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Our ivy does, but I wouldn't recommend it for use with Chickens. I will need to cut ours right back before I can let our future chooks run loose in the garden as I believe it is not great for any animal.
If we had the climate for it I would definitely grow grapevines around a run, free...
Luckily we don't have raccoons over here or any such critters which could open latches - except maybe cats? You see loads of them opening house doors on youtube etc.
Anyway, I would say that it depends whether you would like to be able to securely lock your coop (with a padlock, for example) or...
My OH refused to undertake such a venture without one! Plus, as he'll be doing most of the building work (he wants to, I built the veg beds so it's his turn, he says!) I want to make sure that the coop has all the bits and bobs a coop needs (in way of dimensions as well as accessories) as it is...
...half decided he wanted me to draw it up on graph paper. All done, and materials list completed as a result.
For construction we will be using *free* timber for framing - recycled freight crate wood (used to contain hay from the states I believe). This also comes with a layer of foam...
Just seen this all over our news in the UK. Fingers crossed everyone affected (including the chooks!) comes out of it OK.
I remember one time when we were in Florida when we were small, getting one that seemed to be chasing us on video camera out the back of our people carrier. Exciting and...
Wow wales! thats so cool!! You have to include some pics of the country side for us! I have seen 47 of the lower 48 and haven't left the us yet, but i want too!!
And yes I'll get some pictures up of the countryside - I live 5 minutes walk from our local country park, with it's woodland...
Thanks again for your welcomes and advice. Payday today so (fingers crossed) will be making a start with materials needed for the coop. Slight debate with SO over roofing materials at the minute - I would like clear corrugated plastic to act as a skylight for plenty of light, but my SO thinks it...
I'll be insulating my coop with some sort of material (undecided as of yet). From the outside will be panelling of some sort (palletboard?), then wire mesh (to stop any neighbouring rats), then the material insulation, then chipboard on the inside.
It will be like a warm version of Alcatraz -...
Thanks for the info guys, it's all helping My OH wants to build it so I'll have to see what he would prefer to do. I'm gonna keep checking back to this thread to see how your build turns out Flyboy!
Emma
Wow, I'm assuming that the reason they are so expensive across the pond is the shipping? The most expensive I have seen them over here is £40 a pair.
I'd like to know a bit more about the breed though - I've heard that they can be pretty noisy.
Looking for sellers of anything chicken related, including the chooks themselves, in the UK. I myself am based in North Wales, but it would be encouraging to see some Brit-based sellers in the auctions here I've had a quick shufty and have only come across sellers from across-the-pond and I'm...
I'm from Wrexham, born here, grew up near to Mold, now live 10 minutes back towards Wrexham in a village called Llay
Looking for other chicken fans locally to share knowledge etc as I am new to keeping chickens myself - need advice on fox/badger-proofing and various other pest/rodent problems...
Loving the idea of a welded frame - I would imagine it would stand up to our winds really well! I doubt I will be able to follow suit with my first effort, but I will be taking inspiration from some of your other ideas.
I'd already decided on a similar roof design - our garage has a corrugated...
Open-air coops are not much good here... The last few Winters have been varied but on the whole cold and wet/icy/snowy. The Summers have been just as varied, so need something that is cool in the Summer but warm in the Winter. The ventilation in my design is going to be able to open/close...