What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[Kenilchick]

Hello ,

I haven't posted much but love to read all the WIR posts on here - SO....

after much nagging of DH - if the weather improves, we're starting to build the base for our WIR this weekend (with the help of our 3 kids of course - not).

 

So far sorted:

 

30 x basic slabs (400 x 400) from B&Q at 15% off - only £1.47 each (BARGAIN)

MOT and sharp sand to be delivered Thursday. Have yet to get timber for panels but timber merchants open on Friday if rain delays build. Have ordered the weldmesh from Hills of Devon. Soooooo exciting.

 

Will be surrounding slabbed area with a rectangle of 6 x 2.4m railway sleepers onto which the side panels will be screwed. This should give us a run of 7ft x 16ft with eglu outside. Haven't decided what or how to do the roof yet. Was thinking Onduline or Coroline but what colour to go for that the neighbours won't fuss about?????

 

I'll take photos of the progress if it dries up enough to get started .

 

 

Happy Easter everybody

Edited March 31, 2010 by Guest

[Ain't Nobody Here]

How exciting . Keep us posted on the progress (and fingers crossed for better weather ) .

[Lewis]

 

I'd go for transparent or black roofing - they should be fine, and it won't stick out for the neighbours

[Tutti Frutti]

Congrats! I'll be doing a sun dance here (won't we all!)

 

We ended up with a black onduline roof (was a little concerned about it heating up in summer but it's under the trees so should be OK). I actually wanted green (to blend in with our shed roof) but the last 5 sheets in B&Q were all cracked and red was just too bright.

 

We did have a clear PVC but it cracked under the weight of the snow in January and leaked like mad so we've just ripped it all off (what a waste of money!) and started again with the onduline. That'll teach me to not do it properly in the first place!

 

Good luck and have fun

 

PS Remember to add guttering! And attach/staple/tie wrap shower curtains (weather protection) to any side you won't be able to access once the WIR's built and in place... eg up against a wall/fence/shed.

[Plum]

Ooohh your back is going to be aching with all those slabs. Look forward to seeing the progress

[Kenilchick]

Weather forcast is horrible, horrible, horrible!

Fri - heavy rain; Sat - heavy rain showers; Sun - light rain. Already like a mud wrestling ring out there so not looking good. Maybe DH will get to put his feet up and eat lots of chocolate afterall.

 

Wow is Onduline expensive. Just had quote for delivery (£70!!!) Would make roof cost = £254 Much too much.

 

Going to have to find a much cheaper option. Want a roof that creates its own shade. Although it is going between two fruit trees it would still get alot of sun on it (if it ever stops raining). Now off to cost up felted roof - hopefully that would be alot cheaper .

[legend21]

good luck, I love my WIR, they dont always get it right with the weather, today I have snow in the front garden and none in the back garden, yesterday it was blowing a gale today it is very calm.

 

I have red onduline to match the cube

 

piccys please

 

Jackie

[Kenilchick]

Really nothing worth showing photo-wise yet. Just muddy site where everything hopefully going to go. Will definitely get the camera out soon though and post any progress.

 

Off to take the kids to see 'How to train a dragon - 3D' now .

[Plum]

How are you getting on, been good weather here with the odd shower?

 

I'm going for a felt roof on mine. Janty did and if it's good enough for her It will give them shade from the hot sun I'm expecting soon.

[Egluntyne]

Don't forget that red mite love to hide under roofing felt.

[Plum]

Even 6 ft up ?

[Kenilchick]

Hi,

Been fairly rotten weather here Fri & Sat . Then all the family descended yesterday so I spent all day cooking and washing up soooo. no progress photos to show really. Today we plodged through the mud to heave the railway sleepers into place. Nugget and Fizz insist on 'helping' and nearly got flattened.

 

However - did buy most of the materials ready to get going next weekend hopefully . DH away with work now till Fri night. We bought 35 x 3.6M 2" x 2" pressure treated timbers for the panels and the extra railway sleeper we needed for the base - and managed to load it all in and on the S-max. Have all the stuff for the base and am planning to buy green onduline for the roof just trying to find a good price.

 

Most places seem to have Coruline - will this be OK instead of onduline???

 

Haven't told the neighbours what we are planning

 

Here is a plan of the WIR at least so you can get an idea of what it will be. Plan is for the eglu to go to the right of the door on the outside.

 

Hopefully more to show you this time next week

 

 

[Kenilchick]

Long time since I posted photos of the chickens when I first got them over a year ago.

 

Can't remember how to get the image to come up automatically - any advice?

[Lewis]

Long time since I posted photos of the chickens when I first got them over a year ago.

 

Can't remember how to get the image to come up automatically - any advice?

Click "All sizes" above the photo, then medium and copy the link using img tags

[Kenilchick]

Thanks

 

here goes see if this works:

 

[Kenilchick]

Nope - doing something wrong - SORRY

[Lewis]

Thanks

 

here goes see if this works:

 

Get rid of the space after the link

[Kenilchick]

Thanks for your help lwescott

[Lewis]