Cube Mark One Run

[Guest]

if I got my DH to urinate (or leave his urine) round the garden, would it end up smelling like a public urinal? I'd hate to think my garden would end up smelling like those public urinals in Amsterdam!

 

Can someone who does this already please let me know if there are any residual wee type odours please?

[Christian]

I haven't noticed a smell.

[The Dogmother]

It doesn't smell because it's in the open and gets washed away by the rain. You're probably thinking of compost heaps - these can really smell when people put urine on them, this is because it gets soaked up and not washed away.

[lozkate]

Hi,

 

It will smell if he does it in the same place every day, every time he needs to go so to speak. And agreed the smell will be made worse during extended dry periods. My labrador has rendered my mint unusable for this very reason. I'm going for once or twice a week which should leave enough 'scent', after all foxes can smell things from miles away.

 

I've never seen a fox in an Amsterdam Urinal - perhaps there's something in this!

 

Regards compost heaps. They shouldn't smell because the urine breaks down quickly in a good heap. The air, moisture and heat of the heap is critical tho. The heap will definitly smell if its not 'kept' properly (too much grass and not enough air for example) then things break down slowly and begin to smell. A good compost heap smells lovely (well - aqcuired taste). I rekon most pultry keepers must have good heaps given the potential contents. I'm really looking forward to the additions my new hens (and the Hemcore) are going to make to my heaps.

 

Loz

[Guest]

thanks for all the advice guys.

 

Thanks to some, this thread has given me the best laugh in ages

[lozkate]

Fully agree,

 

Can someone please explain the different wire meshes.

 

Whats the difference between weldmesh and chicken wire mesh. I just got my new coop and run on saturday and the above thread leads me to belive I might need to add a bit more mesh.

 

the mesh I have is on the link in the signature.

 

Loz

[Guest]

fraid your link isn't working, says i have to be signed in?

[Olly]

I'm no expert ... but what is commonly known as 'chicken wire' is not actually suitable for chicken-runs, as it's not strong enough. Foxes can bite through it.

 

Weldmesh is stronger and has smaller spaces. I'm sure someone else on here will have the technical description, and some links to websites!

[lozkate]

Sorry Poet,

 

Can't fathom this picture thing.

 

I've tried to upload to the club gallery. TRy the link when you get a mo.

 

Loz

[Guest]

the link seems to be working now, looks very nice but if you want to certain I;d add another layer perhaps on the inside- from people have been saying, foxes can bite thru chicken wire.

[The Dogmother]

What you have there Loz is chicken wire, which, strictly speaking isn't strong enough, although some people use double thickness.

 

The most recommended is welded mesh, which looks like this:

 

It is made from a heavier gauge wire and the joins are welded making it pretty rigid. If you use a heavy duty staple gun and attach this around the edges with a skirt layer extending under the earth on the outside, or buried under slabs, then it'll be as safe as you can make it. I'd add a roof to any enclosure that I made too, to stop the chooks getting out and foxy trying to get in. If you put a transparent tarp over the roof, then it'll be nice and dry too and conform to DEFRA regs if the chooks ever needed to be under cover. Some omleteers have used thin poly-carbonate sheets on the roof and it looks fab. I think it was kate's OH who told me he'd used that on their new run.

 

I'd love the space/funds to have a big run

[lozkate]

Ah-ha!

 

Thanks for the clarity. I had some old sheets of poly-carbonate that i've joined in pairs using heavy electrical ties. These can now simply be laid over the apex to cover it. I did it to keep the food dry yesterday. Never thought to attach it more permanently!

 

No doubt the local agri-supplier will know what mesh I need. I've printed your post to take with me.

 

Once again thanks for the info and the weekend project - construction of fort chook.

 

None shall enter.

 

Loz

[Guest]

It looks like weldmesh on the picture, but if I'm wrong and it is chicken wire, he will be able to bite through that.

 

DH built it today and the wire is very strong, looks like welded mesh coated with plastic, I couldn't bend it at all.

 

Will post some pics once it's completely finished and the chooks installed.

[The Dogmother]

If you can't bend it then it's likely to be strong enough. Other points to bear in mind are heignt of walls, roofing and a buried skirt. Personally, I'd bury a skirt a foot wide along the edge of the run, then put slabs on top. That'll make it nicer to look at, more secure and cleaner to walk around in the winter.

 

Have fun guys