Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Choo-chook]

Hello everyone, I've been totally consumed by the need for a walk in run, BUT no one locally seems to do them and eBay/internet sellers won't deliver ...so, I think to get what I want I'm going to have to build it myself (plus a little hand from oh ).

I'm loosely based it on everyone's pictures on here, with roughly 3 ft panels put together, plus a couple of 1ft. Total 9ft x 7ft (ish). One thing I'm a bit stuck on is the doors, grr, everyone seems to have a 3ft panel with a smaller door inside, ie with mesh panel to top and side, is this right? Is it to make it stronger? What size should I make it? I was just going to have a door to fit the panel but now looking back on the forum that doesn't seem the thing to do.

Help, spent all afternoon with umpteen sticky notes plastered to me with diagrams and measurements on, mind is totally spinning

Probably yours is too after trying to make sense of this post!!

[Choo-chook]

......pop hole too...tell me all about yours too.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Mine is like you describe, with a panel to the side and above (it's in my signature link, if you haven't seen it). I suspect it's for strength like you say. If you had a door the whole panel size there wouldn't be much to keep that panel's structure stable when the door was open. It's also useful to have a raised bottom edge to keep bedding (and hens!) inside when you open the door.

 

I don't have a pop hole as such but I do have a stable door which works really well in my setup with the eglu raised up.

[UKMARCH]

Ours are full height stable door types OH made the sizes to best fit they have corner pieces to strengthen the corners and the other panels have mid height rails to give added strength we don't have any panels at the bottom of the door to avoid trip hazards and nothing at the top as OH is tall and would have to limbo in! I'm lucky I can stand in all areas so easier for cleaning.

[Plum]

sounds like me planning my run. A wooden frame round the door strengthens the run. They are usually 3 ft because runs seem to be based around multiples of 3 ft. Mine is door that fits in that space. Have it opening inwards, it stops the chooks running out when you open the door