The Poultry Keeper

fenwoman · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:34 pm Post subject: covered runs

While not panicking, I firmly believe in doing my best to protect my birds from danger and not waiting until the government tells me to do something. Especially as I heard that 2 ducks and a swan were found dead in Lancashire.
It is happening and I'm not waiting about. So all afternoon I've been working. I already had the blue poly[ie ready and went and got some more tarpaulins from B&Q and some fruit cage netting stuff. Nothing expensive. I did 4 runs this afternoon for the cochins. The 3 runs are a little smaller than they are used to but they will manage. Tomorrow I will do the geese and the larger copper marans run. All the arks and coops are already bird proof.
Better safe than sorry is my motto even if it means it looks like a refugee camp out the back.
Incidentally on my way out for more supplies this afternoon I noticed several other poultry keepers in the village had already covered their runs but one person, who has land backing onto the river bank where swans are starting to nest and were wild ducks land and feed, still had his fowl all running loose. I think at the very least I would have fenced so that they were nowhere near the riverbank after all, the chap has about 2-3 acres to play with so has the room to do so.

HeatherBB · Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 151 Location: Chelmsford

Yes, I also have spent 2 days as a very make-shift carpenter covering my run for my 9 birds. I like to think of it as 'the rustic look' but - better safe than sorry, and, as my birds are only used to the 'whole garden' when I get home from work,- hopefully they won't feel too deprived!!

AngieC · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 71 Location: Dorset

DD1 & I covered our run a while back, and the girls (and boy) don't seem to mind being confined too much, if at all - as the old rain shelter is inside the run, they have two-storey accommodation in places! And I've stacked some old spoilt straw bales to make a place to play "king of the castle" on or shelter from the wind behind. The old rain shelter floor is under 6" of dry straw for scratching in and there's even a "swing" for the younger birds. The only two who occasionally "pace the fence" are the two who would have gone into the battery if I hadn't bought them from the eggpackers as day-olds. I feel awful about confining them, and there's been an outbreak of Scaly Leg Mite, which I'd never had before, but there are have NO coughs, sneezes or sodden, muddy Pekin & Faverolle legs this winter. And no bullying, featherpecking etc. so far, although I'd love them to have a lot more space.

Your setup looks just like a blue version of all the polytunnels they use to grow the winter lettuces & strawberries in in Spain, Fenwoman. The breeder I got my white pekin chick from told me how much they're paying to cover their runs over - in excess of £5,000. That's scary...

nigel · Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:41 am Post subject:

We were in CostCo this morning a 20'x30' heavy duty tarpaulin £12, means if necessary i can move the fruitcage to extend the covered run now.

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

I've found the girls seem to take themselves to bed much earlier with it in place. Perhaps it gives more of a twilight feel for them?