Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: moomoos42 on November 12, 2011, 18:46

Title: Walk-in run
Post by: moomoos42 on November 12, 2011, 18:46

Hi,
I'm trying to find a walk-in run for my Gals. I live near Cambridge but all my web search seems to bring places up north or Wales! This means the postage will be high. does anyone know somewhere near Cambridge that sells this type of cage? I saw one on Ebay, very nice with a roof but way out of my price range!! Thanks x x x

Title: Re: Walk-in run
Post by: compostqueen on November 12, 2011, 21:15

I should check out your local shed suppliers as they could build you one. That's what I did, using ideas from pictures I'd seen both on here and on the Omlet web site where they have galleries full of run set up photos

Getting stuff delivered is where all the cost is, so if you could get something made locally it should make it cheaper

Good luck

Title: Re: Walk-in run
Post by: Lindeggs on November 13, 2011, 00:00

I second the idea of customising another structure. 

I made my walk-in coop out of an old bus shelter.  It had a roof and strong frame, and was enclosed on three sides.  all I had to do was enclose the fourth side (and put a door in it) then build the 'furniture' inside (nest boxes and roosting bars).  Worked out really cheap and meant I could have it exactly how I wanted it.

Title: Re: Walk-in run
Post by: moomoos42 on November 14, 2011, 14:08

Thank you, i wouldn't have thought about converting something else! we're on the edge of the fens (5 miles of open fields between our house and the next village) so wind proofing is important and a shed with only 3 sides wire may be the answer!  :D

Title: Re: Walk-in run
Post by: grinling on November 14, 2011, 15:55

Also remember about rain and snow getting in. BIW cut a hole through a 6X4 shed and built a mesh run out from it. Placed away from wind direction. Or build a run with wood and mesh and put a slatted fence panel to break up wind direction.
Most of the run has a roof so dry indoor run.

Title: Re: Walk-in run
Post by: bygrace on November 15, 2011, 17:41

Just don't do what I did! I had a heavy-duty polythene cover on top of my run, stitiched to some plastic clematis mesh. It kept the run beautifully dry, but puddled badly one day after torrential rain....I carefully slid the plastic to one side to empty it, but then the puddle moved and the whole lot emptied in the centre of the run - drenched it more than if there was no cover in the first place  >:(
Moral???? Don't cut corners with cheap alternatives!