Run covers
As I have said elsewhere we use Omlet Eglus for the chickens and Omlet Rablus for the rabbits. These come with 2 metre runs and triangular sunshades for the summer. For the winter winter shades can be bought. Unfortunately, the shades are made of poor quality material which doesn't stand up to our weather.
We have tried a variety of alternatives and finally settled on tarpaulins over part of the runs held on with bungee cords. Not very pretty but effective. Then during the summer our 13 year old caravan awning roof gave in so the awning was for the tip. Not being one to throw things away I decided I would cut the roof of the awning in to four, add eyelets and use these as winter run covers. The awning was duly put up in the loft and left, until last Monday. We had had 6 inches of snow over the weekend, and with more to come we needed to protect the runs, especially the rabbits who live in theirs. I didn't have time to chop up, sew and put eyelets in the roof so I took the sides of the awning cut the skirts off them, used the tags already in place to add the hooks from the omlet covers and put them on. The subsequent 12 - 14 inches of snow - so far - has been kept off the runs - I clear it regularly to prevent the weight bendig the metal runs, but it has certainly improved the living conditions of all the animals. Well worth a try if you can get hold of a damaged caravan awning.
We have tried a variety of alternatives and finally settled on tarpaulins over part of the runs held on with bungee cords. Not very pretty but effective. Then during the summer our 13 year old caravan awning roof gave in so the awning was for the tip. Not being one to throw things away I decided I would cut the roof of the awning in to four, add eyelets and use these as winter run covers. The awning was duly put up in the loft and left, until last Monday. We had had 6 inches of snow over the weekend, and with more to come we needed to protect the runs, especially the rabbits who live in theirs. I didn't have time to chop up, sew and put eyelets in the roof so I took the sides of the awning cut the skirts off them, used the tags already in place to add the hooks from the omlet covers and put them on. The subsequent 12 - 14 inches of snow - so far - has been kept off the runs - I clear it regularly to prevent the weight bendig the metal runs, but it has certainly improved the living conditions of all the animals. Well worth a try if you can get hold of a damaged caravan awning.
