2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Donna C]

As the title says, I looked and planned my wir for months wanting to get it right. Put it all up and was just putting my 2/3 coat of varnish on and blimey, i thought the roof and sides were about to come off. I was scared never mind what my girls would think The wind has ripped of my heavy duty plastic sides.

 

My question is how do you secure plastic better. I screwed it at the top and spent hours putting small holes and eyelits along the bottom. Should i use tarp? is that less noisey and stronger. Are the better /stronger eyelits to use, i got some from hobby craft. Don't want to keep spending money on it but need to get it right before i move my girls in( after varnish of course) Any help would be great, this is turning into a nightmare

[Jools]

I've found corrugate plastic to be a lot stronger than tarps but ...... I lose at least one panel every year as the wind rips them apart, probably because the cold makes them more brittle.

 

My OH has fixed my sheets to a wooden frame which is then fixed to the roof and sides of my aviary and big chicken run. It seems to make them more stable but that could just be my imagination!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I've more or less given up on my glass clear tarps . The eyelets just get ripped off and they end up flapping about and ripping even more .

 

I'm planning on a change of tack and buying perspex sheets as discussed here.

[Donna C]

Sounds really expensive

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I know, it could be . I suppose it depends on the size of your run though. I'm going to ask how much it would be for 2mm panels just along the bottom half of my run. I could probably repair enough of the tarps for the top half.

[Omletina Kyckling]

I have clear tarps around mine and reinforced any eyelets with extra tarp tape (the extra ones I put in, that is) - I've been quick to repair any small tears using tarp tape before they got bigger and they've all survived this winter so far, even though I live in a very windy and exposed area.

[Donna C]

Sounds good.Where do you get tarp,and tarp tape from and what kind of eyelits do you use. Really want to get it right

[Omletina Kyckling]

I bought all of my stuff from tarpaflex. They sell the tarps, the tape and extra eyelet kits. My tarp was much bigger than the size suggested so at the top I doubled it over, then used tape and the eyelets for extra holes. I used their little bungee type things to attach the run. At the top, there are brass cup hooks on the run and the tarp simply hooks onto them, then at the bottom there are the same brass cup hooks and the bungees hold them down. I have two lengths of tarp, one goes around one side, the back and partway around the other side and then the shorter one goes from the door along the front and around the other side. I cut a piece out to go over the door and that is permanently nailed on.

[Donna C]

Sounds great, have just ordered some and eyelits, tape. Any hints ,tips would be great

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You'll see a few photos of my tarp blinds in my signature link . They've not lasted as well as I'd hoped though . (I do have a very windy, exposed garden .)

[Omletina Kyckling]

You'll see a few photos of my tarp blinds in my signature link . They've not lasted as well as I'd hoped though . (I do have a very windy, exposed garden .)

 

Yours are individual tarps on each side which can be rolled up, I think? I decided not to do that as where I live we have gale force winds most of the time so put them so one goes around 2.5 sides and the other around the remainder. It means I only have two options, on or off, can't roll them up and down with the weather but think that may be why they've survived up here as there are less edges to catch and blow and tear. I've also put tarp tape on at the first sign of any tears too which has probably helped.

 

I know that when I take them off, I'm asking for monsoon weather!!!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Yours are individual tarps on each side which can be rolled up, I think?

 

Yes, you're right, that's no doubt why they've not lasted . My run is so small that I'd have had difficulty putting huge tarps up .

[Barkisland]

Omletina I think you must live somewhere near me - that micro-climate sounds very familiar!

Mr B built my run, and it was a labour of love. Totally over engineered, it will outlast us all.

He 'glazed' the end panels with upvc at the end that gets the prevailing wind. (The stuff conservatory roofs are made of). I tried tarps for the sides but they quickly ripped and flapped about, cracking like a bullwhip, and frightenning my girls half to death. So after the first winter, he made me a set of shutters from the same (upvc) stuff, which can be removed in the summer or fastened on semi permanently in vile winters. They has been very successful. I store them in the garage or greenhouse when they are not in use.

Edited April 2, 2011 by Guest

[Olly]

The fox has chewed my tarp.

[Omletina Kyckling]

Omletina I think you must live somewhere near me - that micro-climate sounds very familiar!

.

If your forum name is a clue to where you live, I could probably wave to you from where I am!!!

[Barkisland]

YooHoo! Yes, I am in breezy Barkisland, but it's turned out nice today after a very poor start

[Plum]

My question is how do you secure plastic better. I screwed it at the top and spent hours putting small holes and eyelits along the bottom. Should i use tarp? is that less noisey and stronger. Are the better /stronger eyelits to use, i got some from hobby craft. Don't want to keep spending money on it but need to get it right before i move my girls in( after varnish of course) Any help would be great, this is turning into a nightmare

 

To secure the plastic (pvc) sheet at back of run I drilled oversize holes to allow for expansion in the sun and fixed to wood frame with screws with big heads on all four sides and across the middle frame as well about 18-24 ins apart. Stops the wind lifting it. I'm probably not answering your question did you mean the solid sheets.

[CR666]

We have built timber panels to fit within the WIR panel. As our PIR panels are 6' X 3', this means each individual panel is slightly less than 3' X 3', basically the new panel is made from 2"X1" timber screwed into a square shape that fits inside the 2"x2" timber used to build the WIR.

 

Once I have made this frame I have covered it with clear plastic stapled to the timber, I am able to get this free from a local bedding shop and is the plastic bags that the mattresses come in so is supplied in large sheets. Our local shop is delighted for us to remove it rather than them having to pay to have it removed.

 

These panels can then be fitted and removed at will, I have fixed some small plastic blocks secured to the WIR on one end so that they swing, the panel is pressed into place against the mesh and the block swings into place to hold it firm.

 

I had the timber already and as I said the plastic is free so it has cost hardly anything apart from the time taken to make the things. I find myself putting the frames in and removing them daily, depending on weather and wind direction, the other advantage is that you can block off the base and leave the top open when it is windy to provide some protection for the little darlings.

 

ps. We have a classic and have had 3 chooks, I have just been informed that OH has ordered another 2 chooks and they will be arriving shortly. That should be snug at night in the classic.

[Plum]

Sounds good. I like the wooden catch idea Sounds like you have a good OH.