Britannia Ovens (esp Range cookers) your experience

[Jools]

I think it's easy to become paranoid about red mite in anything and everything. Personally I wouldn't be too concerned about logs or branches, but then my chicken garden is under some mature trees, with woodchip on the winter area. Down to personal choice maybe.

[Chicken shack]

Hi Dilly After years of having a walk in run why did you change to the cube runs I love my cube with extra run but have been looking at attaching cube to a walk in run. I only got my cube this summer and the expense of a WIR that I want would be about £500 where as if I buy another run extention and cover next year would be cheeper. Your expertise is most welcome.

[Guest]

Been away again - so just seen this.

 

I made a big walk in run when I got my first eglu. The the bird flu scare started and we were 'advised' to keep them in a covered area, so I just netted the top of it.

 

It was not on concrete, just a big soil area which they did love. It got a bit too much for me in the winter though. Although they always free ranged, they had shelters in their WIR, plus eglus, then the cube.

 

I didn't have the energy, money, or expertise to rebuild it into those lovely WIR's on here - with the plastic roofs, etc. When we had the bad winter this year and the snow was so deep the bantams couldn't see over the top of it in their WIR, so not being able to get to the shelters, the cheapest option was to move the Cube out onto the paved patio next to the WIR, and add a single cube run (I put it together in a snowstorm in January. With the addition of a 'glass tarp' they loved it, and were sunbathing inside with deep snow all around the cube and run.

 

I am an 'oldie' and found that the cube ran was so easy to clean etc - and the chooks had the best of both worlds. Now that I have 10 bantams (collected 2 more tonight) I decided to put on the extra 2 extensions a few weeks ago. I am truly thrilled to bits, and wish I had done it sooner.

 

It is so easy for me to clean - I have made one of the side panels so that it opens so there is a huge 'door' for me to just clean it out - there is a photo or two on my blog. The roosting bars - broom handles attached with cup hooks - I can just unhook one side and then swing them up towards the roof and hook them out of the way whilst I sweep out the run. The front door panel I have hinged so that opens fully, but I don't need it too in hindsight.

 

So basically - the reasons are - easy to clean out and maintain, covered completely so better for the chooks in winter, cheaper, and the bedding - Rapport or Hemcore or whatever you choose - stays cleaner for longer and is so much cheaper.

 

Hope that helps a bit.

 

With a bit of luck by tomorrow evening I will have added photos of my two new girls - one is a very rare breed and I had a dickens of a job persuading the chap to part with one of his brood - but I can be very persuasive when I want to be!

[Chicken shack]

Thank you for your reply. I have mine on the earth with a winter cover and the summer shade on. I have a double run. I think that when you go on here and see all the great WIR that people have built you start to run away with ideas. The cube is next to the brick wall and with the covers keeps quite dry. I only got the cube this summer so to spend more money would be insane. OH would probably have a fit I think I will stop looking at the WIR and buy another run extention next year. Makes more sense. How do you introduce your new girls I only have 4 and have room for more I would like to get a couple of ex-batts but worry they would be picked on and that the ladder would be too much at first. I love your girls by the way. I have had a look at your blog. My sister lives in Great Hockham Norfolk opposite a very nice farmer who loves his girls (hens). Your set up looks great, I am afraid I live in east London in a very built up area and my work comitments keep us here for now but one day we hope to move.

[Guest]

The WIR are absolutely beautiful on here - mine was just one I built myself - it's still there, but I used it for growing fruit and salad etc this year - it's great for keeping out the pigeons!

 

My WIR was great albeit a bit 'Heath Robinson' - but as we don't have a fox problem they freerange every day! I used to get mucky boots when it was wet in there and over the winter in the snow - ditto my little grandson when he visited - another of my reasons to buy a run for the cube, then the extensions.

 

I guess it is whatever suits you and your budget and circumstances.

 

It's like most things in life, there will always be a bigger, better, fridge, car, house, et al - but if you are happy with what you have enjoy it/them.

 

(But it is very nice to look at the bigger better things and admire them though isn't it..........but there will still always be a bigger better..............always, always, always!)

 

Regards introducing new chickens - there is a section on the forum with all different experiences - so think it best you check that out - we all do it different ways. I have had chickens on and off for 33 years - so just do what works for me.

 

BTW if you visit your sister in Gt Hockham - let me know and if I am at home you are welcome to come and pay a visit - I go there flower arranging once a month.

 

Just off to put a few pics on my blog - of my latest new bantams - before I spend a few hours up the allotment - it's a lovely day!

[The Dogmother]

The new set-up is looking great Dilly - can't wait to see it next year. I'll keep you updated with mine as it occurs too.

[Chicken shack]

The WIR are absolutely beautiful on here - mine was just one I built myself - it's still there, but I used it for growing fruit and salad etc this year - it's great for keeping out the pigeons!

 

My WIR was great albeit a bit 'Heath Robinson' - but as we don't have a fox problem they freerange every day! I used to get mucky boots when it was wet in there and over the winter in the snow - ditto my little grandson when he visited - another of my reasons to buy a run for the cube, then the extensions.

 

I guess it is whatever suits you and your budget and circumstances.

 

It's like most things in life, there will always be a bigger, better, fridge, car, house, et al - but if you are happy with what you have enjoy it/them.

 

(But it is very nice to look at the bigger better things and admire them though isn't it..........but there will still always be a bigger better..............always, always, always!)

 

Regards introducing new chickens - there is a section on the forum with all different experiences - so think it best you check that out - we all do it different ways. I have had chickens on and off for 33 years - so just do what works for me.

 

BTW if you visit your sister in Gt Hockham - let me know and if I am at home you are welcome to come and pay a visit - I go there flower arranging once a month.

 

Just off to put a few pics on my blog - of my latest new bantams - before I spend a few hours up the allotment - it's a lovely day!

Hi Dilly Yes I guess there is always a bigger car but it is my hobbies and intersts that use up my ££££££££. and the children and grandchildren Sorry but what does BTW stand for?

[Guest]

By the way - BTW

[Chicken shack]

By the way - BTW

Silly me Not very good with text talk I had to ask what WIR meant.

[Egluntyne]

Explanation of commonly used forum abbreviations **here**.

 

I have to refer to it quite frequently. .

[daxigirl]

Love your modern game and pekin, they are so pretty and total opposits, I wonder, would they get on with big girls or is it not to be recommended?

[Guest]

I think some forumers have successfully mixed bantams with big hens. When I had 3 hybrids and introduced 3 pekins - which I adopted - they were fine freeranging, but not in a confined space - i.e. a 25ft x 12ft WIR run, so I bought another eglu to go with the one I had. Since having the Cube, I have found that large bantams do mix fine with the teeny ones - obviously they have their pecking order 'issues' at feeding times, but nothing serious at all. Once they are all full they just preen and doze together.