little chickadee Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 My Little Chickadees are under house arrest at the moment, as we are in the restricted zone in Suffolk. They have not been very happy with me to put it mildly. However, today, they got a cube run extension and my lovely hubbie dug out some grass and put hemcore down from them (thanks everyone for your advice about what to put in the run) They absolutely love it and have been scratching about for hours. I can't believe we ever put them on grass! They seem to be having such a lovely time I'm so pleased they have a bit more room now (covered with an ikea shower curtain!) and they are within sight of my living room window so I can spend ages watching them in compfort and warmth! We will be getting something to put at the bottom of the run to stop them spreading the hemcore around the whole garden! I'm still really looking forward to when they can get out and about again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 Awww - house arrest doesnt look too awful at all really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 I know what you mean about the chickens. I keep telling people that my chickens are sad being confined to barracks (we too are in Suffolk in the outer exclusion zone). I'm sure that it's just me feeling guilty that they can't come out. I wonder how much longer they will have to stay in for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 Smashing set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlaidegg Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 I sooooo want a cube now, it looks fantastic. I have bought some hemcore but still haven't used it because everyone kept saying it flies everywhere... having seen your set up I will be making a trip to IKEA too. These eggs get more expensive everyday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 17, 2007 Author Share Posted November 17, 2007 give the hemcore a try - they love it and I'm sure with some stuff down the bottom it won't go everywhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 ... but the shower curtains are now only 89p, so that doesn't put the cost of an egg up too much! They are brilliant. Little Chickadee, I recommend plastic lawn edging round the bottom of the run, secured by cable ties (suggested by Couperman I think but I can't honestly remember!) It isn't perfect, hemcore still 'leaks' out but not too much, and it's very cheap and easy. I want a Cube now! mine will be purple, too ... after Christmas, if I can afford it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 17, 2007 Author Share Posted November 17, 2007 The problem with ikea is that you can't just spend 89p on a shower curtain - I challenge anyone to manage to do that! I am planning to use lawn edging. The chooks just look so brilliant rummaging in the hemcore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Los Tres Pollos Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 ... Little Chickadee, I recommend plastic lawn edging round the bottom of the run, secured by cable ties (suggested by Couperman I think but I can't honestly remember!) It isn't perfect, hemcore still 'leaks' out but not too much, and it's very cheap and easy.... Think it was me actually Olly but with all the info around here I know it's difficult to remember who said what Little Chickadee: if you look at my webcam link below you can see mine, (must post some photos as well) the only thing I would say is fix it at small intervals (I put holes in it and used cable ties) because if you don't the Hemcore builds up between edging and the mesh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 On the subject of run covers: I was in the Army surplus store in Oxford and they had an offcut of ground sheeting for only £2 that was perfect to cover the Eglu run and one extension. It was cheap, because what else could you use such a narrow piece of groundsheet for? I have only had it on the run since yesterday, so I can't comment on its durability yet. And it is only held down with clothes pegs. But the dark green colour is much more attractive than the Omlet cover, and it seems to let some light through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 ... Little Chickadee, I recommend plastic lawn edging round the bottom of the run, secured by cable ties (suggested by Couperman I think but I can't honestly remember!) It isn't perfect, hemcore still 'leaks' out but not too much, and it's very cheap and easy.... Think it was me actually Olly but with all the info around here I know it's difficult to remember who said what Ooh Kevin it was you, I remember now - huge apologies for misattributing this, it is a top tip and I recommend it highly! I wish I'd taken more trouble with the cable ties, and fixed the bottom of the edging as well as the top, if you know what I mean. But it was cold and I'd just spent about an hour putting new screws on the other Eglu and my fingers were hurting ... I never expected chicken-keeping to involve so much physical discomfort! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 I shall be buying some lawin edging as soon as I can. They are still enjoying themselves this morning and Amber actually flew out of the cube this morning as she had the extra space (she would have banged her head yesterday) The extension makes such a difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 19, 2007 Author Share Posted November 19, 2007 They have figured out that they can perch on the branch now and look very cute stitting up there. On the ground, they're still scratching away like their lives depend on it - having a whale of a time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
