Chicken bald back

[Millie-Annie]

As you know I lost all my girls to a fox attack 3 weeks ago. I have now become completely paranoid about my remaining pets. I have invested in an Omlet guinea pig run, that I have secured with 32 screw in pegs and gone over all the joins with wire. I still never leave them when I go out and one thing I am really careful about is keeping the door closed at all times as I don't want the fox to go in sniffing about

 

Yesterday I put the guineas in there until 4 then as I was going out I put them back in there hutch and closed and locked the door. Our garden is on a slight slope so if the door isn't latched it swings wide open. After that I was up the garden by the run getting my washing in. So I know I would have seen if the door was wide open

 

Last night just as we were going to bed the security light came on and the fox was by the house (he has to come nearer the house for the light to come on) I screamed and had hysterics which is my usual reaction to being confronted by him. My husband chased him away then came in and said "you must keep your run closed I bet he's had a good sniff round there". I went to check and sure enough the door was swinging wide open. I am so paranoid, I check and double check all my locks. I know that door was secure. How the hell did it become unlocked? Could he have worked it out?

 

Sorry this is so long but wanted to explain thoroughly

[sjp]

what type of latch is it? if it's just one of those toggle type single screw in the center of a bit of metal then they do work lose. 2 options put a barrel/tower bolt on or if your really worried put an pad bolt and pad lock on

if it's the mesh run you can get a snap hook or quick link for chain that will work on mesh door see this link http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Security/d200/Shackles+%26+Chain/sd2612 there's stainless steel just below the top of the page and galvanized just up from the bottom. You can use them on coop doors as well if you use 2 angle brackets like this http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Construction+Materials/d210/Builders+Metalwork/sd2797/Angle+Brace/p34919 though I'm not sure this one is quite right I use a couple of wire hangers for false ceilings as I had a few in the bottom of the odds and sods buckets

[Millie-Annie]

Its the latch on the Omlet guinea pig run, there is a clip of how it works on the link

 

https://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/guinea_pig_products/outdoor_guinea_pig_run

 

 

when you look at it, it doesn't take much to work it out, as soon as it is lifted high enough the door opens

 

I have emailed Omlet

[sjp]

are we looking at the run or the house ?

[Millie-Annie]

The run

[sjp]

The run

looking at the photos I think a you'll need a bit of chain as well as one of the snap hooks, it'll be the simplest way to add extra security to the run with out causing to much hassle for you to gain access no thread to mess about with in winter or rainy early mornings or late evenings plus no messing about trying to fit anything to the tubing

[Millie-Annie]

 

They are only in there when I am around, I would never leave them in the run and go out, not now, although I used to, pre fox and in a far less secure run

 

This photo shows the lock really well. All he has to do is lift it, gravity swings it round and then he just lifts it again. As soon as it is clear of the bar the door swings open

[Cat tails]

Could you turn the door around?

So it opens the other way?

That way gravity won't pull it open so easily either.

[Millie-Annie]

No you cant build an omlet run any way other than the right way or the bits dont fit. I know this because I did put the door on the other way round and had to take it all to bits and start again

[sjp]

I'm surprised by: A how easy the bolt opens and B: that that the doors can't be top and tailed. I'd never have designed the bolt to fit vertically or with such a large handle, don't even know why they went what looks like a custom bolt when you can pick up a barrel/tower bolt for very little outlay when brought in bulk. I'd have changed as soon as if it was mine/

one thought about the chains are they tight enough to stop they door opening enough to allow a fox to squeeze in, they don't need as much of a gap as you think. I'd use the chain as a loop around the door tube and the tube of the run panel just above those flat plates that act as the door stops

Edited April 4, 2017 by Guest

[Millie-Annie]

Thanks for that suggestion

 

I have heard back from Omlet they have asked for photos of my run, obviously want to be sure I have put it together correctly and said they will report it to their design team oh and they are very very sorry.