PSA: DO NOT BUY OMLET CHICKEN RUNS

[Desmont91]

Yes, it's helpful to attach the Eglu outside the run, though I modified that as well. I consider the Eglu and 6' run to be their coop. As such, I hardened it with HC, protected with clear tarps and made sure no mice can get in at their food is inside.

I got Omlet's kit to attach the Eglu and run, but did not like that the opening is small. I wanted to keep the larger door. So, I figured out a way to do that as well. (As I said, I have a lot of time on my hands.) When the door between the coop and run is shut, the coop is both predator and mouse proof. I can take more pictures and show you what I did if that would help.

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Can you tell me how you got the hardware cloth to stay?

 

[Desmont91]

Yes, it's helpful to attach the Eglu outside the run, though I modified that as well. I consider the Eglu and 6' run to be their coop. As such, I hardened it with HC, protected with clear tarps and made sure no mice can get in at their food is inside.

I got Omlet's kit to attach the Eglu and run, but did not like that the opening is small. I wanted to keep the larger door. So, I figured out a way to do that as well. (As I said, I have a lot of time on my hands.) When the door between the coop and run is shut, the coop is both predator and mouse proof. I can take more pictures and show you what I did if that would help.

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Can you tell me how you put the HC on it???

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Can you tell me how you put the HC on it???

Hi. You could zip tie it or there are metal hog rings you can get and you attach those with needle nose pliers.

https://www.fencescreen.com/Products/Steel-Galvanized-Hog-Rings.aspx

 

[deidreg]

Can you tell me how you put the HC on it???

Zip ties, lots of them. Be sure to get ties rated for outdoor use.

 

[wat_da_cluck]

Can you tell me how you put the HC on it???

I used zip ties, ran it around the zip tied ever 6-12” on top and bottom and then here and there in the middle. Has worked great - the run is now my backup for sick chickens or new chicks.

 

[Weeg]

Oh no! I'm so sorry for your loss. This is great info for me, since I was just considering buying an Omlet run. Good to know that anything they can stick there heads through is a threat. I've never considered it to be a concern during the day.
Your hens losses will save lots of lives, thanks for sharing, and again, I'm so sorry this happened.

 

[Chickenmom-1600]

I like how you set yours up. I have the same coop as you do and I have three runs of varying sizes and I knew buying it I was going to have to hardware cloth it too. But structurally I like it and I liked that it could be taken down and moved relatively easily. I am now wondering if I should change the way I have my setup, we have our coop inside and it definitely cuts down on the space in the run .

I have the same coop and run. 3 years no issues and the other day a mink got in even with the HWC. It’s winter so I have tarps covering it too. The double door for me is what I am trying to figure out. How do I make it safe with those gaps? And you did wash panel with with HWC? That makes more sense. Please share ideas about the doors. Thank you!

 

[Momof329]

No offense taken. I like that the panels can be taken apart and stored. When I panel them with the hardware cloth I do it in sections that fit the panels. I have taken one of our small ones down and stored it easily in a small space in a storage room while I did some landscape work there. I don't like chain link, I have to unroll it and I am not a large person. I don't necessarily agree that they would be sturdier either, I think that is a matter of opinion, I have had one of those for a dog once and they are fine, but not if you want to take it down. They sort of become permanent, whereas the Omlet ones are not permanent. If you don't want one you don't have to buy one . I did because it really precisely fit a need/want I have. If cost were an issue for me I would have bought something different, but in this case it isn't. They won't fit the budget or the needs of everyone, but they look nicer than a dog run, they fit the need I have to be portable and easily storable. I feel bad about the poster, I get pretty upset about losing birds too, but I don't know that it's about "Us omlet people" .

I don't feel the need to put hardware cloth on ours. We also use it for our ducks. Just had to get a dog ramp. We have a large hoop coop over our garden so that's their day time play house. Our 3 labs keep critters at bay.

 

[Momof329]

They are not predator proof. Yesterday one of my 2 satin bantams was found dead (she had been acting slow, so I thought maybe she had died in the corner and something tried to snack on her. Bagged her up and sent her for necropsy in case something was happening with my flock. WHELP - fool me once, shame on you - but fool me twice...
Today I found the other (and my 4 year old daughter's favorite) satin bantam being eaten by the culprit - A HAWK. I checked my ring video and the hawk was waiting in the bushes for the chickens to try to eat some pieces of grass and is somehow able to kill them. THROUGH THE FENCE. Of course the hawk is unable to eat them - but certainly spent a lot of time trying to (see feathers).

Point being - 1/2" or 1/4" hardwire mesh for runs is standard for a reason - and Omlet's absurdly large 1"x3" fencing cant even keep the chickens safe from hawks.

Spent the afternoon zip tying 1/4" hardwire mesh on the outside of the run until I can replace it in the spring with proper run.

Crime scene photos attached.

I'm sorry for your loss. But what run do you have? Our tractor runs bottom portion all the way around is 1/ 2 inch by 3inch. I wear a size for 4 ring and I can't get my finger thru it. No way no how. I paid good money and it's why I bought it. We love it. Nothing is 100% predator proof. But a hotwire is an easy fix. No matter what you make it will rot and need hardware cloth. Hope your daughter got a new baby.

 

[akafrog]

Yes, it's helpful to attach the Eglu outside the run, though I modified that as well. I consider the Eglu and 6' run to be their coop. As such, I hardened it with HC, protected with clear tarps and made sure no mice can get in at their food is inside.

I got Omlet's kit to attach the Eglu and run, but did not like that the opening is small. I wanted to keep the larger door. So, I figured out a way to do that as well. (As I said, I have a lot of time on my hands.) When the door between the coop and run is shut, the coop is both predator and mouse proof. I can take more pictures and show you what I did if that would help.

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HI I like the way that you did this extra security, can you please message me with the extra details too? I will need to secure mine better. thank you