The Poultry Keeper The Independent Forum for Poultry Keepers    FAQ   Search     Register   Log in  portable runs          The Poultry Keeper Forum Index -> Feeding and Housing Author Message susyrosyworzy Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 48 Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:18 pm    Post subject: portable runs Hi peeps - just looked at the title - sounds like the hennies themselves! However, to be serious - my hens are currently roaming around a separate part of my garden called the dark woods. Their house is there, and barring escapes, this is where I want to be for most of the time. However, to save me mowing the grass in the 'best' garden, I should like to make a portable run to move them around over the grass. I wouldn't mind being able to attach it to a temporary house to save transporting hens in a box morning and evening. It would be like them going on their hols for several days before going home. I have quite a bit of left-over timber from renovations to my house, mainly old lengths of cedar tongue and groove, but I dont want anything too heavy, and wouldnt mind it being collapsible, so the grass isnt ruined. Diagrams and suggestions are very welcome indeed I sound quite daft and hen-struck. It's bees next. Thanks! Suse Back to top George Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:35 pm    Post subject: They'll probably still ruin the grass, Why not get a pet sheep instead, it'll do much less damage Back to top Two Pots Bantams Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 29 Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:27 pm    Post subject: How about free ranging geese . They'll keep the grass down and fertilize it well in the process ! Colin . Back to top nigel Moderator Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 2500 Location: Skåne, Sweden Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:16 am    Post subject: George wrote: Why not get a pet sheep instead, it'll do much less damage My lecturer last night told us sheep are just mobile lawn mowers that only exist to die in the most complicated and expensive ways possible Back to top George Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 9:36 am    Post subject: nigel wrote: My lecturer last night told us sheep are just mobile lawn mowers that only exist to die in the most complicated and expensive ways possible LOL, it depends on the breed I guess, Where Dad works they have a flock of 400 odd Swaledale ewes and a flock of Blue Faced Leicesters. (which they breed for the tups to cross with the swaledales) The Leicesters are much more delicate on a hill farm and will happily pop thier clogs for no reason whatsoever, the swaledales often seem to just die of old age Back to top nigel Moderator Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 2500 Location: Skåne, Sweden Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:57 am    Post subject: He also explained the difference in hardiness between upland sheep like the Swaledale and the lowland like the Leicester. Most of the sheep up here are 'mules' Swaledale crosses When I get more land sheep are definitely on the list. Back to top George Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 12:22 pm    Post subject: I like the Swaledales, tough little sheep with a great character, they love standing on your feet until you squeal like a baby, and if that doesn't work they ram you in the parts that hurt most. Plus they are much easier to get hold of than the Leicesters, Think Dad's boss is taking a load of mules to market today, Back to top jaydee67 Moderator Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5152 Location: Shetland Islands Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:51 pm    Post subject: nigel wrote: When I get more land sheep are definitely on the list. When you get the land let me know - I'll smuggle some sheep from here, there are about 20 sheep per head of population here - no-one will miss some! Well they might, but I won't tell them where they are! Back to top George Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:46 pm    Post subject: jaydee67 wrote: no-one will miss some! Well they might, but I won't tell them where they are! LOL Back to top Aussie Chick Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 2737 Location: Milton Keynes/ Brisbane Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:16 pm    Post subject: You're funny JD! Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         The Poultry Keeper Forum Index -> Feeding and Housing All times are GMT + 1 Hour Page 1 of 1 Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group