Peacocks

[Minty_76]

Would appreciate any opinions or advice!

 

I have a classic with 3 metre run and 3 bantams. Its kind of to the side of our smallish garden on the grass (sorry - mud) and its a bit grim cleaning the run etc. Its also a bit too long! The question being would it make sense to sell the classic and buy a cube with an extension or would they not have much space as obviously some of the run is underneath the cube. Or-do you think a walk in run would be better with the classic attaching to it somehow? There is a patio area at the bottom of the garden which may suffice. I'm probably being daft but it's something to think about! At the moment the garden is not chicken/predator proof so they don't free-range but that could change (not sure about my 2 year old and chicken poo though to be honest!).

 

P.S To throw a spanner in the works I would like at some point to get some hybrids as my girls are too posh to push at the moment it seems!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Unless you're thinking of getting lots more chickens, a cube would be quite big for 3 bantams! I don't think the cube run would give you much more space and it's still hard to get into for cleaning. I think a walk in run is the best idea - it's easier to get into for cleaning and you could keep your eglu (look at my signature link to see my WIR and eglu).

[sandyhas3chucks]

yep agree WIR with the Eglu in it...

[alet_chicken]

Another vote for a walk in run with Eglu inside. You could put the Eglu on a table like ANH has done to maximise the floor space.

 

A walk in run would be much easier to clean than a Cube run; also you could have it made to any dimension that suits your garden, e.g. the shape of your patio area.

 

If you want to upgrade to a Cube because you want to get more hens, then I would still recommend a WIR. It's much easier to attache a Cube to the outside of a WIR than an Eglu.

[Duncan08]

I was in exactly the same position as you. Had a With a 4 m run.

The run was impossible to clean properly and got pretty stinky and slimy. The girls had a FR area that they accessed by going through the back door of the So the coop got dirty within 10 mins of cleaning.

 

For Christmas this year I asked hubby for a cube and my dad built me a WIR.

 

It is such a fabulous improvement. The WIR is covered with a plywood and shingle roof, (wickes) that was a bit of extravagance but would definitely recommend a roof.

I was going to slab under it but After a suggestion on here I laid a thick layer of 20mm gravel topped of with a thick layer of easibed (horse suppliers), works wonders a bit of poo picking at the weekend and a bit of a rake it's good as new.

 

The cube sits outside the run, and I used some of the old Run panels to cover the sides of the underneath, using a door panel at the back which let's the girls out into the FR area.

We used to throw leftovers into the old run which added to the general muddy stinky mess, now we have a couple of stainless steel bowls to collect s"Ooops, word censored!"s in. The cube itself is sat on some old flags, we feed the leftovers in the bowl on the slabs through the back door. I don't know if anyone else has noticed it, but the girls seem to produce more poo when they are eating, which is easily s"Ooops, word censored!"ed of the slabs with a wallpaper s"Ooops, word censored!"er.

 

Kick boards were added to stop all the easibed being kicked out. These are some left over PVC soffits. Some landscaping fabric and more gravel keeps the area around the run and Fr area mud free.

 

A hanging feeder has made a huge difference in food wastage.

 

I am also loving my cube. So much easier to clean and easier to work with. I knew I wanted some more girls though.

If you want more girls you shouldnt get rid of your classic, you will find your intros much easier if you can separate the girls at first.

I have posted some pictures, but will try adding them again tomorrow for easy reference.

Have a look at the were all planning walk in runs thread there are loads of ideas in there.

It took us about six weekends altogether to build the frame, put the roof on, add the mesh, dig out the old gunk. But we were working when the weather allowed and the dark nights meant we had to pack up early.

Good luck!

[Duncan08]

Found pictures

See thread "my new home" on second page.

[Minty_76]

Thank you so much for your helpful advice. I think a WIR is the next step. Although there is possibility we may move house so can these be dismantled easily do you think? I think I will keep the classic though. It will probably be cheaper for a WIR as opposed to a cube anyway!

[Minty_76]

Duncan08 that looks fab! I want one!

[Minty_76]

Would this be ok for 3 bantams?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WALK-RUN-PEN-ENCLOSURE-OMLET-CLASSIC-/180796443397?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a184ecb05#ht_1341wt_887

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That certainly looks pretty good . Bay Animal Housing has been used by quite by a few forum members. Do a search for it and you'll see quite a few threads about them .

[Duncan08]

Duncan08 that looks fab! I want one!

 

Thank you, I love it and it has made such a difference to the enjoyment of keeping the girls.

 

That run looks good, and as it comes flat packed it should be easy to take apart if you move house. It looks like a reasonable price too! It will be big enough for your girls and should even be plenty big enough for you to split up with some chicken wire if you need to do some intros

 

We were supposed to be able to move ours, but when we got the roof on it weighs a tonne and you can't lift it off!