What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[paulad]

Title says it all : can anyone recommend where to get a walk in run - they are so expensive.

 

I know we could make it ourselves but have little spare time and im also aware the materials wouldnt be that much cheaper either.

 

Any advice would be great

 

Thanks

Edited August 29, 2013 by Guest

[gavclojak]

Hi there

When I was looking I was going to get this...http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/fruit-cages-tcid16.html

It got really good reviews, they are expensive though, but I guess it's that old saying you get what you pay for:( £€$¥

[Egluntyne]

Omlet!

[Hard Boiled]

Omlet!

 

 

mmmm......just received my Omlet WIR to attach to my cube, put it up and whilst clipping the top panels and roof on noticed several areas of rust on several panels. I am waiting for a satisfactory response from Omlet about it - so far I have been told to paint these areas with hammerite which I find ridiculous when these runs are so expensive.

[paulad]

omlet - WAY - out of my price range im afraid ! hubby been outta work for a year so not a chance !

[Purplemaniacs]

OH made ours, he followed the designs that other omletteers have.

 

I had to wait a few years my poor sat empty waiting, like an expensive garden ornament but it was worth the wait. OH did a great job and it fitted the space perfectly as it is not quite square and I got the doors that I wanted. A year or so later we added to it and put internal doors so we could make it into two seperate areas.

 

If you have basic DIY skills I would price it up and compare. OH is ok at DIY but not brilliant.

 

Chrissie

[paulad]

think we have just decided. have being mming and rrring for so long.

 

We have decided to move the girls up to near the house for the winter - we cud literally chuck the food out to them without having to leave the house - much better than the long walk to the bottom of the garden in the cold and wet !!!

Also it means we will have light - always good if you wanna see what ur doing !!

 

SO, we are gonna just order 4 6x6 panels from Warwickshire chicken coop - shes holidaying our girls at xmas too - and then when they move back down the garden in spring we will expand the coop further if/when we need too

 

Can I just ask though - roof or no roof ??? that is the question......Would we be roofing to keep foxes out or just to keep it dry ??

 

thanks as always - ur all great

[gavclojak]

I have a fruit net/galvo steel roof and in the winter am erecting a plastic corrugated roof, if your worried about foxes then a roof is the way to go I am afraid:( mane a corrugated roof may be the thing for you too x

[paulad]

to be honest im not that worried about foxes - others have told me its not necessary but im not stupid and I know they are around - just wondered what everyones thoughts are.

 

think plastic roofing is what we will end up with...But as a newbie im open to any advice

[Olly]

Without a roof, it won't be safe to let the hens use it without supervision - sooner or later, a fox will come along. Personally I'd use weldmesh and then cover it with corrugated plastic.

[clucker1]

Why weldmesh first Olly? I am now concerned our corrugated plastic isn't strong enough on the roof to prevent Mr F.

[paulad]

Great thank you x

 

I think its wonderful all the different opinions and views on here - at the end of the day everyone has to go with what is best for them - clucker1 im sure your set up is fine - if your happy thats what counts.

Edited August 30, 2013 by Guest

[clucker1]

I'm happy providing Mr F doesn't get them. 3 years, so far so good, but can't be complacent esp with winter coming up.

[Sandychick]

There are some lovely WIR's out there, but sadly most were out of my price range I eventually bought a walk in run from ebay about 3 years ago. It was really cheap compared to most, and well constructed. I've been really pleased with it. I have a 6' x 9', and I can't find that listed at the moment but here is a link to a much bigger run from the seller I used http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHICKEN-FERRETT-PIGEON-BIRD-AVIARY-RUN-18-x-9-x-6-/200950503736?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry&hash=item2ec9955938 I'm sure they would happily quote for a different size.

 

It has a mesh roof, and I just put a tarp cover on when I first got it. They then got an upgrade and now have a pitched roof made from Onduline. They also have guttering and a water butt

[jjiande]

The other great thing about a roof is shelter. We have an Omlet WIR, which I'm really happy with- as are the chickens. I bought a clear tarpaulin cheaply online to go over the roof too and also have one for one of the sides for really bad weather, which keeps things drier.

[Olly]

Why weldmesh first Olly? I am now concerned our corrugated plastic isn't strong enough on the roof to prevent Mr F.

 

Sorry, I wasn't trying to scare you! If the corrugated plastic is supported, it should be fine, but if it would give way under the weight of a fox, then it's not. I'm not suggesting the fox is smart enough to jump on it to test it, but if s/he tried walking on it and it gave way, I'm sure they'd take advantage.

[clucker1]

Silly me!!!!!!!!!! I was poo picking this am, looked up and what did I see.....but weldmesh under the corrugated plastic. My lovely OH put it in when he put the roof on earlier this year. Silly me!!!!!!