Bags Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Hi We have decided to get a few chickens, mainly as pets and I know our 2 1/2 year old twin boys will love them. We have a large garden (1 acre) and I really like the idea of having a cube either inside a WIR or attached to one (ala the omlet one). However, rather than have it fixed, I would like to move it around the garden every few days (not sure how long the 3 or 4 chickens would take to scratch up the grass). If you attach the omlet WIR to the cube, is it practical to pick up the end of the WIR and move it (as it shows on the video for the cube + run)? If not, what about the cube inside the run? Is it possible to pick up one side of the stand alone WIR and drag it 2 meters in 1 direction and put it down again without damaging it? If neither are possible then we will probably settle for the cube and 1m extension as that does seem to be portable. thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 I have a cube and 2, 1 metre extensions added, so 4 metres in total. Until nov of last year I was happily trundelling it around the lawn....but the wet weather finally put paid to that after nearly a year!!! Had to give up and site it, filling the run with woodchip!! I am very pleased that I did now though, with the weather we've had!!! So, I was able to move the whole lot around on my own!!!I'm not all that strong and only 5ft1in tall!! But I would say the more area you have the better (so the ground/grass can recover and also it needs to be relatively flat to move it easily. I am hoping to get it moving again....but the lawn is pretty wrecked from the wet and me tramping over it, backwards and forwards to the cube & run!!! So, may have to re-seed some parts....have also got some stepping stones to put down. But the woodchip is working out very well, so not too worried! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 The Walk In Run is quite big and will be difficult to move... Why did you want to move it? To be honest I think you'd be better to have a Walk In Run in one fixed position on slabs or with hard wood chip down. The chickens (in a WIR or Cube run) will wreck the grass within a couple of days, especially when its really dry in the Summer or in the Winter... and you'd soon have a LOT of bare patches on the lawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bags Posted January 16, 2013 Author Share Posted January 16, 2013 1 of the reasons I'd like to move is around is the fact that a large amount of our grass isn't grass at all but moss! I suspect chickens would be great at getting rid of that moss so I won mind if they churn it up a bit and we will re-seed. Mimi5, how many chickens do you have in the 4 metre run? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Welcome to the forum . How about putting your WIR in a permanent position but getting some Omlet or other netting and move it regularly so you can let them scratch up the moss but not do too much damage to one patch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 I was going to suggest Omlet netting too - I think I saw an offer that if you order a Cube in January you get free Omlet netting with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bags Posted January 17, 2013 Author Share Posted January 17, 2013 Hi My concern with the netting would be predators. We live in semi rural north lincs. never seen a fox in the garden but they are about - as are weasels. We will be free ranging them when we are around but I want a secure setup for general use when we are out or inside. Also against an electric fence because of the toddlers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 I think you'll find a permanent spot for your WIR much more manageable than moving it about. If you're in a position to let them freerange under supervision, you could still use the netting but just let them out when you're about to keep an eye on them. I'd get that cube ordered pronto - Omlet netting isn't cheap! (It is excellent quality though .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Hi, in answer to your question, I currently have 5 pekins but will be adding 3 more (total 8)come the better weather...? I found them to be excellent a sorting out the moss all over our lawn!! But actually it was the rain and moving it all around ...my footfall included that ment I had to stop!! But, having said that actually the wood chip is working out really well and I do let my gang free range on my days off (supervised!!!!!) So I may just leave things as they are. Have bought some grass seed suitable for poultry and plan to patch up my sad lawn...it never was great and that's why hubby let me get the chickens!!! It's shadowed by trees and doesn't get much winter sun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bags Posted January 18, 2013 Author Share Posted January 18, 2013 Am I missing something here? I can't see anything on the website saying free netting when you buy a cube in January Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 there is a code you need to put in..... it's in their newsletter (somewhere on the club pages) I'll PM you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Use promo code: CUBEFREEBIES Offer until January 31st. More info here: http://www.omlet.co.uk/files/public/newsletters/newsletter_january_11th_2013.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bags Posted January 18, 2013 Author Share Posted January 18, 2013 Ahhhh, thanks guys. I was planning on not getting one until March but that offer seems too good not to get now. I assume people would recommend getting the chickens in the spring? I was thinking around Easter. Don't suppose anyone can recommend a seller in north lincs/south yorkshire? Final question (yer right!), if I am going for 4, would it be a problem to get 2 of one species and 2 of another? Was going to go for hybrids that are docile and friendly (so the boys can get used to handling them) but lay well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Be fine, mixes are good especially in pairs. Hybrids especially the red ones are lovely for kids to handle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 I think spring would be a good time as the days are getting longer and hopefully the weather will be better which gives you more chance to chicken watch and to get to know them. The two friendliest chooks I have had are Henny Penny an Omlet Gingernut, she was always under your feet wanting to know what you were doing, sadly she did not live for very long. The other one is Latte who is now my oldest chook at 5. She is a Sweetie and lives up to her breed. Latte is one of these http://www.merrydalepoultry.co.uk/point_of_lay_hens/point_of_lay_hen_sweetie.htm I also had one of their Susex, and I have two Snowbells and two blue/green egg layers but they now sell a different hybrid to the ones I have. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
