Solitary chicken - need advice

[libby22]

That's it - after months of thinking about it, I am going to invest in the Omlet WIR for my girls.

 

At the moment, I have a wooden walk in run, which is being shaken to bits by the wind at this very minute. It has a plastic roof - but the wind is causing so many problems with it and I am tired of having to keep replacing chunks of roof every couple of months - one has just flown off up the garden as I put the girls to bed.

 

Does everyone else just use tarpaulins over the top of the Omlet WIR and around the sides where needs be? Need to keep the run and the girls dry so just wanted to know the best way to go about it.

 

Thanks for any help/advice.

[mollyripkim]

How exciting, I bet you can wait. I have the omlet WIR and love it. I have a clear tarp right over the front, back and top so it keeps it reasonably dry. We've added extra tarp on the ends as well now, doesn't look all that pretty but better than them getting wet. In the summer we used Velcro it hold the sides up so it wasn't like a greenhouse.

It's blowing a gale out now and you get a bit of flapping as wind gets under parts of the tarp but the noise doesn't seem to bother the girls, it's well secured with cable ties.

Only problem initially was runoff water getting in as I have a concrete base, solved that by putting down thick plastic sheeting covered with caravan matting and then a thick layer of woodchip. The plastic sheeting is cut so it's about six inches up the side, so the runoff water goes underneath.

[libby22]

That's great - thanks for the info - I am going to have a shop for tarps now. I have the eglu cube and run and that has a plastic roof over the top, but still need the tarps for the rain that comes in sideways Therefore, need additional new tarps for the WIR.

 

I like the Omlet ones, but they work out expensive. Think I will do as you say and add them over the top and around where necessary - the Velcro tip is a brilliant one - thank you for that.

[Patricia W]

I too have an Omlet WIR and use tarps. I got mine from Tarpaflex. However, I am considering replacing the ones I have on the side with perspex next year. I know a number of people have them on their wooden WIR and I can see the benefit.

 

Do make sure that the run is well anchored down though. There have been one or two which have blown away in really bad weather. Mine has slabs on the edges.

[libby22]

Now that is a good point! We have got to dig that part of the garden over so I think I will put slabs around the edges - I have them on the cube run so it makes sense. Added to the shopping list

[libby22]

Well, really disappointed. My Omlet walk in run run arrived yesterday. We all piled into the garden this afternoon to put it together, only to find there are no clips, no instructions and no cords for the covers as I had ordered. Whether there is a separate parcel on its way I am not sure, but it would be strange to separate the small items into a further parcel.

 

I have noted that a few people have downloaded the instructions for the walk in run, but I can't find them for the life of me on Omlet/google and the only page I did find said it was unable to open - not having much luck!

 

I have left a message at Omlet as they are listed as open until 5.00 pm today, but no one is answering the phone.

 

Am I right in thinking you need the usual omlet clips to put the whole thing together? All sitting here twiddling our thumbs now and not very impressed!

[mollyripkim]

Oh what a shame, you must be so disappointed. Yes you do need the clips but we used so some cable ties as well. The instruction sheet we got had been photocopied so many times it was virtually unreadable so it was trial and error. We did put the roof the wrong way round so were annoyed to have to take it apart and redo it. But once it was up I was really pleased. Hope yours comes together soon, I'm sure the lucky girls will love it.

[libby22]

Oh poor you with the roof - really felt for you there when I read that part!

 

So hoping the extras have been despatched but not delivered so hopefully may be here tomorrow

 

Have just read this out to the other half so he can keep an eye out for the roof

[Patricia W]

I found the instructions baffling at one point, but phoned for help. The person at Omlet HQ agreed with me there is a step missing. Problem is I can't remember where, but it may well have been with the roof.

 

Let's hope the wind drops whilst you are putting it up.

[Miss Millies Chicken]

https://support.omlet.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/4/1/walk-in-run-instruction-manual

 

When you reach the above page click to open the PDF file attachment and it will open up the manual for the walk in run. Which you can print off.

[libby22]

Brilliant - thank you so much! Just couldn't track those down.

 

Looking at the instructions, there must be a package missing as I only have the metal tubes and the panels so fingers crossed it is on its way.

 

Really appreciate you sending the instructions. Thanks again.

 

I hope the wind drops too - trouble is the troops are back at work tomorrow so got to round them up again at some point to give me a hand, if I can track them down. I thought it had worked out too well, dry afternoon, everyone here and WIR run sitting ready to go - seemed a bit too easy

[LunaKiw1]

How frustrating for you! We have an Omlet WIR and it was a bit of a pain to construct initially (18 months ago) but having said that it was also easy to de-construct when we moveed house 6 months ago - which would have been impossible to do i think with a traditional WIR. So it is very flexible and also discreet looking in ther garden and I am sure once it is up you'll wonder how you managed before.

We got tarpaulins from Tarpaflex. We have a 2m x 6 m one that goes completely across the top and down two of the sides and then another one that is 2m by 2.4ish that goes across the front but we fold half back normally so we can open the door but cover completely if it is really wet and windy plus another that covers most of the back so our chooks are very protected and although they only have a bare earth floor it never gets wet inside. We used bungees and plastic ties to hold everything down and in place and it doesn't look TOO unsightly.

[libby22]

It is a bit frustrating - so near so far I am glad to read your thread as I have just bought the same tarpaulin 2m x 6m and so glad it works as I wondered if I had made the right choice! I have one for the back of the run but wanted the sides and the top covered - especially in this weather and your run sounds just as I want mine so thanks for that - much appreciated.

 

I left a message for Omlet and I will give them their due, they phoned at 9.00 am sharp and advised that unfortunately, the parts had been missed from the order. However, they will dispatch today and hopefully they will be here on Friday. Probably just as well as we won't get much done over the Christmas period so if they do arrive, I can plan around next weekend.

 

They were apologetic and I appreciate they must have been very busy with deliveries at the moment, so can't be helped.

[LunaKiw1]

When you get your 2m x 6m tarp Libby22, rather than tie the bottoms to the base of the sides, we found that attaching the bungees to tent peg stakes and held out at a slight angle - only as wide or a bit less than the width of the WIR's skirt - worked best as then the rain slides down the sides and doesn't soak immediately into the ground inside the WIR. A bit hard to describe but you'll work it out! We keep the top securely fastened all the time but in the summer we simply roll/fold the sides up to half way or above depending on the weather and secure with bungees so we find the set up really flexible and you can still see the choooks inside all the time.

[libby22]

That is a brilliant idea - thanks so much - type of thing that takes ages to work out but is invaluable when you do! I am going onto ebay right now to see if I can find the tent pegs and bungees. That really is appreciated.

[libby22]

Just looking at finer detail of the WIR whilst waiting for the parts to arrive.

 

Has anyone tried the link-a-bord with the WIR? I can see the pack available for the eglu etc, just wasn't sure what size you ordered for the WIR. Would be handy if there was a pack for each run that you could order without having to calculate it

[libby22]

Well, the parts arrived today - in a fashion! Checking against the instructions it seems I am still 84 clips short!! Not impressed at all, especially as I also ordered an additional bag of clips in case they were needed.

 

I have everyone coming over to help again tomorrow and haven't the heart to tell them we can't go ahead again I have managed to collect quite a bundle of tie wraps so will continue with those for now and have sent an e-mail to Omlet asking for the rest to be sent out urgently - hopefully without any messing about this time.

 

Getting miffed now

[Patricia W]

I had LOADS of clips left over so I shouldn't worry. I also found it easier to use cable ties in some places.

[libby22]

That gives me hope then The instructions show how many for each panel and it comes to over 290 clips! They didn't actually send me any instructions so glad I got them from here. I am just desperately texting around collecting tie wraps in

[Purplemaniacs]

How annoying that it did not all arrive in one delivery.

 

If the clips are the same as the eglu run ones I think I would use at least some cable ties as the clips are quite tedious but they may be a different design for the WIR.

 

Good luck with the building.

 

Chrissie

[libby22]

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately, checking the panels and tubing against the checklist on the instructions, Omlet have again let me down. I have 3 panels instead of 7, 2 roof panels instead of 4, no upper door surround and the list goes on. Add that to no fixings, then half the fixings being delivered and it is all just getting a bit silly.

 

For over £500 the whole experience has been disappointing and I think I will contact them tomorrow and just ask them to collect everything back. I can spend some money on the wooden walk in run to improve the roof and that will sort the problems out, together with the new tarpaulin I have bought which will go over the roof and down both sides.

 

I just can't keep chasing and phoning and e-mailing only to be let down again and my family aren't impressed. Have been keeping them up to date as they have been on standby to help out and have to say - it has all become a huge joke to them now and I can't blame them.

 

Thanks for all of your help and advice - much appreciated.

[Purplemaniacs]

Oh dear that is a shame.

 

I have always found Omlet very helpful and efficient, their products aren't cheap but I felt the expense was well worth it.

 

I am sorry that you have had such a bad experience.

 

Chrissie

[Patricia W]

I'm really surprised as they are usually very efficient. Missing panels are very different to missing clips - which you don't really need in the quantities they recommend. Mind you, I collected my WIR myself from Omlet HQ (just outside Banbury). That was only because I was impatient and couldn't wait for the delivery.

 

Maybe instead of sending it back, you could ask them to come and put it up for you in compensation? I love mine and it has transformed my chicken keeping.

[libby22]

It is a shame. I have always had wonderful customer service from them and have been so shocked this time around. When I bought the cube and the run I paid for them to put it together and it was brilliant. The same when I bought the Eglu and the run. I then bought a wooden walk in run which has been great - just that the roof needed some work with these high winds and so I thought - worked hard all year - going to treat myself with the Omlet WIR - then it went pear shaped!

 

We have all been out today. We bought new plastic roofing for the run, fixed it on and cut it right down to size so the wind can't flap it about. I had just bought the large glass clear tarpaulin so that now covers two sides and the roof. Just for good measure we have also fitted a Perspex section for a clear view up the garden New 4 inch layer of dust extracted woodchip and it looks like a new pen. I will give it a new coat of chicken friendly wood stain soon and to be fair it is only 12 months old.

 

I am disappointed however, will be glad when it is sorted and returned - it has been quite stressful, especially across Christmas having to chase and wait and now into the new year with everything else going on too.

[Luvachicken]

Have just caught up with this.

What a shame it didn't work out for you.

I was quite looking forward to some pictures of the new run.

 

A couple of years ago, I thought the same as you - worked hard, deserved a treat etc, and was going to order the big walk in run from Omlet. I was about to press the order button when Hubby asked if it would fit in the space we had only to find it didn't.

I ended up with a wooden run instead.

What you've been through would put me off ordering one of those runs now.