witzend Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 I'm going to introduce my girls in another post - otherwise I think this will be VERY picture heavy!! BEFORE: Basically - I have patio doors leading from the back of the lounge through to a fully-flagged 'garden. This area gets lots of sun in the morning and then shades over during the day The wanted to be able to watch, and have access to, the chooks from inside as well as have the obvious access from the garden side Eventually I came up with a WIR which incorporates the patio doors and the side wall - ie mesh only on 2 sides - it's about 7/10" square. BAY ANIMAL HOUSING in Morecambe have done a fab job - here they are mid-build !! Apart from the lovely patio door access, there's a cunning stable door at the opposite (garden) side. This is split so I can optn the top section and step over the lower part - hopefully this will stop the chooks escaping!! I can also open the bottom by itself or the whole thing together At the mo it's slightly high so they're coming back on Monday to change it and do some other finishing off bits Here's the finished article 'dressed' for the chicks................ My Classic is (currently) on a table - making it the right height for cleaning/egg collecting (in a few weeks) - but I may have to resort to putting it on the floor whilst the chooks learn to climb! The ladder is made from the sides of a baby cradle (!) - leftover bits have been used to make 'matching' (!) perches, ladder and climbing frame I've 2 G&G stands which currently hold pellets, water & grit pots - the can easily be moved around if I want to change where the Eglu sits and/or for variety There are also a few strategically placed cup hooks to hang things from and on Monday a shelf and some hooks will be going up (wall side) so I can keep some of the equipment/cleaning stuff close to hand Nearly forgot - the roof is polycarbonate - so it should be safe enough if we ever have to escape out of the upstairs window and it's great weather protection. I'm also able to attach 3mm acrylic to the main section of the door and the large central section..............it slots into a little groove and is held in place by swivel clips. There's still plenty of ventilation through the small end panel, lower door and full mesh by the fence The chicks like it already - hope you do too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Just wait til the little monsters trash the place!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 VERY nice I love the fried eglu Can't wait to see the girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 For anyone wanting to jump to the girls: http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=79417 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 It's a really practical set up, you've thought of everything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Just wondering .... will your neighbours not object to the positioning of your WIR? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Do your patio doors open directly into the WIR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenewchick Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Where did you get that table for the Eglu it just looks the perfect size??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Personally I wouldn't have had it butting up to the patio doors like that,& so close to the neighbours conservatory Also I think you will need the Eglu on the floor until the hens are a bit bigger.................. It looks nicely built though & spacious - hope you don't mind the constructive criticism Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 25, 2011 Author Share Posted June 25, 2011 LOL -well it's up now Neighbours were fine about it so there's no problem and I wanted to be able to access from the house - there's no need for me to get wet and cold to clean them out!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Hope you don't get a curry poo stuck on your shoe then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Not wanting to rain on your parade, but the impact on your neighbours may be considerable. If the hens are noisy, and the inevitable flies, and dare I say it, smell, upset them, I fear that even the most tolerant of people will be asking you to move it. It is one thing having it 50 yards up the garden, and quite another having it just a couple of metres from a bedroom or sitting room window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 25, 2011 Author Share Posted June 25, 2011 oh well - we'll have to wait and see. She doesn't use the conservatory - it's more additional storage (!) I could have put it around the back of the extension but I'd never see them. I've got a fly trap up and a couple of citronella-smelling hanging things Worst possible scenario is that the whole thing has to come down which would demand a complete rethink and possible re-use of existing materials!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 It looks lovely though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 I had my chickens in the conservatory in the worst of the cold for a couple of weeks and it was great seeing them all the time. A lot of dust was generated in there but it didn't come in the house. I was going to say don't leave the patio doors open but you won't anyway unless you want a housefull of chickens . I kept some shoes on a brush mat by the door and just used them to go in and out so the bedding didn't travel round the house. It does now though and the run is at the end of the garden Your run looks great and as long as your neighbour is onside you'll be ok. You may need some sunshade for them in the mornings if it gets hot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 I can see why you've put it there, but REALLY not sure about direct access from the living room (sorry...). but the eglu and all your bits look lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 25, 2011 Author Share Posted June 25, 2011 Thanks- that end of the living room isn't used by people so a direct extension from the doors into a hen run seemed quite 'natural' for our house!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
