Cube Mark One Run

[baublegirl]

Has anyone got a WIR without having slabs or concrete as flooring?

We were thinking of concreting, but as the chooks have really enjoyed being on their current base (an old flower bed - so bottom layer of soil, then gravel, then sand, then easibed) we think we might keep them on similar when we move them. They seem to love digging up all the bits from underneath and presumably get a load of insects too.

Can you foresee any problems with doing this? Is it more likely to get soggy in a bigger run? At the moment it's just in an classic eglu run and we've got corrugated plastic over the top. We've had them in there since Jan and it's not got soggy/muddy yet. They'll be in a more exposed bit of the garden, but we're planning on putting plastic on the exposed side to prevent the majority of rain coming in (and it has a roof).

What do you think?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I have had an eglu run and now have a WIR with a soil floor and it works brilliantly for me . I had the eglu run covered with corrugated plastic sheets and the WIR has a proper roof and some rainblinds which keeps everything dry (except round the edges). Even in the really bad weather, it wasn't a problem. I raked the damp stuff up periodically to mix it with the dry and sprinkled Stalosan F round the edges to help dry things up.

[Janty]

We built a concrete surround for both runs but had the centres left as soil. We have put aubiose on top of the soil as the hens love this.

 

Here are some pics of the concrete base of the first run...

 

 

 

And the insides of the runs...

 

 

 

[baublegirl]

Thanks both of you. That's reassuring to see that others have got it and it works. Am so excited about having a bigger space for them. Were also planning on leaving a buddleia in there, is that silly?

[Jules.]

it might get eaten

[ValerieR]

Thanks for asking this question as I was about to ask the same thing!

 

The corner where I plan to put mine is grass at the moment - pretty muddy and bare though as my son's big trampoline was sitting there all over the winter. The ground there does get a bit wet in general as the garden is on a bit of a slope and we have heavy clay soil.

 

SO - do you think I should put down a layer of topsoil or sand or even dig a field drain underneath?

 

I will have a roof on it but with the driving rain and wind in these parts I suspect I will have to put a tarp or something like that on the side in autumn and winter to prevent it getting wet from rain.

 

How thick does the bedding need to be on top and what kind do you both use? (Edit - Janty I see you use aubiose!)How often do you change it?

 

Both of your set-ups look fantastic. Did you just put slabs around the base of yours, ANH? Also, I wonder how you fix these things to wood or concrete or slabs ....

 

Cheers

 

Val

[atsw]

Did you just put slabs around the base of yours, ANH? Also, I wonder how you fix these things to wood or concrete or slabs.

Mine's on a solid slab base, but it's not anchored down in any way. The whole run weighs well over 100Kg, so gravity holds it in place. With mesh sides, the wind blows straight through. I do put a tarpaulin across the front side during the the very wet winter months, but remove it when high wind is forecast, as I think the sheet would act like a big sail and would lift the run in such situations. Picture below.

 

 

Andrew

[ValerieR]

beautiful!

Like the veg beds too

Slabs work out quite expensive though don't they so if I can get away without that is what I'll do!

Cheers

Val