BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 having built my chicken coop i have been struggling to work out the run. the old man (who kept chickens all his life before meeting me) is not so keen on the idea of having chickens, and tried oh no you dont! trick on me: then came the emotional blackmail from the kids to dad - so he's backed into a corner on this one. anyway going back to the run...dear hubby tried to help me last week plan my run and we both struggled so he stated that if i build the run he'll let me have chickens (was having them anyway ), and the darling went out and bought me some very expensive weld mesh wire. so with hubby being away this week, and not back till later on at the weekend, i have called in a favour from my best friends hubby, who happens to be a carpenter, and he's coming to build the run for me tomorrow morning!!! i have all the materials / mesh etc and all the wood is cut to size. i'm going to pass it off as my own work.......do you think i should confess? the other confession is that i am going to get some chickens as soon as the run is completed (maybe sat morning)as i think i have got all the stuff i need now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Bertie wrote: .i'm going to pass it off as my own work.......do you think i should confess? the other confession is that i am going to get some chickens as soon as the run is completed (maybe sat morning)as i think i have got all the stuff i need now Definitely don't confess When your reluctant chicken owning OH has a moan about anything chicken related you can look hurt and indignant and say "remember I built that coop and run with my bare hands, saving us money" which will make him feel guilty Getting the chickens immediately will mean it's a done deal and he can't change his mind That's my advice for what it's worth. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Sound advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 No, don't confess. I passed off a shop bought cake as home made for a school fete once, & was told it was the nicest cake the buyer had ever had Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Nothing wrong with a little white lie now and again...We won't say anything Honest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 "oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive" (Sir Walter Scott) well, someone had to say it! personally, I don't give advice about whether to tell the truth or not, that's down to your conscience and how you think your hubbie would react if he ever found out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysia Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 OH I would have a lot of fun on this one, Just say when he returns 'come and look at the run isn't is ace / brilliant / substantial etc and see what his reaction is. We had a rabbit years ago and I said I would build the hutch / run it took ages and I asked hubby for so much advice in the end he got a strop on and took over! (HE still doens;t realise that was my plan all along! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Tell him it's all your own ..............unless of course there's any other carpentry work needs doing around the house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Good for you! A girl after my own heart! Actually, my OH was a bit reluctant beforehand, but now is almost as fanatical about the chooks as I am. Look forward to seeing pictures of both hens and run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Well you did build it didn't you? The fact that you sub contracted some of the more specialised elements of the build is neither here nor there is it? Mr Barratt builds houses but I bet he doesn't get his hands dirty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Someone will spill the beans eventually. Well I'd be found out anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Right here's a good plan: When your friends hubby comes round, stand with him and try and talk him through what you want the run to look like. When he gets to work, offer him a cuppa tea (hopfully he will say yes) take at least 15 minutes making it and return to the garden with the cuppa tea in hand. Stand and stare at the area the run will be in (pretending you have some sort of plan) then circle it a few times. Then go to the shed (or if you dont have a shed, find a tool box) then look for some sort of tool that you think your friend's hubby will need (a drill is probably appropriate.) Then go and check on the girls, and tell them all about the new run they are getting, take a good 5 minutes doing this. When your friends hubby has got to work, stand and hold a few peices of wood, then measure them with a tape measue (it doesnt matter what size the wood is, just pretend you know what your doing with it.) Then as your measuring, hold a few peices up and say things like "yep that should do." Then put them back. Then go to the wire mesh and look at the measurments for them, and then hold your hands up and make 'swooshy' movments, like you are pretending to calculate how much you need. Then after 5 minutes say something like "Yep thats perfect." By this time friends hubby should be well on the way to making the run. When he looks like he is struggling with holding up wood to make the roof, offer to help. Then stand there passing nails, screws or bolts to him, when you think he needs them. Then go and look at the floor covering for the run (if you have any) and do the same thing you did with the mesh, just have a good read of the bag with lots of "hmmmmm" and pretend you are calculating whether you have enough. By now a good 45 mins should have passed, and go and make another cuppa tea, but don't offer it, just wonder off to the house, then 10 minutes later return with the cuppa tea. Then say something like "It looks great so far we have done a great job." Then just ponder round the garden, and when your hubby comes home, say you built the whole run. Which you didnt do but, you did help and contribute your ideas and opinions. If some how the word gets out that it wasnt you that built the run, then just say that, your friends hubby came round, made a few cups of tea and just measure things and talked to the chooks Well, thats my idea! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Right here's a good plan: When your friends hubby comes round, stand with him and try and talk him through what you want the run to look like. When he gets to work, offer him a cuppa tea (hopfully he will say yes) take at least 15 minutes making it and return to the garden with the cuppa tea in hand. Stand and stare at the area the run will be in (pretending you have some sort of plan) then circle it a few times. Then go to the shed (or if you dont have a shed, find a tool box) then look for some sort of tool that you think your friend's hubby will need (a drill is probably appropriate.) Then go and check on the girls, and tell them all about the new run they are getting, take a good 5 minutes doing this. When your friends hubby has got to work, stand and hold a few peices of wood, then measure them with a tape measue (it doesnt matter what size the wood is, just pretend you know what your doing with it.) Then as your measuring, hold a few peices up and say things like "yep that should do." Then put them back. Then go to the wire mesh and look at the measurments for them, and then hold your hands up and make 'swooshy' movments, like you are pretending to calculate how much you need. Then after 5 minutes say something like "Yep thats perfect." By this time friends hubby should be well on the way to making the run. When he looks like he is struggling with holding up wood to make the roof, offer to help. Then stand there passing nails, screws or bolts to him, when you think he needs them.Then go and look at the floor covering for the run (if you have any) and do the same thing you did with the mesh, just have a good read of the bag with lots of "hmmmmm" and pretend you are calculating whether you have enough. By now a good 45 mins should have passed, and go and make another cuppa tea, but don't offer it, just wonder off to the house, then 10 minutes later return with the cuppa tea. Then say something like "It looks great so far we have done a great job." Then just ponder round the garden, and when your hubby comes home, say you built the whole run. Which you didnt do but, you did help and contribute your ideas and opinions. If some how the word gets out that it wasnt you that built the run, then just say that, your friends hubby came round, made a few cups of tea and just measure things and talked to the chooks Well, thats my idea! xx OMG, 'Ocean's 11' had a less complicated plot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Did you actually read all that ???? Even I couldnt be bothered to spell check Personaly I think its a great plan. Thats how our run got built xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Did you actually read all that ???? Even I couldnt be bothered to spell check Personaly I think its a great plan. Thats how our run got built xx I was gripped! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyMurray Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Hi there, Yes I agree, say you built it yourself! And yes get the chickens asap....then theres no going back. Fingers crossed he doesnt ask you to build something for him at some time though, you'll have to use the 'little red hen' story. Enjoy your chickens, Dyan x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 xChicken04x.....you have obviously attended the same DIY classes as Him Indoors. That is exactly how he tackles each piece of work we have done....except that he doesn't make the tea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 I think I would have a bit of fun for a while....... and then confess .....and definitely get the hens as soon as the run is ready Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 However you do it, you will have constructed a run without your OH's assistance. Therefore it's your work. If there are hens inside the run, there's not much he can do anyway is there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted November 23, 2007 Author Share Posted November 23, 2007 weyyyyyy the run base is all concreted in, doors made, all i have to do in the morning is screw the doors and roof on (into the pre cut moulds) and hey presto. it looks really good he's recycled some trellicing i had knocking about the garage. put the mesh wire on it and made the doors. actually its looking like a little design statement in the garden. if i can get it done in the morning in between taxi driving to ballet / football etc, i shall be ringing the breeder at lunchtime!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 weyyyyyy the run base is all concreted in, doors made, all i have to do in the morning is screw the doors and roof on (into the pre cut moulds) and hey presto. it looks really good he's recycled some trellicing i had knocking about the garage. put the mesh wire on it and made the doors. actually its looking like a little design statement in the garden. if i can get it done in the morning in between taxi driving to ballet / football etc, i shall be ringing the breeder at lunchtime!!!!! don't forget to post some piccies too so we can see what all the fuss has been about! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
