Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Guest]

Well I have gone from a walk in run which I have had for many many years to an extended run on my Cube.

 

DSCF0639 by kooringa23, on Flickr

 

I am thrilled to bits with the additional two extensions and have assembled them so that I can open the back panel underneath the cube, a side panel that will swing open like a door, and the door panel which will do the same - to make an old lady's life so much easier when it comes to cleaning them out. I do have the large door panel which I can get in and out of on a daily basis should I need too - but it's so much easier having the whole door panel opening for some things.

DSCF0647 by kooringa23, on Flickr

 

 

I have added two more bantams - a beautiful Old English Game Bird, and another Modern Game bird - I just adore seeing the rare breeds running around the garden all day - and they don't do any damage whatsoever.

In the next couple of days there will be two more additions - which I will blog about as soon as they come.

Modern and Old English Game by kooringa23, on Flickr

 

Thanks to you all for the inspiration regarding Cube extensions, adaptations etc - I have just loved looking through all the photos in the gallery and in the posts

 

Phew finally worked out the code for the photos!

Edited October 1, 2010 by Guest

[The Dogmother]

They look so happy in their new home m'dear, say hello to them for me and I'll see them in the new year.

 

Well done on the introductions by the way.

[Snowy]

Lovely to hear from you again Dilly! Will go and browse your blog

[Guest]

I have been reading your blog Snowy but it won't let me leave comments. Did you get those other chickens you wanted?

[Snowy]

I have been reading your blog Snowy but it won't let me leave comments. Did you get those other chickens you wanted?

Had to turn the comments off as I was getting some strange ones Dilly

Sadly no more chickens yet - all the suppliers around me seem to be drying up. I need a day to go further afield but it's not happening I will get my vicarious chicken watching through your blog for now!

[Jules.]

It all looks lovely

[thenewchick]

Oh I love your Lola she is just the bees knees, I would love one of thoese Where did you get her????

[Chicken shack]

Well I have gone from a walk in run which I have had for many many years to an extended run on my Cube.

 

DSCF0639 by kooringa23, on Flickr

 

I am thrilled to bits with the additional two extensions and have assembled them so that I can open the back panel underneath the cube, a side panel that will swing open like a door, and the door panel which will do the same - to make an old lady's life so much easier when it comes to cleaning them out. I do have the large door panel which I can get in and out of on a daily basis should I need too - but it's so much easier having the whole door panel opening for some things.

DSCF0647 by kooringa23, on Flickr

 

 

I have added two more bantams - a beautiful Old English Game Bird, and another Modern Game bird - I just adore seeing the rare breeds running around the garden all day - and they don't do any damage whatsoever.

In the next couple of days there will be two more additions - which I will blog about as soon as they come.

Modern and Old English Game by kooringa23, on Flickr

 

Thanks to you all for the inspiration regarding Cube extensions, adaptations etc - I have just loved looking through all the photos in the gallery and in the posts

 

Phew finally worked out the code for the photos!

I love the pearches but my Light Sussex flies from the nest box instaead of using the ladder and I am worried that if I put a pearch in the run she will knock her self out. What do you think? I only have one extra extention.

[daxigirl]

Wow that looks really good, so clean and tidy (hope I can achieve that) I love the modern game bird, looks so sweet in the run. Think I'll have to read about them a bit.

[Guest]

'Chicken Shack' Light Sussex are bigger than my bantams - but I can assure you that they will not 'knock themselves out'

 

I used to have a Buff Orpington and she didn't have a problem with a perch.

 

I even used to have perches in my Eglus years ago and the Hybrid chickens loved them too.

 

I just think that in a natural environment they perch in trees and bushes - so it's just recreating that.

 

I have used two different sized broom handles, cut them to size - only needed to cut a little bit off so it was easy, then I used metal cup hooks so that they hang from the bars. My bantams tend to perch all in a row, so to stop it sliding about when they all fly up I just used a bit if tape on the wire cage frame next to the hook so that it didn't slide too much.

 

I have had chickens and bantams in the past that didn't like the ladder and chose to fly in and fly out of the cube - having a perching bar ensures that they can fly in easier. In fact mine have taken to queuing up on the perches and flying in one by one - and the other good thing about them is that during the summer when it was so hot, they slept 'outside' on the perches in the run!

 

The mist lifted today and it is glorious sunshine and they are all out freeranging. The new ones included - and to see their sheer delight and hear their happy little chirrups and squawks was pure joy. They have even been flying around like the others - and running 'Road Runner' fashion from one end of the garden to the other. They are dust bathing under the hedges in the sunshine - what a life huh? As they came from a Show Bird breeder they spent their lives in cages - so this must feel like heaven.

[Lewis]

Looks great!

[Chicken shack]

'Chicken Shack' Light Sussex are bigger than my bantams - but I can assure you that they will not 'knock themselves out'

 

I used to have a Buff Orpington and she didn't have a problem with a perch.

 

I even used to have perches in my Eglus years ago and the Hybrid chickens loved them too.

 

I just think that in a natural environment they perch in trees and bushes - so it's just recreating that.

 

I have used two different sized broom handles, cut them to size - only needed to cut a little bit off so it was easy, then I used metal cup hooks so that they hang from the bars. My bantams tend to perch all in a row, so to stop it sliding about when they all fly up I just used a bit if tape on the wire cage frame next to the hook so that it didn't slide too much.

 

I have had chickens and bantams in the past that didn't like the ladder and chose to fly in and fly out of the cube - having a perching bar ensures that they can fly in easier. In fact mine have taken to queuing up on the perches and flying in one by one - and the other good thing about them is that during the summer when it was so hot, they slept 'outside' on the perches in the run!

 

The mist lifted today and it is glorious sunshine and they are all out freeranging. The new ones included - and to see their sheer delight and hear their happy little chirrups and squawks was pure joy. They have even been flying around like the others - and running 'Road Runner' fashion from one end of the garden to the other. They are dust bathing under the hedges in the sunshine - what a life huh? As they came from a Show Bird breeder they spent their lives in cages - so this must feel like heaven.

Thank you for getting back to me I will get 1 broom handle for now as I only have 4 girls. I wanted them to have as much room as I could afford that is why I got the extra run. I am fortunate that my husband is in his work shop most days and I have fenced of part of the garden so that they can FR. They spend most of the time looking at him through the window or open door in the hope he will give them mealworms. They mostly ignore me .We don't have a very big garden but I am sure they appreciate the oppotunity to scratch about under bushes. I will add another extention next year and will also look out for a second hand one on ebay, they are over £100 now I beleive. I also want OH to adapt it so that I don't have to crawl throuhg the door. I have the larger door as I only got it this summer but I still find it difficult another couple of inches would make all the difference. I live in a very urban built up area and having the girls gets me closer to nature.

[karlotta]

I'm totally in love with your Modern Game Bantam girl! Can I ask where you got her from?

[Guest]

Firstly, thank you all for your lovely comments and pm's. It's great hearing from you.

 

C. Shack. I am convinced that any space that they can scratch in, roll in, peck at, is good, no matter what size. When I had quail, which can't free range, I planted seed trays of grass, pots of grass, herbs, bowls of soil, and wood dust etc - and they loved it.

 

I have hinged the front panel so that it opens and it's made a big difference - ditto the little one at the back, especially when you have a flock.

[Chicken shack]

Firstly, thank you all for your lovely comments and pm's. It's great hearing from you.

 

C. Shack. I am convinced that any space that they can scratch in, roll in, peck at, is good, no matter what size. When I had quail, which can't free range, I planted seed trays of grass, pots of grass, herbs, bowls of soil, and wood dust etc - and they loved it.

 

I have hinged the front panel so that it opens and it's made a big difference - ditto the little one at the back, especially when you have a flock.

I have put a broom handle and a thickish tree branch in the run as the girls are FR at the moment I don't know what they think. Will let you know.

[The Dogmother]

Phil says to tell you that he loves the photos, we're planning the extension to my run now.

[goodinparts]

Looks perfect - and very inspiring as I can't have a WIR but am currently trying hard to find a cube plus extensions on ebay....That gives me something to aim for And what LOVELY girls

[Guest]

Just got home - we've been away a couple of days.

 

Karlotta - sorry missed your post. I got her and the Old English Game Bird from a chap I know - he shows birds, so is not a 'big breeder' of birds - but specialises in different game birds. He used to breed Rosecombs - hence Gozzie, my Rosecomb who is rather elderly now, and he has always bred Modern Game birds - and now is branching out into different colours/breeds of Old English. I am very lucky to have found him, and if I pick the time right, can get a bird or two. Ones that have been bred this year for showing, and either not with 'perfect' feather colouring to fit the high standards or else have been shown and not needed for breeding or simply surplus to requirements. He knows I don't show or breed from them and only have them as garden pets - so there's not competition from me

[Chicken shack]

Firstly, thank you all for your lovely comments and pm's. It's great hearing from you.

 

C. Shack. I am convinced that any space that they can scratch in, roll in, peck at, is good, no matter what size. When I had quail, which can't free range, I planted seed trays of grass, pots of grass, herbs, bowls of soil, and wood dust etc - and they loved it.

 

I have hinged the front panel so that it opens and it's made a big difference - ditto the little one at the back, especially when you have a flock.

Hi Dilly I had a piece of tree branch that I wedged in the side of the run to give a slanting purch and put a broom handle accross the run as you have done. They were a little suspicious at first when I wanted them to go in the cube run, once inside they ignored the broom handle but hopped onto the tree branch. When I let them out of the house this morning Daisy did the usual and flew out and as you said she did not fly into the broom handle. OH thought that the broom handle would be a bit thin for them to purch but when I rang him from work he said that 3 of them were perched on the broom handle so success Thank you for your advice.

[Guest]

You are very welcome. I didn't suggest a tree branch as I had been reading on here about red mite problems. It'll be especially great for your chickens being able to perch in the run in the winter. It's just a great way of utilising all the height in the cube - which, apart from the ladder into the cube itself, doesn't get used.

 

Yours will love sitting there preening themselves, catching any winter sunshine, and having a doze on there - just you wait and see!

 

I would love to see your run now - any chance of a photo on here or on your flckr account?

[Chicken shack]

You are very welcome. I didn't suggest a tree branch as I had been reading on here about red mite problems. It'll be especially great for your chickens being able to perch in the run in the winter. It's just a great way of utilising all the height in the cube - which, apart from the ladder into the cube itself, doesn't get used.

 

Yours will love sitting there preening themselves, catching any winter sunshine, and having a doze on there - just you wait and see!

 

I would love to see your run now - any chance of a photo on here or on your flckr account?

Back at work teaching 24/7 but will do in due course.

[The Dogmother]

You are very welcome. I didn't suggest a tree branch as I had been reading on here about red mite problems.

 

That's one reason why I wouldn't use one - I'd stick to smooth broom handles or plastic bars for perches.

[goodinparts]

I'd not thought of a potential redmite problem - my girls have a couple of logs in their extended run, which they really seem to enjoy - but I don't want to put them at needless risk of redmite misery...Would I be better advised to get rid of them and revert to plant pots til I get my in 2 weeks time?

[Chicken shack]

My girls really enjoy the thick tree branch, when I cleaned them out today I sprayed it with poultry sheild, they also have a broom handle. I know I am taking a risk.

[The Dogmother]

If you think it's OK, and you can easily treat it for mites, then carry on using it.

 

Red mites can live on most surfaces, but find it easier to live and hide on things with lots of nooks and crannies.