Any thoughts?

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Trev62
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Any thoughts?

Post by Trev62 »

I am considering setting up a greenhouse frame may be 8m (l) x 2m (h) x 3m (b), covering it with bird meshing, putting a coop inside under maybe two metres of solid cover to keep that area dry to provide me with an enclosed area. I am considering using mulch as floor covering. Looking at maybe putting 5/6 birds inside.
Any thoughts?
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lancashire lass
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Re: Any thoughts?

Post by lancashire lass »

)t' I have heard of many people use either a polytunnel or greenhouse frame as a chicken run with the coop inside (and able to put some cover over the top to stop rain / snow) Considering the size (8 m x 2 m x 3 m), that's plenty of room for 5-6 birds.
I have to confess that when I wrote this post, I assumed it was for chickens but you just wrote birds ... and you already have turkeys so what follows next in this post might not apply.
Perhaps increase the roofing to about 4 m? And I advise putting perches in the run which you might be able to put in the corners (maybe tree branches) at different levels ... chickens really like to be higher than at ground level when not feeding or bathing (helps them to see danger ... or treats coming their way), and there's a bit of a pecking order where the dominant hen likes to be on the top perch.
Will one of the birds be a cockerel? A good one will keep the hens in check from trying to peck each other although the floor space (and perches) should reduce that.
How about putting a compost pile in the run to not only keep them entertained but also scratch / break up clods and feast on the bugs and worms? This article link gives you a good idea of what I mean
Trev62
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Re: Any thoughts?

Post by Trev62 »

lancashire lass wrote: 20 Mar 2023, 09:47 )t' I have heard of many people use either a polytunnel or greenhouse frame as a chicken run with the coop inside (and able to put some cover over the top to stop rain / snow) Considering the size (8 m x 2 m x 3 m), that's plenty of room for 5-6 birds.
I have to confess that when I wrote this post, I assumed it was for chickens but you just wrote birds
My mistake, yes it will be for a small breeding group of chickens, We currently keep Super Harkos a dual purpose bird for eggs and meat along with Broilers raised purely for meat but am considering starting to keep Orpingtons again, one cockerel with maybe six hens. Dual purpose birds again though they take longer to grow out. I am looking at other breeds but many are very hard to obtain here.
lancashire lass wrote: 20 Mar 2023, 09:47 How about putting a compost pile in the run to not only keep them entertained but also scratch / break up clods and feast on the bugs and worms? This article link gives you a good idea of what I mean
This is a good idea, the link provides a lot of information, thanks.
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manda
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Re: Any thoughts?

Post by manda »

A few years ago we bought a few dog runs as they were going cheap and were sure we could use them as chicken runs. More recently we decided to turn one of them into a chicken tractor space is not an issue so it can moved all the time but you can easily turn one into a run that doesn't move (in fact it can be more robust (as a tractor you have to factor weight) - deep litter so you're not having to clear it out all the time and then when you do you'll have a good mulch with lots of chicken poo that will compost nicely, or you can remove the mulch into your compost bin in the space which will add your brown to your bin and let them dig around in that.
This is the first tractor but we are taking the roll away nest boxes off the back wall and putting a door in that back wall so we can attach the chicken house after it's been moved for more protection...I'm not happy it's warm enough in the colder weather (out temps are still around 20 here even though we're in the Autumn but are due to drop so we're going to sort out the coop tomorrow and put it on wheels so it can be butted up to the chicken tractor for them to have a warmer place to sleep.
Image
Image
Still a work in progress so we can get it just how we want it to suit us and the chooks once we sort it out I'll put a pic up...but you get the idea.
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Mo
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Re: Any thoughts?

Post by Mo »

Sorry Manda, your links don't work. Is there supposed to be a picture on the other thread too?
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manda
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Re: Any thoughts?

Post by manda »

Mo wrote: 09 Apr 2023, 08:15 Sorry Manda, your links don't work. Is there supposed to be a picture on the other thread too?
Yes...I'll have to have a look and see what's up.
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)✰
(¸.✰´¨(¸.✰ Manda

Living our version of the Good Life with 4 dogs, 6 cats, a cow, a few sheep, Angora Goats and ???? chooks.
Don't get your knickers in a knot..it solves nothing ~ just makes you walk funny
manda
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Re: Any thoughts?

Post by manda »

Can you see them now Mo?
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)✰
(¸.✰´¨(¸.✰ Manda

Living our version of the Good Life with 4 dogs, 6 cats, a cow, a few sheep, Angora Goats and ???? chooks.
Don't get your knickers in a knot..it solves nothing ~ just makes you walk funny
lancashire lass
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Re: Any thoughts?

Post by lancashire lass »

manda wrote: 09 Apr 2023, 10:08 Can you see them now Mo?
)t'
How do these runs cope with strong winds? Just going off the first photo and imagining the wind going "into" the covered section.
Mo
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Re: Any thoughts?

Post by Mo »

No, just a 'no entry' sign.
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Trev62
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Re: Any thoughts?

Post by Trev62 »

Same experience as Mo, I can only see a no entry signs.
We have three stone built dog kennels here that are okay but all need repair work (this will be incorporated in our next repair plan) but we currently use them as breeding pens, one has a muscovy mum and her ducklings in, the second has another muscovy currently laying, the third has our geese laying and hopefully soon sitting.
Once the new animal pens are finished and everyone is in situ we will then finally decide on the greenhouse frame option or whether we should construct a static pen.
Long way off yet with the way prices are still going through the roof!
We also use dog crates a lot as rearing/holding pens.
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manda
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Re: Any thoughts?

Post by manda »

}hairout{
I've got to get off to bed now but I'll have a look and see what's going on.
lancashire lass wrote: 09 Apr 2023, 10:38 How do these runs cope with strong winds? Just going off the first photo and imagining the wind going "into" the covered section.
We've never had any problems with them LL and we have some gnarly winds here.
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)✰
(¸.✰´¨(¸.✰ Manda

Living our version of the Good Life with 4 dogs, 6 cats, a cow, a few sheep, Angora Goats and ???? chooks.
Don't get your knickers in a knot..it solves nothing ~ just makes you walk funny
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