Walk In Run Rain\Wind Protection

[Marigold]

Hi Fraser.
How did it go? Are your girls safely ensconced in their new run?

Out of interest, were you advised to take your own box(es), or do they supply everyone with preboxed hens under the "cluck & collect" system?

What happened when you collected yours, Icemaiden? It would be very interesting to hear how a charity organises a large collection under time and space pressures. I imagine it would be quite different from going to choose and buy ‘normal’ hens, especially at present.

 

[Icemaiden]

When I've rehomed hens via the BHWT in the past, I've been given a collection time & have been told to bring boxes with me- they give you helpful information in advance as to how big the ventilation holes need to be & why you can't just transport the hens loose in your car 07

Normally you arrive with your boxes, confirm who you are & how many hens you're collecting & then take your boxes to the place where the hens are temporarily being kept- clean stables in the case of Biggin Hill. Volunteers pass hens to you to put into your boxes, you have the opportunity to give them a once-over before boxing them up & taking them home. I did once turn down a couple of hens, but when I was handed a half bald hen that'd been pooed on by others, just after being made redundant, my heart melted. I knew just how it felt to be pooed on from a great height (metaphorically, at least), so there was no home I'd have let her go to other than mine... She ended up being named Plucky, as she was half plucked but very brave

I guess it's all rather different at the moment. The volunteers obviously can't pass hens to you, hence the well named "cluck and collect". I was wondering if you can reuse your carrying boxes, as I'm on the waiting list for some rescues in Kent, hopefully in December...

 

[FraserP]

Hi Icemaiden.

The BHWT was very helpful. I used carboard boxes from B&Q, unfortunately, they were not very strong so, a use once situation. Each box had an old towel, Aubiose and some straw. You need to have something in there to stop them sliding about and soak up the poop. I cut 2" x 12" slots in all 4 sides to allow ventilation. I collected 5 hens .

On arrival I was given the 'park there do this brief' . I handed the boxes over, stood back, they loaded the girls and 5 mins later, we were on our way.

The weather has been extremely wet and windy. Without the side protection I added to the run would have been under water by now. I still need to deal better with the huge amount of run off from the run's roof. It has filled a 100Ltr butt in less than 2 days I'm waiting on a further 200ltr water butt and drain pipe to take the excess away to the sump\drain.

After a day doing chicken things, eating , pooping, scratching, the girls are currently in the coop. Hopefully, not having too much party time. BTW, I have been rewarded with 6 eggs so far!

 

[Marigold]

Hi Fraser, I’m so glad you actually got them! Is your own area in Level 3 ATM?
Do you have any idea what environment they had been kept in, ie were they just living in a big barn, do you think, with no access to outside? Do they have big floppy combs? (This is a sign that they have been kept very warm as the combs grow to make a bigger surface to help them cool down.) If so, you did especially well to give them sheltered sides to the run. The change in temperature between being inside with possibly hundreds of others in close quarters, and living in what is basically an open-fronted tent must be quite a difference.

How well- feathered are they? Can you tell them apart yet? Great to have lovely fresh eggs! Hoping for some pics ASP!

 

[Icemaiden]

Well done Fraser! So what were the hens doing while you were eating, scratching etc...?
(Only kidding...)
Did you have to guide them to bed? You should find that they work it out for themselves after 3 - 4 days.

It's good to hear that we can still take our own boxes. Mine are on a shelf in the garage, waiting to bring new hens home again...

 

[mattigil]

Really great to see your lovely coop and runs @FraserP and @Marigold.

I was just wondering though with regards to the tarp you've used, have you put cable ties (or other fixing mechanism) in more places than just the holes with the metal rings they have in certain points? Hope that question makes sense aha!

As ours have not been able to withstand the recent storm and to be honest, our farm is pretty exposed to strong winds etc.

We've just ordered some more and also bigger tarps but this photo (sorry for the poor quality, I'm using Tapatalk app for forums and it only lets me upload photos in poor quality) is the aftermath of the storm yesterday morning, I which lead to us taking the tarps down.

 

[Margaid]

You do look fairly exposed there and quite high up. Marigold uses cable ties through the trap and around the mesh or an upright. They are visible in the photos in her post on page one of this thread - short black lines on the white tarp.

 

[mattigil]

You do look fairly exposed there and quite high up. Marigold uses cable ties through the trap and around the mesh or an upright. They are visible in the photos in her post on page one of this thread - short black lines on the white tarp.

Yep, very exposed unfortunately but that's Yorkshire for you [emoji23] were planting quite a few trees to act as wind breakers but that will take quite some time.

Yes I noticed her cable ties but I wasn't sure whether the cable ties were just through the holes that were already in her tarp or whether she had made some new hole for the cable ties.

Our plan is to probably enclose the ends of our run as well until after winter.

 

[Margaid]

If you look at Marigold's second photo it shows clearly that holes have been made in the tarp to take the cable ties - you only need to make a tiny slit.

With luck Marigold will see your post and answer herself - I'm trying to resist thinking about getting hens at the moment ...

 

[Marigold]

Yes, cable ties are very good at holding the tarps in place. You need two people, one each side, ie one inside and one outside the run. Make a small hole in the tarp with a sharp,pointed object like a pair of scissors or a screwdriver, and poke the pointed end of the cable tie through both the tarp and the mesh behind it. Make a second hole about 3” further along. The outside person sees the pointed tool and pokes the cable tie back through, for the inside person to fasten together. Put the ties about 30cms apart, in rows across the tarp surface. How many you need depends on how windy the site is, but they are really good at stopping the tarp from flapping around. You’ll need more than I have in this pics, as this corner of my run is more sheltered than yours. You can also fasten tarps together, or fix them to an upright, as you can see in this pic. You need ties that are about 30 cms long, ever so cheap on eBay. Your hens will thank you!

 

[mattigil]

Yes, cable ties are very good at holding the tarps in place. You need two people, one each side, ie one inside and one outside the run. Make a small hole in the tarp with a sharp,pointed object like a pair of scissors or a screwdriver, and poke the pointed end of the cable tie through both the tarp and the mesh behind it. Make a second hole about 3” further along. The outside person sees the pointed tool and pokes the cable tie back through, for the inside person to fasten together. Put the ties about 30cms apart, in rows across the tarp surface. How many you need depends on how windy the site is, but they are really good at stopping the tarp from flapping around. You’ll need more than I have in this pics, as this corner of my run is more sheltered than yours. You can also fasten tarps together, or fix them to an upright, as you can see in this pic. You need ties that are about 30 cms long, ever so cheap on eBay. Your hens will thank you!

Thank you for the insight yet again! I have plenty of ties, I'll have a word and will try and get it done. I was just scared of whether making a slit would decrease the strength of the tarp and lead to further tears etc. Thanks again!

 

[Marigold]

The ones I use are Monotex clear tarps from Tarpaulins Direct. Although clear, lightweight and easy to cut and sew if needed, they are very strong, being reinforced by a mesh of 1 cm. nylon netting, so poking small holes in them doesn’t do any damage that will spread to adjacent areas. Mine seem to last for several years, taken down in Spring and put up again when the weather gets wintry.

https://tarpaulinsdirect.co.uk/tarpaulins/monotex-tarpaulin