Sorry in advance but I am having a really difficult time at the moment. I have six chickens who I adore. At the moment I live in an area that is really safe for the hens so they free range in my garden all day. I have just bought a house and am moving in 2 weeks. I will have a huge garden but it backs on to open fields and I am terrified about foxs etc. I need to get some sort of very large enclosed run something like this http://bigspace.celerity.co.uk/aviaries ... eglu_2.jpg I would still let them free range but would want to shut them in when I'm out. I can't afford those prices so if anyone has any suggestions of cheaper alternatives I would be very grateful. Also really worried about rats so any advice there would be appreciated.
I met the new neighbours today, there are 3 houses all new build but in a rural area so we are all moving in around the same time. I told the new neighbours that we had chickens and they were fine about it but did mention there was a covenant stating no poultry or pigs, having researched this I think 1950's allotment act means that it's not going to be an issue but I am a terrible worrier.
Sorry for the rant but I am stressing and just feel like crying.
The run in the pic does look very nice, have you someone handy who could help build one from scratch using cheaper sourced materials? or have you thought of electric fencing? freecycle, local paper?
As for the neighbours, am sure they will be fine with half a dozen eggs now and again
Rats are attracted to food source and so try and keep the area food free when the girls are in bed, so less chance of them coming to feed, there is some info on here about rats, if you can't find it will have a look for you
Thanks for your reply. I am 100% sure the neighbours won't be bothered by my hens, the garden is 100ft long and I'm planning to have them at about 70ft from the house. I have just found some info on rats, thanks for that. Unfortunately I don't have anyone who could help but I also hadn't thought of freecycle.
looks like an aviaries4u run, which are hideously expensive. For a much more reasonable alternative (not quite as "finished", but still good quality and sturdy), goggle Bay Animal Housing. Chris is very friendly and helpful to deal with and will change specs at little or no extra charge. I have just ordered a Walk-in-Run from him, having had other products in the past.
Hi, obvious I know but have you looked on Ebay? I've got to admit that these days it's my first port of call for everything
One English Springer Spaniel - Lily. Four Ex Bats - Flo, Primrose, Gladys and Beryl. One 1959 Massey Ferguson FE35 tractor - Daisy. One husband - Steve!
I make it you'd need 8 of them, so it would be £144, but if you have to order them then obviously a fair bit more, but hopefully you'll be able to find some close by. Then just have to burry mesh/bricks/concrete under the edges of the pen so foxes can't get in, and then also a wooden roof or something. We managed to build ours in under £140 but my dad's pretty good at DIY so we built it all ourselves
We made our chicken house and run ourselves. Never done any DIY before we moved here - well maybe a shelf or two being put up or hanging a picture or two! - Our new family Moto is - 'Give it a go, How hard can it be'
**Scrap wood (free) mostly found by us - Pallets a £ or two each from local lorry yard/animal feed place, great when taken apart properly ({warn} Husband!!!!), Chicken wire fencing - very cheap on ebay (£30 for 50 meters) or I think that is cheap compared to some prices about here - We had one roll and it was MORE than enough for side and a top - we have since bought more for an extension (more chickens!), some roof felt cheap in B&Q and a few screws and hinges and a weekend or two of your labour. (we did originally use some old welsh slate tiles found laying about here before the felt but had a water issue in one corner - prob coz we are not roofers!) - oh and some cheap wood preserving paint from home bargains.
Bargains is what we like! and if it can't be a bargain it has to be FREE! - another one of our family sayings!!
I am sure you could construct a tidy shed house thing and a safe pen. - we have 418 ft of space (house included) it cost us approx £120 and a few splinters in fingers......!! - the chickens love it.
However, I have seen Wilkinson and B&Q do chicken houses - they look a bit flimsy though or you could try freeads/ebay/local paper and see what bargains are to be had - someone has prob already suggested that. If you are no good at DIY see what some people from this website have constructed the pics are fab - they may inspire you - FAB stuff. - I talk too much!
p.s don't stress and don't cry. I am sure it will be fine.
A newbie for the 'good life'. I am learning that I have an AWFUL lot more to learn than I first thought
Hi Jayney Don't stress or cry, it looses the fun of your new challenge. I'm a girl, not a DIY specialist but I built my own run and converted a shed into a coop. Not that hard really. Lengths of wood, get a staple gun and secure weld mesh and then you have a panel. Attached are some pics, since these I have roofed and extended the run. Hope they will encourage you.
