[tam]

This was sold for chickens but I keep my rabbits in it:


It's pretty simple (and cheaper) to knock up panels yourself, I was just being lazy  

[Foxy]

WoW thats an impressive run, looks very rat and fox proof too!

[poultrygeist]

Good idea to make it modular too. Just unscrew the middle and insert another couple of sections when you want to increase your flock.  

Wish we'd thought ahead a bit.

Rob

[SalJ1980]

Oooh thanks Tam! That's the sort of thing I will be attempting - a house in an enclosed run. How many birds is that size meant for?

[tam]

I'm not sure how many chickens, mines 5'x7' and would house 3-4 rabbits. The standard size panels are 3'x6' but I got custom size to squeeze it in the gap in the garden without blocking off the back door  

It was very easy to put together. Each panel has 3/4 screws going each way, locking them together. The mesh covers the wood on the inside and the roof panels are meshed too so it's pretty secure.

You can buy panels individually from various places start about £12 for a full mesh panel, bit more for the door sections/half wood/full wood panels etc.

Tam

[SalJ1980]

Thanks!  

[AndyRVTR]

[Andy, could you please post pics of your hen house/run when it's built? I'm hoping to get chooks in the spring and will be building my own house and run, so am interested in how other people have designed them. Anyone else's pics obviously appreciated too![/quote]

Hi Sal... I have been putting some pics of my construction on this site... I have a few more to add today, but up to now I'm pretty pleased with it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyrvtr/

Hope it helps

[poultrygeist]

In that run as shown, you could theoretically get 3 or 4 hens in but ideally a bit bigger. And you might want to put a plastic roof on to keep the ground dry. Avoids mud and smells  

3 bantams would prob be happy enough. If you could let them run free as and when even better.

Rob

[SalJ1980]

Thanks Andy, just realised I've seen your photos before so you must have linked to them previously, but hadn't seen the latest ones anyhow.

Cheers Rob, I'm only wanting 3 or 4 birds anyway so something along those lines should be good. Will be aiming to let them free range in the garden when I'm there to keep an eye on them, but ISTR there is only a low (waist high) fence between us and the neighbours-to-be (who I believe have a jack russell) so won't be able to let them out permanently!

[poultrygeist]

I'd be tempted to put some wire mesh up on that fence too in case they decide to go and chat to next door's JR  :shock:

Just enough to keep them safely in your garden.

Rob

[SalJ1980]

That's a good idea Rob. Will have a proper look when we've move in and settled a bit - have only seen it the once when we viewd it a few week ago so it's a bit hazy in my memory now!  

[poultrygeist]

We were like that when we viewed this place. Turned out we missed out an entire hallway !

It came as a nice surprise when we came back to view  

Rob

[North Devon Dumpling]

Need to get some wire mesh now have realised that Chicken mesh is no good but just don't know where to get it from.  Mole Valley don't seem to do it.  Any ideas anyone (we are inbetween Holsworthy and Bideford).

Thanks

NDD

[poultrygeist]

Always got ours from ebay. Some bargains if you spend a few days looking. If you need it yesterday, garden centres should sell it. Or pet shops, but you'll pay a high price for it.

Rob

[North Devon Dumpling]

Thanks PG will keep looking on there.