Mrs Frugal Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 (edited) The girls have spent the summer living at the bottom of the garden in a fairly large run, free ranging when the weather was nice or sitting on the Eglu run under a big sun shade when it rained. The run is really nice for summer as it's shady when the heat is at its peak. The problem is the clay soil in winter though. It turns into a squelchy bog and the path down to the run is treacherous as I found out last year when I ended up on my back in the snow when I went egg collecting ! So.... .....the girls have a nice new winter run! The vegetable garden is redundant in winter as I don't grow any winter veggies so they now have a very swish covered run which will get any sun, be protected from the rain and I won't have far to go to collect eggs, clean the Eglu and feed the dears! It's also much safer than their other one which only had fruit cage netting sides. It's not as big as the summer run but at 6ft x 8ft it still gives 3 hens a bit more room than the Eglu run. I've posted some photos in the gallery - here Edited January 8, 2006 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 Love the run Kate Your girls will be cosy and dry in there this winter. I like the idea of the tree branch for perching. Can the chickens get from the eglu into the run themselves? My Eglu is inside my larger run and I wear welly clogs in there to keep other shoes free from poo. Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 Lovely pictures Kate, and such a great idea for a run- not only have they got a safe, dry, conveniently situated run, they'll also be busy fertilising the soil for you and scratching it around nicely, in nice time for your veggie planting next spring It's given me some ideas for my winter run, which I'm going to have to think about very soon, as my lawn is no longer recovering as quickly from the damage inflicted on it by 5 chooks and 2 eglus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 18, 2005 Author Share Posted October 18, 2005 They can get into the run themselves Ali if I leave the Eglu door open but with the colder weather coming, I still shut it. The whole thing is just outside the back door so it's just one step to open the pop hole. I won't even get wet when it rains!! The girls love the branch. Clarry was sitting on it yesterday looking just like a tea cosy!! They like squeezing underneath it to scratch about too! The veggies will romp away next year with all the droppings fertilising it and if we leave the wire mesh sides up, it will be ideal to grow runner beans and pumpkins in as it will have ready made supports!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 18, 2005 Share Posted October 18, 2005 Great photos Kate - we're covering ours as well this week - not sure how yet though as we cannot put posts in where we need them because of the sewers running undreneath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 18, 2005 Share Posted October 18, 2005 What a fab run, the girls look like they are enjoying it too. I think that you missed your vocation in life and should be designing chook habitats! I haven't got the room, or resources, for anything as superb as that, but I plan to make a funky clear winter cover for the Eglu run, with an Ikea shower curtain - it's clear with groovy designs on it. Will post pics when I have done it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 18, 2005 Author Share Posted October 18, 2005 What a fab run, the girls look like they are enjoying it too. I think that you missed your vocation in life and should be designing chook habitats! ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted October 18, 2005 Share Posted October 18, 2005 Yes, brilliant design & lovely photos. Good idea having the eglu outside but connected to the run. A real space saver in the enclosure...I wish we'd thought of that. I've been squinting to see; can you clarify...how does the wire fencing meet the eglu and fix onto it? Presumably its attatched and sealed to make the run safe but I can't see how. I think you said joined at front of eglu, but I just need you to speak slowly until I get that bit! Thanks! Looks ingenious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted October 18, 2005 Share Posted October 18, 2005 Great run design Kate, I have been thinking along the same lines but had trouble getting OH to understand what I wanted, now I will just show him the pics of yours. I think it will be this weekends project will post pics when it is finished... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 18, 2005 Author Share Posted October 18, 2005 I've been squinting to see; can you clarify...how does the wire fencing meet the eglu and fix onto it? Presumably its attatched and sealed to make the run safe but I can't see how. Clever LSH had a good idea because I was concerned about the amount of space the Eglu would take up in the fairly small run so he decided to put it outside, standing on bricks to raise it to the same level as the run. The wire has been fixed tightly to the grey surround at the front of the Eglu with the staples you use to fix wire to wood and then we've cut a hole big enough for the pop hole door to open and close inside the run. The front of the Eglu is very securely fixed to the wire and we can pull the staples out with pliers when we move it back to the other run in summer. No foxes can get in and the girls have that bit more room to play! It also means I can clean out the Eglu, collect eggs and open and shut the pop hole without getting muddy feet traipsing through the run. In fact, I don't need to go in the run at all apart from a poop scoop every day or so because the food is near the door as is the water! No more muddy slippers because I can't find where Ollie's left my wellie clogs ! I'll go and take a photo and post it in the new run album in the gardening gallery. Back in a mo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 18, 2005 Author Share Posted October 18, 2005 (edited) Does that help Sheila? The wire is stapled with big heavy duty wire staples (like hairpins) to the front of the Eglu and smaller staplegun staples hold the inbetween pieces of wire in place. It would take a really strong shove to remove it - I know because I tried!! I don't think a fox could remove them by pushing against it. I am a bit doubtful about the roof though as it's much lower at one end and is only plastic sheeting so if we did have a fox come, it could probably get through that if it could get up onto the roof. Edited January 8, 2006 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted October 18, 2005 Share Posted October 18, 2005 Your hens are going to be so cosy this winter where did you get the small mesh green wire from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 18, 2005 Author Share Posted October 18, 2005 Focus DIY store Jane. 10 metres for £26 but you could probably get it cheaper elsewhere if you shop around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted January 8, 2006 Share Posted January 8, 2006 sounds great! I can't see the pics though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted January 8, 2006 Author Share Posted January 8, 2006 Sorry about that Bugsy. The forum was upgraded a couple of weeks ago and the url changed. I'm still finding bits which need changing. You should be able to see the photos now . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted January 8, 2006 Share Posted January 8, 2006 can now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted March 20, 2006 Share Posted March 20, 2006 Hiya Kate, can i ask, how do you get into the big run to clean it out?, i cant see any door?, x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted March 21, 2006 Author Share Posted March 21, 2006 There's a gate on the side, Tracey. It's big enough for us to get in but when we get to the lowest point where the roof slopes, you have to bend down!! We dig the soil over in the run every few weeks, digging in some garden lime to freshen the soil. It doesn't get too bad in there though as the hens are always digging the soil over. The Eglu is outside the run so is easy to open and clean out (when I do it ) without having to go inside and the feeding tray and waterer are just by the door for the run so you don't need to go in to get them either. In fact, the only time I have to go inside is to get mud and stones out of the eglu doorway if they've been digging nearby! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 Thanks Kate, I will let you know when i get around to building my one, xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 Only just seen the photos and the run looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
