Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[good_egg]

....my OH that a WIR is allowed!! Had been nearly there for a while, but I think it was actually the fact that the girls are getting bigger and were particularly fluffed up the other day rather than my charm! He's a total softy it turns out!

 

anyway,need to suss out the planning permission side and what to actually get,but otherwise good. Have been looking at Aviaries 4 u (went to visit Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here to see in real life) but they won't deliver and won't courier at all so would have to drive and get..... Also looking at Cotswold Wood after libby22 mentioned.... We are now thinking 9ft or 12ft by 6ft to give them loads of room but would probably make one end solid (so looks more shed like for neighbours and gives girls some extra shelter). Apparently the extra space does not mean I can get more chickens!!

 

Right, enough excited rambling. Question time:

 

1) We were originally going to pour concrete to make cleaning out cube easier in current setup. Do we still pour a concrete base or do we slab round the run perimeter but leave as soil in middle? Sure I have seen discussion of pros and cons but can't find.

2) do we stick with bliss (like rapport, chopped rape straw) or do we go back to easibed or hardwood chip? I liked easibed but it showed the poop a lot, bliss seems to bed down quicker - happily poo pick each week but don't think I can cope with a complete change as often as I do in a bigger run. How deep do people have their bedding (suspect I go a bit overboard)?

 

Thanks!

H

[doctors girls]

i have a 9x6x6 run and i use 2 bales in the run of bedmax,rapport or a mixture if you take a good look at the photo you will see that i raised the run from the ground to stop in been in contact with the wet soil this will help the run last allot longer and i also built the weld mesh through the blocks to make it fox proof it covers the whole floor of the run with a 12inch skirt all the way round and then just flagged the inside very easy to clean out

 

and the run just sits on top of the blocks and is secured to the blocks with some corner brackets

 

 

hope this helps

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That's great news . I can feel your excitement from here .

 

Re concrete or slabs, I think it's down to whether your girls will get time outside the run to scratch about in the soil. If so, then a concrete base is a good idea as people do say it's much easier to clean. However, as you saw, mine is on slabs and I'm quite happy with it and don't find the cleaning too bad.

[missusmac]

It must be something in the air - my OH has agreed that I can have a WIR too! I've been looking at the Omlet one cos my garden is so small I think it might be less obtrusive. Can't decide between a standard one or one with the classic on the outside.

I bet you are really busy planning now. Let us know what you decide. I''ve looked at loads of threads on here about them and have loved the ones which go through the whole process from start to finish.

[libby22]

Oh how wonderful! It is so exciting when you get the go ahead

 

The Cotswold Wood Company were great. However, if you need to speak to someone, just leave a message and they ring you back quickly - I rang for ages and they didn't pick up and wished I had known before hand that they returned your message so quickly When I did get a call back, the WIR was being delivered that day an hour later so best to speak to someone to make sure you are in

[good_egg]

Have emailed Wells, Cotswold and Aviaries 4 u. Very excited, but looks like there might be a planning hurdle to jump through first. Boo! Think we need planning permission as over 4 sqm and listed building - boo! Anyone else had this? I will keep working out the details assuming all is fine!

 

Thanks for the pics Doctors Girls - love the names of your girls.

 

ANH, it was your bare middle that have me that thought process!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That makes it sound like I was wearing a bikini when you came to visit . That would not have been a pretty sight .

[good_egg]

Ha ha - not what I meant. You'd have frozen!!