Category: chicken coops

Green Valley Poultry build quality, timber chicken coops and runs.

Fitting an automatic door opener to an Omlet Cube

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Automatic door opener for Omlet Cube

Horizontal sliding doors have always been a problem when trying to fit an automatic door opener.  There once was a door opener called “the Pullit automatic door opener” specifically designed for these door but, unfortunately, it’s no longer in production.

The solution is to fit a vertical sliding door that replaces or covers the existing door.  If you have a wooden coop the modification are fairly easy but the omlet cube coops are a particular problem – although very popular they all have horizontal doors.

To mount one on an Omlet cube you need to mount a door and an automatic door opener on a wooden frame that can be attached over the existing door.

Here is a video of how someone has modified their cube:

The only thing we’d really do differently would be to mount the actual automatic door lower down to make the installation a bit more compact.  There are a couple of ways to do this which we have detailed in a previous blog on fitting an automatic door opener where height is limited.  This would be our preferred method as it keeps the motor within the height of the door so there isn’t bits sticking out the top. as long as the door slides easily, which it should do with a metal sliding door, the door will lift from the bottom without any problem.

Fitting an automatic door opener to a chicken coop where height is limited.

This installation uses a Chicken Guard Automatic Door Opener

The ChickenGuard automatic door opener

Chicken Run with Mesh Roof

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A mesh roof chicken run around a Smiths Thicket Chicken Coop

Our customer had recently purchased a Thicket Chicken Coop from Smiths but found that, as there was a problem with foxes, it was too small to keep the hens in all the time and the foxes were digging into the run.  They asked us to build a 9×21′ mesh roof chicken run to surround it together with our heavy duty anti-dig mesh to protect the perimeter.

9×21′ mesh roof run around a smiths thicket chicken coop

Here’s a video of it going together

We start off laying the anti dig mesh along the 2 sides (one short side was up against a concrete path so no need there).Next we lay out the base timbers for the first run panels that are connected together. The panels are fixed with 2 coach screws into the base timber and 3 to the adjoining panel.  The base timber can be replaced with timber from your local diy store should it ever show signs of rot without disturbing the main run panels. You can also buy the chicken run panels separately should they need replacing or you want to extend the chicken run.  In practise, we’ve seen these at over 8 years old with no problem.  Our system of run panels also means doors and pophole can be positioned anywhere you like and panels can even be swapped around at a later date should you want to reconfigure the run.  On the run the customer had asked for a run door either end.  Once all the panels are built around the perimeter the roof is built up.  The final jobs are fixing the door catches, the last piece of anti dig mesh and in this case packing the low point on one corner.

Had the customer ordered one of our Large Chicken Coops and Run in the first place they could have saved over £300 compared to this solution and started with a much more practical chicken coop

 

 

Ordering and paying for a chicken coop from Green Valley Poultry Supplies.

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Below is an extract from our Terms and conditions relating to ordering chicken coops.

Our aim is always to get your chicken coop to you as soon as possible but we have to work within the limits of our resources and each house is custom built for you,  the parts needed for your house may not be the same as any other orders for several months.  The number one reason anyone’s order takes longer than estimated is delays caused by other customers.    This is why we now ask you to pay a deposit to secure your place in the queue and then the balance when we are ready to build your house.

We have in the past only required the deposit when the order is ready to be despatched but we find this regularly leaves the workshop clogged up with finished work that is waiting for payment.  It is not uncommon to find a customer may not be ready to pay, or may want to delay delivery until a time that suits them.  With a finished job sat in the workshop with time, materials and space committed to it this delays work on any subsequent orders.  This is frustrating for us and anyone else waiting in the queue. When we request the installment prior to starting work we begin by making the smaller items that can be stored or easily transferred to another order.  Once these parts are made and the balance paid we begin on the main structure of your chicken coop.  If the balance isn’t paid with in a few days of the request we will move onto the next order and your order will be moved back in the queue until payment is made. We won’t cancel your order unless you specifically ask us to in which case the cancellation fees will apply.

Ordering Poultry Housing

All Poultry Housing (including run panels) are made to order. The website will give you an approximate indication of the delivery time although this is not a guaranteed delivery time and can vary. We work on a first come, first served basis for large houses and runs, and custom builds. Orders for run panels will normally be manufactured when a similar spec panel is being manufactured for a large house or run. Small chicken houses are built in batches of similar designs.

Payments Terms for Chicken Houses :

All housing orders under £600 : payment in full to confirm order.

All housing ordered using our express service : Payment in full to confirm order.

Walk In Runs / Walk in Coop and Run can either be paid in full, or in stages. If you wish to pay in stages you can order online and use the payment option to send card details separately or place the order by phone.

Walk in Run / Walk in coop and run DIY assembly : 50% deposit to secure your place in the workshop followed by the balance in full when work starts on your order.

Walk in Run / Walk in coop and run with on site assembly : 30% deposit to secure your place in the workshop followed by 30% when work starts on your order. Balance is due on final handover.

We will send you a payment request for the deposit and any interim payments. Any delay in payment may cause your order to be delayed.

Cancellation of Housing orders

With the exception of orders placed using our express build service you have a 14 day cooling off period in which you may cancel your order and receive a full refund. Between 14 days and the start of building your order you may cancel but will forfeit the deposit (if you have paid in full you will receive a refund for the balance). Once assembly work has begun on your order it is not possible to cancel.

Two chicken Runs built on site

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 2 chicken runs installed onsite

When you order a run from us you can either assembly it yourself or we offer an onsite assembly service. We finished February with 2 onsite installations of chicken runs. The first was this 6×15′ standard height run with anti dig mesh around the perimeter.  This one has 4 solid panels on one end to provide shelter. As each of our chicken runs is built to order we can normally accommodate minor variations to the basic design of the chicken run for minimal ever cost.  The Anti dig mesh protects the area immediately adjacent to the run which is normally enough to deter foxes from digging.  Over time it becomes absorbed into the grass, locking it in place.

6×15′ chicken run built by Green Valley Poultry Supplies.

This customer already has a similar run that we built back in 2010 although that has a slightly bigger sheltered area.  Structurally, it all looks as good as when we built it and the timber has now faded to a light brown colour.

Next was a 9×15′ run with 12″ base plinth.  There was no need for anti dig mesh as this was being installed onto an old concrete shed base.  The extra 12″ base plinth means the base can be filled with litter without it spilling out through the mesh.  It also give some wind protection which the hens will find nice is this very exposed spot in Norfolk.

And here is a stop motion video of the chicken run being assembled.  As you’ll see, the roof is strong enough to support a fairly substantial weight.  This assembly took approx 4 hours but if you are going to assemble it yourself we’d suggest you allow a weekend for a run this size.