Chicken Run Panels

[highamchick]

Hi there

I'm new to the forum and currently converting a garden shed for our two chickens plus some new ones. We've decided a taller run (approx 6ft x 13ft) is the best option and have been looking on eBay for ready-made panels to purchase. Has anyone else done this instead of making their own? Any good or bad experiences?

Any advice welcome

[chicks&cats]

We got our run from a man on ebay who makes them to all different sizes. I think it ended up being cheaper than buying all the individual bits required but the downfall was he didn't send the instructions Husband worked it out in the end....

Just had a quick look on ebay but can't see him on there, however there are lots of the panels which look the same as what ours are

[highamchick]

Thanks for that chicks&cats. Is there a picture of your set up in the members coop photos? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271155067709? ... 1423.l2648 These are what I've been looking at. They appear ok to me but I'm no expert.

[morbidia]

I am going to be building a walk in run soon and have been looking at these on the Wells Poultry Site, there is a link to them at the side of the page, they also sell doors and all the fixings , I am not sure if they are better quality or not but they look good and are made with strong weldmesh so not easy for a fox to chew through

[highamchick]

Thanks morbidia, I'll find link and check them out.

[Steve valentine]

It works out soooooo much cheaper to make your own!

[highamchick]

Unfortunately we're not the best at DIY.

[chicks&cats]

Sorry my pics are not up yet on members coops

The bottom of the panels we used are solid wood to stop the chooks flicking woodchip everywhere!

[Wellington Boot]

I looked at the ones on ebay too, but they are all around the £20 mark (or any that were cheaper, didn't look very sturdy) and I just thought that was ridiculous, for some 2x4 nailed together and covered in weld mesh! I'm a bit of a skin flint though.

I am also rubbish at DIY, but I bet if you got your hands on the right tools, you could make your own panels easy enough - and then it's just a case of screwing/bolting them together - which you'd have to do anyway. You'd save heaps of cash, and you'd have the tools on hand for the next time.

[highamchick]

chicks&cats your photo has helped and it looks great. Dare I say it but I'm now searching for a second hand Eglu Classic for sale. The walk in run will take longer than anticipated due to a combination of things. In the meantime we can use an Eglu on the slabbed patio area then move it into the run once completed (we'll use the shed for storage instead). Does the classic fit through a standard door width?

[chicks&cats]

The eglu fits through the 3ft door sideways! It can be taken through in bits though to make it easier, and less heavy! One of the other laners was saying they were a lot cheaper second hand on ebay so may be worth a look....

[chicken_house_man]

The one on that ebay link are made from 1 1/2" square (probably finished to arouns 1 1/4"), the ones from Wells Poultry are 63x38mm finished size and tanalised pressure treated. The others are treated but most likely just a standard fence dip.

[highamchick]

Thanks all :0)

[Brianfromdorset]

That's a nice run chicksandcats.

[urbanchicks]

Try pet pens4u.co.uk.I had my panels last year and a friend put them together,they are well made,tanalised, and the mesh is strong,I had the 1/2" mesh.

Maggie