'd be though so would have to sell support posts too

[Redwing]

Its been suggested in the past, I have suggested meccano style panels

 

Looking at the price of the cube runs and extentions the cost would be very high though!

[kevtheplumber]

It would only be expensive through their greed as plastic is a lot cheaper than wood at the minute, if they had a mould made and production line ready (the biggest cost to Omlet) the cost could be kept down, all about supply and demand I suppose, the more thay make the cheaper it should become. Unless they are greedy and want to make a load of money.

[Lewis]

I know what you mean about the cost - they're all expensive for whats really just wood and weldmesh. Pre-made panels are a lot easier (for us at least) and making our own would be expensive, weldmesh is expensive too.

 

Tis a business after all

[Doodledootoo]

Well if you look at the price of JUST the Cubes & Eglu's (and Go's), without the attached runs, they're actually very reasonable. I say this because I compared the actual products, like for like, with wooden counterparts.

 

So I don't think Omlet over-price their products and there'd be no reason to suspect they would over-price WIR panels.

 

The panels could be fixed together using similar fixings to the ones used in the Cube. I'm sure we/they could dream up a way of anchoring the finished runs to provide stability.

 

There's a market opportunity here, I'm sure of it.

 

The initial moulds would be expensive to create but after that, it's a production line and given the number of us who go to WIR's eventually, I reckon it wouldn't take long to claw back initial costs and then turn a profit.

 

If this subject has been covered on the forum a few times before, then surely that's an early indication of a 'want' for this idea!

[Redwing]

Think about it though, a WIR wouldnt be made of plastic surely? it would be made out of the plastic coated metal mesh used for the existing runs... a cube run extension is about £100, thats about 3sqm of mesh, my basic WIR run is made out of 26sqm of mesh.

 

You could make some of the lower panels and the roof out of plastic I suppose but much of it will still need to be mesh or you will cut out light and air

 

I do agree that the coops on their own are actually not badly priced compared to a well made wooden version

 

It would be great if Omlet could do a plastic roofed version since so many of us have problems with leaking tarps and panels

[cockadoodle1]

A 900mm x 1800mm panel for a weldmesh and timber WIR costs around £12 with the timber from Wickes and weldmesh from Hills of Devon so I don't think Omlet can compete with this price

[Olly]

A 900mm x 1800mm panel for a weldmesh and timber WIR costs around £12 with the timber from Wickes and weldmesh from Hills of Devon so I don't think Omlet can compete with this price

 

... although that does then require you to MAKE the panel! Some of us don't have the DIY skills (or time) to do this.

 

I like the idea of mesh panels, but you'd need a support - the whole point of a WIR is that it's going to be 5' or 6' high, and you'd need a structure for the panels to sit on. Don't forget the Omlet run is complete, it fastens securely to the Eglu/Cube and it has a skirt to prevent tunnelling.

 

I think my Aviaries4U run was fabulous value, and it's totally transformed the way I keep my hens- more space for them, and easier for me.