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Chicken keepers

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Original poster

Walk -in chicken run

14 replies

doglover · 14/08/2010 15:22

We have 3 chickens in an Eglu classic with an extended run. Free-ranging isn't an option at the moment, so we want them to have a larger enclosed space. The run would need to be 12' long by 5' wide by 6' high with weldmesh sides and probably a roof. I've been looking on the internet for possible runs but they are SOOOOOO expensive! If anyone could recommend a company that makes good quality (but cheap!!) enclosures, I'd be really grateful.

OP posts:

thegoodishlife · 14/08/2010 15:51

Hi Doglover,

I can recommend www.aviaries4u.co.uk/. Not had anything from him personally but I know people who have and they rave about his creations.

HTH!

Original poster

doglover · 14/08/2010 17:22

Yes, we've had a quote from this company ....... 0ver £500!! I agree their products look excellent but I just can't afford that much. Many thanks for replying, though. If anyone has any other ideas................. :)

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TidyBush · 14/08/2010 17:31

We had to put our 3 girls into a permanent enclosed run as we'd had a visit from Mr Fox and only saved them thanks to my DH being quick enough to scare it away and get it to drop the chicken it'd grabbed (luckily it'd only ended up with a mouth full of feathers).

Anyway, DH has built a 9ft x 9ft covered run on top of a 10ft x 10ft slabbed base. He's also converted our old 6ft x 4ft shed into a coop that's been attached to the outside of the run. It's not been cheap though, even though DH has done all the work himself it's still cost us around £400 (that does include the slabs though).

We did get read made aviary panels from here which worked out cheaper than making them ourselves.

Original poster

doglover · 14/08/2010 18:43

Thanks, TidyBush, that's a useful link which I've saved in my 'favourites'! Did you purchase panels for the roof and then cover it? What did you cover it with? Onduline? Did the panels seem ok quality? Sorry, masses of questions! :) :)

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TidyBush · 14/08/2010 21:29

No problem doglover. We purchased 3 panels of half wood/half mesh, 7 full mesh, 1 door and 1 that we asked for with no mesh that sits in front of the pop hole, just to keep the line of the panels equal all round.

The roof is then made of 2 inch square strips of timber that are built up at one end for the rain to run off and the covered with five sheets of pvc corrugated plastic sheets like this. TBH it was the seemingly little things like the fixings for the roof that bumped the cost up.

I'll take some pics tomorrow and put them up here for you to see.

TidyBush · 14/08/2010 21:32

Forgot the say we are happy with the quality of the panels which came ready coated. DH had to put it together quite quickly as we were going on holiday, otherwise he'd have liked to have given them another coat of wood preservative.

Original poster

doglover · 15/08/2010 11:59

Brilliant advice, TB. I really appreciate it. Pics would be great to help me visualise the set-up. Many thanks again.

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TidyBush · 15/08/2010 12:36

I've put some photos up on my profile now. Let me know if it works - it's the first time I've done it (or not ).

Original poster

doglover · 15/08/2010 13:00

It works!! Well done you!! Seriously, many thanks - I see what you mean about the roof now. Your chooks look very happy and have a super home. :)

OP posts:

nickelbabe · 19/08/2010 16:21

our run has an onduline roof.

it's always a good plan to have at least half of your run roof as a solid, because of rain.

TidyBush · 19/08/2010 18:51

Can't agree more about covering the run. It's been peeing it down here all afternoon but the chooks have been happily foraging away in their run. It also makes it easier to keep clean and fragrant .

Flighttattendant · 21/08/2010 12:06

We made ours as well...here

It's about 5 metres by 2 and a half.
I used some galvanised sheets for the roof and it's great as they don't get soaked every time it rains.

Only issue is trying to grow grass in there for them! I am thinking of doing some trays to alternate.

I haven't slabbed all of the inside, because it's undercover so doesn't turn into a trench - but I have dug in the wire all round, about a foot deep where possible, and then slabbed all round the outside on top of this. Just to be safe from Mr Fox.

It did cost a couple of hundred I reckon but it wasn't too bad - builders' merchants have really long bits of timber, and you can start with a few fenceposts (using metpost spikes into the earth) and build your framework around those.
The wire then can be bought on a long roll and worked around the frame. Best to do it against a solid wall so fox can't dig under the fence - or slab it all as Tidy did (beautiful run Tidy!!)

I think it might work out cheaper than buying panels if your budget is not huge.

The roof was the easy bit. I love working with iron sheeting, it's dead easy to nail through and very light to lift.

Original poster

doglover · 21/08/2010 17:52

I' haven't checked this thread for a while - so many thanks for continuing in my absence! It is apparent that covering the run is 'the way to go' and we'll definitely be doing this. After lengthy research, I think we'll be opting for panels from Bay Animal Housing. We're off on holiday soon so will order them when we return and attempt to assemble the run ourselves!! If anyone has any comments about this choice, do let me know!!!!

OP posts:

bramblebooks · 21/08/2010 18:07

I'd also agree with covering the run. My friends had their six hens foxed - it had gone over the six foot run fence. They now have a roof ready for new hens.

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