Best liner/ bedding for drop tray

[sadietoo]

If anyone has noticed, I have been dripping on here about a WIR for what must seem to you lot as forever. I even got a quote from Aviaries4U, and very nearly got agreement from OH to order one, before he decided he didn't like it after all. So another few weeks have now passed, and yesterday I raised the topic again, because my two girls are shut in their omlet run for far too many hours imo, and I would like to give them something more interesting with perches etc. Sadly we have no space for electric fences or the such, and having lost a girl to the fox before, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, whilst we were around, I am not able to take the chance on freeranging unsupervised. A WIR seems the only way forward.

Breakthrough - (well maybe)...we have discovered that actually OH doesn't mind the wooden houses with an integral run so much...so it seems I may have to sell my beloved eglu and go over to "the dark side".

I was looking at the ones from Flytes so Fancy, Woodenart or Forsham (although forsham are eyewateringly expensive...) I understand it won't hold it's value the same way, but I would hopefully have it for many years. Does anyone have any experience of any of these makes, and if so would you recommend them?

Sorry for long post....thanks for reading.

Edited May 30, 2011 by Guest

[chick wiggle]

Could you not keep your eglu inside the new wir? or is it the look of the whole coop and run in one that your OH prefers?

[sadietoo]

Could you not keep your eglu inside the new wir? or is it the look of the whole coop and run in one that your OH prefers?

 

Unfortunately yes. Our eglu set up currently is a bit of a shambles, what with the bungee cords holding on the shower curtains etc..and it is right by our back door and next to our patio, so it is an eyesore. I had thought that a WIR properly roofed etc would look a lot smarter, but I haven't been able to persuade him of that. Initially he was a fan of the eglu, but it is just a big piece of plastic whichever way you look at it (albeit a useful and lovely bit of plastic). We have been looking at the Woodenart Edward, Harry and James, and painted in the right colours, I do agree that they will look better for our particular circumstances. The other option would be for him to make me something which he likes and which may still utilise the eglu...but given that I've already been trying to sort something out (either ready made or made by him) since April 2010, and sailing season is now upon us, I don't hold out much hope of getting anything finished by him before christmas and I am getting fed up with trying to clean the run through that ridiculously small door!

[teacake]

my OH really didnt want a WIR that looked like one, but also agreed that the eglu run wouldnt work for us so we built a WIR using trellis panels which we attatched the weldmesh too. So it looks like we have a giant trellis "pergola" in the garden, and it just happens to have chickens inside it. I'll try and upload a photo. There are lots of very stylish runs in the WIR just photos post too, I especially like the octagon ones. perhaps if he saw those?

[beach chick]

I can understand where he's coming from, and I like the trellis solution!

I asked Forsham to quote for a WIR, and I have to say that despite several reminders I never heard back from them, which rather put me off. in the end, mr beach chick built me one, but I can see a man with sailing on his mind might not focus on chooks

[Jools]

I have several Forsham houses and they are fabulous quality, well worth the money imho. I haven't seen their big houses with integral runs in the flesh, but I can categorically vouch for the quality of their Boughton, Bedgebury and Lenham houses.

 

Definitely go with one of the better manufacturers, otherwise you'll be disappointed. I bought a big house and integral run from another supplier last year and I've just sold it as it wasn't up to the horizontal rain we get here. It wasn't cheap, but it was just over half the price of the Forsham version and I really should have know better.

[Mrs Potts]

I do sympathise. Being a traitor doesn't come easy, but aesthetics do play a part from the OH's point of view (as well as how we'd finance a cube).

 

I saw a picture of MadChickenLady's integral house and run in the snow, on her blog. It came from Smith's Sectional buildings. I am still in love with the idea of 'The Thicket', which is still pretty expensive, but I think it looks quite neat, and you could paint it.

 

Good luck!

[Louisdog]

I have both Forsham and Flyte so Fancy and would recommend them. The folk at Flyte So Fancy were particularly helpful and their house is a really nice design, and attractive looking.

 

Cheers

Alex

[Redwing]

have you considered another OH?

 

Forsham or Flyte so Fancy are both good

 

Less well known but also excellent are Littleacre and Westaway Poultry

[sadietoo]

Many thanks for your posts and your suggestions....I will do some more investigating..and hopefully be able to post some pics of my lovely new set up soon...ish....

[Plum]

Don't feel disappointed, the wooden ones look great and like the others say go for quality but sounds like your OH is after that anyway. Don't forget to show us what you choose.

[scarlettohara]

have you considered another OH?

 

[Henergy]

teacake - were you able to get a [hoto of your trellis set up because it sounds lovely.

[sadietoo]

Yesterday afternoon there was a breakthrough in the Sadietoo household...and it's thanks to ZoeBunny. I was showing OH her new cube set up with the smart glass tarp on the run and pointing out how it was green mesh, which is what he really wanted, and he said ok...let's have one of those then! only stipulation is the cube must be green... The run is still a bit too low for my liking (i'm 5' 10) so our plan is to raise it up by putting it on railway sleepers, and we will modify the end panel too, like ZoeBunny's or perhaps so that it opens completely...I am so excited...Because we've got to spend a bit out to make the changes to height etc, initially I'm looking to buy second hand....did I mention I am so excited...

[poppy ben grace]

Brilliant news! You will love the cube, so easy to clean and they look great. Good luck in your search for one, cant wait to see the end result!

[Plum]

Great idea putting it on sleepers to raise height but make sure a fox can't dig under them