OK, I saw someone on BYC had a picture of this "great" trampoline pen -- an old trampoline converted to a movable poultry pen on grass. It seemed like a good idea, especially since I'm not much of a carpenter. So I found a used trampoline for $20 on Craigslist. I wanted to give some feedback on why I dislike this pen so much in case others are considering it. The best part is that it IS easy to assemble, however:
1. When you lift it to move it, it falls apart. It's easy to assemble because the legs just slip together, but that also makes it fall apart every time you move it, even a little bit.
2. The trampoline stretchy top is NOT AT ALL waterproof. Therefore you have to add a tarp or waterproofing.
3. When it rains, even with a tarp the stretchy top sags in the middle. After a heavy rain, mine was so low, the turkeys couldn't pass under it! Plus water that leaked through the tarp poured into the middle of the pen through this lowest point.
4. It is too low for easy access. Backbreaking.
5. It can blow away with a strong wind so you have to anchor it which goes against the whole idea of a movable pen.
6. There are gaps between all the springs (that hold the stretchy top on the frame) that 2 week old chicks can fly out of and cats can jump down through, so you have to do another layer of wire or protection there.
7. It adds a certain hillbilly appearance.
8. I could've put more work into a door, but I didn't, and the door is therefore just wire that I pull open and closed.
I've had too add a lot of work to deal with the above problems and honestly, it just wasn't worth it. I may convert the darn thing back to a trampoline for the kids after the poults have grown.
1. When you lift it to move it, it falls apart. It's easy to assemble because the legs just slip together, but that also makes it fall apart every time you move it, even a little bit.
2. The trampoline stretchy top is NOT AT ALL waterproof. Therefore you have to add a tarp or waterproofing.
3. When it rains, even with a tarp the stretchy top sags in the middle. After a heavy rain, mine was so low, the turkeys couldn't pass under it! Plus water that leaked through the tarp poured into the middle of the pen through this lowest point.
4. It is too low for easy access. Backbreaking.
5. It can blow away with a strong wind so you have to anchor it which goes against the whole idea of a movable pen.
6. There are gaps between all the springs (that hold the stretchy top on the frame) that 2 week old chicks can fly out of and cats can jump down through, so you have to do another layer of wire or protection there.
7. It adds a certain hillbilly appearance.
8. I could've put more work into a door, but I didn't, and the door is therefore just wire that I pull open and closed.
I've had too add a lot of work to deal with the above problems and honestly, it just wasn't worth it. I may convert the darn thing back to a trampoline for the kids after the poults have grown.
