My eco solution to rat problems

[urbanchick]

Those of you who have lovely bark chipping areas for your eglu, PLEASE would you give me some advice on fixing the log roll around it?

 

I have pulled up some shrubs to make room for my new cube (due July 5th! ). As a result I need to edge the area with log roll, in order to level it out and have it flat for the cube.

 

I have bought the log roll but I have no instructions and can find nothing on the internet about how to fix it! Common sense tells me I need to dig a little trough and then bang it in with a mallet. But is it that simple?

 

If you have done it or know how to do it, could you please tell me how and any pitfalls I need to avoid....?

 

If you want to view the painful process, I have some photos of the work in progress, see link below. Password is chicken (BTW if anyone is concerned, yes I have left enough room for the cube door to open and I have also given myself enough room to slide along the garage to collect the eggs!)

 

I would be very grateful for anyone's help. Thanks.

[Black RockStar]

Those of you who have lovely bark chipping areas for your eglu, PLEASE would you give me some advice on fixing the log roll around it?

 

I have pulled up some shrubs to make room for my new cube (due July 5th! ). As a result I need to edge the area with log roll, in order to level it out and have it flat for the cube.

 

I have bought the log roll but I have no instructions and can find nothing on the internet about how to fix it! Common sense tells me I need to dig a little trough and then bang it in with a mallet. But is it that simple?

 

If you have done it or know how to do it, could you please tell me how and any pitfalls I need to avoid....?

 

 

 

If you want to view the painful process, I have some photos of the work in progress, see link below. Password is chicken (BTW if anyone is concerned, yes I have left enough room for the cube door to open and I have also given myself enough room to slide along the garage to collect the eggs!)

 

I would be very grateful for anyone's help. Thanks.

 

Hello Redchick,

 

For that reason I bought the 1m straight sections from B&Q. These are rigid and have a spike at each end to hold them firm in the ground. You can cut them to the required length and reposition the spike to the "new" end. I then bolted the joints and corners together with metal brackets to make it really rigid.

[Olly]

you buy metal stakes - most DIY places sell them, but like you I had to hunt for instructions and search around! They are semi-circular metal stakes, with one end made into a point - look in the garden section for them. Quite cheap, I think they were about six for £4 or something, mine are about 18" long but they come in different sizes.

 

You bang these into the ground with a mallet, and then screw the log-roll to them (they have screw-holes in) to support it. I have to say that my DIY skills are minimal, and I struggled to get mine straight! get some help if you can. I also had a couple of those straight pieces but they were more expensive.

 

or you can dig a trench - http://www.thompsonsofcrewshill.com/fitlogroll.htm - take a look here.

[BeckyBoo]

Hi Redchick, nice looking location for your cube, it does take up a fair amount of space! I used log roll and I'm afraid to say I just whacked it and whacked it with a mallet until it stuck in the grass! That said it's already falling over in places - mostly where 1 yr old has trodden on it, so will shortly be looking for the metal spikes!

 

Good luck with your cube, not long now! What colour did you go for?

 

Mrs B

[urbanchick]

Thanks for all your advice. I dug a trench (hard work!) and have whacked it in about a third under the surface and hopefully that is enough. I didn't get the metal stakes, so I hope it stays put.

 

My cube is purple, and I am getting 3 chooks; a pepperpot and 2 gingernuts. Yippee.

[Dippy Egg]

We (well my OH really) just used a spade and sledgehammer. He kind of dug a trough, stood the log roll in, protected the top of the log roll with an old piece of wood and gave it a massive whack! He had to back-fill a bit with soil. We have lawn on one side and bark on the other. This has withstood over a year of being abused by a garden full of children and a dog. The log roll is basic stuff about 12" high and fastened on 2 metal wires. It was hard work but simple. Good luck!

[Jill]

I dug a little trench and banged the log in and I have had no problem. The only place I have used spikes is on a slope and it just holds it nice and firm.

[Guest]

I have bought the log roll but I have no instructions and can find nothing on the internet about how to fix it! Common sense tells me I need to dig a little trough and then bang it in with a mallet. But is it that simple?

 

It was for me too!