xScrunchee Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 I am now back to square one with Ria. Even after modifying her bumper bit she has gone back to stripping Roses knickers-I wouldn't mind but the poor little moo has only just grown her new ones!! What I would now like to know is- If they had a nice big run with braches and stuff would she still do this do you think? Could it be a boredom or lack of space thing? When they are outside roaming the garden Ria does not do this but when they are in the run she won't leave Rose alone. So, do people still have this feather pulling problem with hens in a nice big run? Thought I'd ask before I break the news to OH that I'm building a run!! Also, does it work out better to buy a run or build it from scratch? Cheers peeps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 It could be lack of space. Do you have an extention on your run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted October 27, 2007 Author Share Posted October 27, 2007 Nope-no extension but when I first ordered the Eglu and girls I was assured on the phone that letting them out for an hour a day would be fine. The man who bought them here also said that it would be fine to have all three in the run with an hours free ranging time. I have been watching them whne they are in the run and really feel that they would benefit from having more space. I haven't really got the room for a run extension but could turn my 6 ft X 9 ft patio into a walk in run which would still give them more space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 To be honest I would do that. I hade three in a non extended run to start with and I too felt it was too small. It got extended and even now I feel sorry for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 If you have the ability then its better to build your own run as you can modify for your needs. It also works out cheaper. Without bumper bits our new girls were having their feathers pulled but all the chooks have bumper bits now and things are a lot better. If you look at the photos in my gallery you can see thast we added an old drawer unit, without drawers to form a mini mezzanine. Since then we have also added another perch, just a piece of wood screwed on across a corner. It helps if they have places to escape any unwanted attention and something as simple as a perch seems to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted October 27, 2007 Author Share Posted October 27, 2007 Well, I have been looking and have decided that I might be better off to buy a ready made run or the seperate panels and fix them together. I think price wise it won't be very much cheaper to make it from scratch. What I would like to know now is- do I need to attach the base of the run to the floor? The run will be on patio slabs so there will be no chance of a fox digging but could it somehow get under the run if it is not fixed to the ground? Or perhaps if we had bad winds it could blow over? I was also thinking about using some sort of sealant around the base of the run to stop the rain seeping in-what do you think? Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodle Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 You could buy a few extra patio slabs at very little cost and anchor the run down with them. Worked for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 Hi Jay, Depending on the run size, I think it's unlikely it would blowover or a fox be able to lift it. If you buy a ready made run or panel, check that it is made from pressure treated timber, then it won't need any further treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted October 28, 2007 Author Share Posted October 28, 2007 What about something like this if I put a plastic roof on and kickboards around the bottom. Does it look strong enough? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/B-N-9ft-Bird-Aviary-Rabbit-Run-Pidgeons-L-K_W0QQitemZ300165505200QQihZ020QQcategoryZ46289QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem I have asked if it can be made 11ft X 5-6ft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 That looks good it's made out of weldmesh which is stronger than chicken wire (which foxes can chew through ) We have something similar from flytesofancy, and OH has put kick boards round the bottom with pressure treated fencing strips, so that I can fill the run with auboise/easibed and a bit of wood chip, and it works really well karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted October 28, 2007 Author Share Posted October 28, 2007 And do you think I would need to attach it to the patio somehow or would it be heavy enough to just sit there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted October 28, 2007 Author Share Posted October 28, 2007 Just got a reply back from the man. To build a 11ft long x 5ft wide x 5.5ft high going to a 6.5ft apex roof with the roof being covered with UV protected plastic. The aviary will be built using 50mm x 25mm timbers and the mesh used would be 1" x 1" 19 gauge aviary mesh which is perfect for chickens. Each panel will be supported by 2 45 degree corner supports and centre bar. The door will be secured using 3 gate hinges and a barrel bolt which is lockable using a padlock. the door can also be secured from the inside using a thumb lock. The bottom of each panel will have three timbers which are routed to a 45 degree angle to prevent any substrate from coming out. please see the pictures on my Avairies2u ebay shop. Once the frame work is built there will be an internal support beam around the bottom making the entire product very robust and solid and therefore you will not need to secure the aviary to the floor. The apex roof will be 5ft wide by 1ft high making the maximum internal height 6.5ft. Costs To build the above product without a UV roof £330 UV roof £ 48-00 Delivery £30-00 On-site construction if required £25 A flat roof is cheaper if you require and would cost £295 This product can be built and delivered by 10th November 2007 All in all if I go for a flat roof it will cost me around £398 but that includes the man putting it all up for me too Sounds good and would fit the space I have exactly although it is a little pricey I am hoping that it will turn out to be very sturdy, fox proof (as much as it can be), it has the kick boards, the plastic roof-everything I need. Am I being silly paying this much money for the run?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted October 28, 2007 Author Share Posted October 28, 2007 Well, it looks as though we are going to go for it!! OH wasn't keen at first but now he is pretty much insisting Can't wait to see my girls jumping up onto braches and scratching around in a bigger run. Helly Welly- your run looks brilliant-so so big Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Our run is 12 foot by 12 foot as that was the maximum size of the wood we could get from Wickes. We were lucky with the price as the man at the checkout scanned the wrong barcode so we paid individual plank price for each bundle of four, overall we paid about £160 for our run. Pre-built runs are fab, but OH is handy with wood so for us it was better to make our own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Looks ideal Jay - sometimes it is really worth paying out to not have any disruption and know you have something sturdy at the end of the day. I got my wood free and the mesh off freecycle but have just spent £100 to put a roof on and there is still no bolt on the door And I went through so much hassle trying to persuade OH to build it for me just how I wanted it and when I wanted it The chooks do love the extra space though - we both agree it was worth it in the end! (I've just chucked some more dried leaves in and have spent the morning watching them instead of getting on with the housework ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I think a big run is great for them - mine have a reasonable sized run with trees and branches etc. But Liz still feather pecked from the others until I put the nose ring on her. I'm not sure what I would do if she started again - but I'll worry about it when it happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted October 30, 2007 Author Share Posted October 30, 2007 Looks ideal Jay - sometimes it is really worth paying out to not have any disruption and know you have something sturdy at the end of the day. I got my wood free and the mesh off freecycle but have just spent £100 to put a roof on and there is still no bolt on the door And I went through so much hassle trying to persuade OH to build it for me just how I wanted it and when I wanted it The chooks do love the extra space though - we both agree it was worth it in the end! (I've just chucked some more dried leaves in and have spent the morning watching them instead of getting on with the housework ) I too had problems with OH. He refused to help me build it which is fine because I would have just got on with it by myself but to be honest, now that the weather is getting a bit nasty it wouldn't have been much fun trying to do it alone with two small kids, 3 hens and 3 cats under my feet! He keeps going on about how I bought the Eglu with run because it would be everything that they need and now we are having to pay out for a bigger run which is costing him and what next? Bla, bla, bla. He is not really into animals at all. Unfortunate for him really as we have 3 cats, a dog, a snake, the hens, tropical fish, a pond and have various other critters such as Giant African land snails, fire bellied toads etc. He knew I had animals before he moved in so I have no sympathy but boy does he maon about how it's like living in a zoo and why the heck do I need to have pets! I cannot understand (and normally don't really like) people who have no pets and have no time for animals so how we got together in the first place is a mystery I don't feel too bad about spending so much on the run if I'm honest as he thinks nothing of spending over £300 on a Xbox thingy or nearly £400 for a TV for the bedroom , so I see no harm in spending money on my girls Ooo, he is a miserable so and so. Chalk and cheese us two! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted October 30, 2007 Author Share Posted October 30, 2007 (edited) My last post appeared twice and I couldn't delete it so I edited it instead. Mmm, not sure why that happened Edited October 30, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 Chalk and cheese us two! Opposites attract! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 I too had problems with OH. He refused to help me build it which is fine because I would have just got on with it by myself but to be honest, now that the weather is getting a bit nasty it wouldn't have been much fun trying to do it alone with two small kids, 3 hens and 3 cats under my feet! He keeps going on about how I bought the Eglu with run because it would be everything that they need and now we are having to pay out for a bigger run which is costing him and what next? Bla, bla, bla. Know exactly what you mean. My DH is the same. Luckily though he does have moments when he accidently says "Whatever makes you happy" or "Do what you like", both of which I take as free license to do pretty much whatever!! I bought the wood yesterday to build a 8'x8' run so I can have more chooks. Did I tell him? Nah! Wait for him to notice it in the garden! Wish me luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted October 30, 2007 Author Share Posted October 30, 2007 Good Luck!! My OH also has moments of madness and says- 'If it makes you happy just do it!' But he has a tendancy to throw things in my face when he has one of his grumpy heads on! Bless him! Not that he really bothers me to be honest. If he enjoys feeling miserable why on earth should I get dragged down with him? He is like a younger version of Victor Meldrew-just not as funny!! When I first met him he liked animals, he was Mr Happy Go Lucky etc-now look at him! He was the deceitful one- giving me the wrong impression. I am what I am and although not perfect at least what you see is what you get!! He isn't keen on animals, thinks children should be seen and not heard (although he has never said this out loud as I think he knows I would not be impressed ), he thinks money makes the world go round and if anyone dares to have a different opinion to him-they are ALWAYS wrong and not listening to him! Oh what a joy!! So we are complete opposites in almost every way. I LOVE children, LOVE animals, I don't think money is the most important thing in the world although obviously it helps, I am very open minded and exept people for what they are, I try to be chilled out and laid back etc etc. He says that I am- TOO caring, TOO open minded, TOO laid back, TOO sensitive!! GGRRRRRRRR Never mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
