Burtie14 Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 Hello everyone. After deciding last weekend that our chickens could do with a new perch, we went to B&Q to buy a single piece of wood. Two days and about £120 later, we finally completed what I've labelled the 'educational activity centre'. It's a kind of mezzanine level with climbing and perching facilities - and I like to think it's educational because if the chickens explore it regularly they'll sometimes get treats! Anyway - after we spent a whole weekend of sweat, graft, and head-scratching on it, I thought I'd share some photos! The great news is that the chickens seem to really like it - and they've shown their appreciation in the usual way - by plopping all over it! Apologies if the photo size is a bit large, that part of publishing was a little beyond me. High perch... ... and mezzanine. Ginger explores... ... and finds a short cut to sweetcorn! Dusty finds her way to the very top perch! (it took her hours to work out how to get down! ) Betty proudly posing! ... and striding purposefully to join the other 3 in devouring sweetcorn. The 'ledge' in the corner is accessed by a hinged bridge, so we can raise or lower it if needed! Here are the girls helping during construction! If you're not bored already (and if you've got a spare couple of hours ), you can see our entire chicken project starting from 6 months ago when we started digging out the garden by visiting http://s983.photobucket.com/albums/ae314/Burtie/Chickens/ The order is a bit jumbled but I hope you like it nonetheless! Burtie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 THAT'S AMAZING. I WANT ONE !!!! BUILD ME ONE But seriously they are going to love it. congradulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 Fantastic Well done A work of chicken art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 Creative Genius - what lucky girls!! Great pictures (we took pictures of our first eggs as well!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 That is absolutely brilliant! I put 3 logs in my run and was proud of myself but your work of art absolutely takes the biscuit! I bet your girls are having a lovely time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 I'm not showing it to mine They'll want one! Looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 Wow Amazing Hubby has two weeks off work on monday - I'll just save your pictures to my desktop and see if he notices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 I'm very impressed, that's a really great set up you have there. I've looked at every picture and every video and I have to say you have a stunning garden too I notice that your run seems to be full of aubiose, could be wrong knowing me, just wondered if it is aubiose if you manage to keep it dry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burtie14 Posted August 7, 2010 Author Share Posted August 7, 2010 Thanks for the kind words everyone! I think after the effort of building it I was probably looking for some positive strokes other than from the chickens, who obviously can't talk. Mercedes, thank you! But I can't take much of the credit - I'll just say that it's wonderful having a newly-retired Dad who lives round the corner and loves gardening!! Yes, it is aubiose - it's kept pretty dry so far because the run is quite sheltered by the fence behind. I've found it's very good at absorbing the moisture and then drying out quickly. It might be a bit more of a struggle when we get into autumn & winter and it's not so warm, but overall I think it seems a really good product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 Thanks for the kind words everyone! I think after the effort of building it I was probably looking for some positive strokes other than from the chickens, who obviously can't talk. Mercedes, thank you! But I can't take much of the credit - I'll just say that it's wonderful having a newly-retired Dad who lives round the corner and loves gardening!! Yes, it is aubiose - it's kept pretty dry so far because the run is quite sheltered by the fence behind. I've found it's very good at absorbing the moisture and then drying out quickly. It might be a bit more of a struggle when we get into autumn & winter and it's not so warm, but overall I think it seems a really good product. I may have to kidnap your dad then We are due to have a WIR built later this month and we were wondering about using aubiose as our run will be up against a fence one end, just need to work out which way the prevailing wind blows as you can bet it will be from the other direction It looks like you have some lovely views from your garden. The lawn looks very nice and striped too, hope the hens haven't messed it up too much for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burtie14 Posted August 7, 2010 Author Share Posted August 7, 2010 Thanks for the kind words everyone! I think after the effort of building it I was probably looking for some positive strokes other than from the chickens, who obviously can't talk. Mercedes, thank you! But I can't take much of the credit - I'll just say that it's wonderful having a newly-retired Dad who lives round the corner and loves gardening!! Yes, it is aubiose - it's kept pretty dry so far because the run is quite sheltered by the fence behind. I've found it's very good at absorbing the moisture and then drying out quickly. It might be a bit more of a struggle when we get into autumn & winter and it's not so warm, but overall I think it seems a really good product. I may have to kidnap your dad then We are due to have a WIR built later this month and we were wondering about using aubiose as our run will be up against a fence one end, just need to work out which way the prevailing wind blows as you can bet it will be from the other direction It looks like you have some lovely views from your garden. The lawn looks very nice and striped too, hope the hens haven't messed it up too much for you Hands off my Dad! I still need him. I'd definitely go with aubiose - I think if your WIR has a roof it's unlikely to get properly wet inside, and it's really great at taking all the moisture out of their poo so that you just scoop it off the top. Hmm. The lawn certainly WAS stripey... that's before we started letting the girls out regularly to explore. To give them credit though, they do keep it short! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sezra Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 Wow! That is amazing! What lucky chickens! Very inspiring, will have to have a think about what to do with my run when I get a spare moment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 That's amazing, well done Your chucks will never get bored Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lheurebleue Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 ...we went to B&Q to buy a single piece of wood. Two days and about £120 later... Don't you just hate it when that happens?! Very impressive, Burtie. *thumbs up* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 Fantastic, educated chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 Brilliant! I want one of those too (once the introduction pen is moved from my WIR and I have more space)! Can you hire your Dad out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 Amazing! Want one! Well done you and your dad :clap: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burtie14 Posted August 8, 2010 Author Share Posted August 8, 2010 Fantastic, educated chickens They're only educated in some ways. They're still happy to roundly ignore me when it suits them. The day I get them to understand the words "no pooping" will be the best of my life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 Before I placed my order for an Eglu Classic and 3 girls back in April 08...I spent two whole weeks thinking about the 'doo-doo' they would do I now have 14 girls and don't give the 'doo-doo' they do a second thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 They're only educated in some ways. They're still happy to roundly ignore me when it suits them. The day I get them to understand the words "no pooping" will be the best of my life! Pigs will fly first I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burtie14 Posted August 8, 2010 Author Share Posted August 8, 2010 Before I placed my order for an Eglu Classic and 3 girls back in April 08...I spent two whole weeks thinking about the 'doo-doo' they would do I now have 14 girls and don't give the 'doo-doo' they do a second thought I wouldn't mind, except they save it up for when they've been watching me spend ages clearing out the run... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 That looks fantastic, well done Might show it to my hubby, he and YS have just built an outdoor run for the tortoise think this could be their next project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 he and YS have just built an outdoor run for the tortoise think this could be their next project. I'm not sure your tortoise could manage the ladder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 My OH hates you!!!! I now want one of those and as your dad probably wont be coming here anytime soon, its all down to my OH That is one very seriously clever chook gym, amazing, well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 It looks fantastic. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
