Granddad Rob Designs Ltd

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Granddad Rob Designs Ltd

I have been a professional bird & animal house maker since 1979, so think I have got the hang of it. Link- granddadrobdesigns.co.uk

Some old dogs don't need to learn new tricks
Specialist, expert, craftsman, professional all adjectives used today so liberally they have lost their worth. For forty one years my sole income has been derived from the designing and building of animal and bird housing. I can boast that from my Weald of Kent workshop I have sent builds to all parts of the United Kingdom and good many parts of our pla

net. Even Kew gardens can boast a Granddad Rob dovecote. I learnt very early on to listen to my customer. That to use cheap materials was penny wise and pound foolish, and that a good reputation is hard earned and easy lost. Specialist, expert, craftsman, professional, I have a proven track record, and after three decades this old dog is set in his ways. If you think I can assist you in your animal housing needs I would be pleased to talk
01233 822457 or email
[email protected]

02/09/2026

Granddad Rob has always played the looooong game

Customer wrote . . .
“My 12 Chicken Coop, which is now nearly 20 years old, is finally looking like it needs replacing, and I wonder if you would be able to supply me with one.”

Granddad Rob replied . . .
“This is not the first time I have said to a customer that if a bently was parked in a field, with chickens coming and going, laying eggs in the glove box and perching on the headrests for nearly 20 years, it would also ‘look like it needed replacing’.

But when all is said and done, it doesn’t owe you anything.

https://granddadrobdesigns.co.uk/collections/poultry

25/08/2026

A client asked if we could build her a mirrored PET RUN to house her two guinea pigs. We could, so we did.
This got me thinking so COMING SOON a single house version of the PET RUN

03/08/2026

When asked Google says BESPOKE means custom-made, tailor-made, or specially built to the unique needs of a particular person or purpose.

We keep doing that

08/07/2026

I should have retired by now. However, I don't want to—not all the time, il have more ideas in my head than is clinically safe.

I have more or less come off the bench now, where I suspect I was becoming more of a hindrance than a help. I now leave the Robmob (as I call them) to do what they do best.

That frees me up to do what I much prefer doing... which, according to my wife of 52 years, is "playing silly buggers!"

This Silly Bu**er did what he does best , designed it ,and won the order. The Robmob did what they do best and built it.

We're supplying this duck house unpainted. However, we were keen to see what it would look like finished, so David, theTopmober, asked AI to paint it and place it on a pond.

What I could have done if AI had been around forty years ago...

02/07/2026

When designing and building anything I work to three criteria. In order of importance they are . . .
1) It must pander the creature’s needs, instincts and comfort.✓
2) It must be work for both the creature and the keeper. ✓
3) It must look pleasing, for the most part our work is going into somebodies private space, and we have to respect that. ✓

01/07/2026

Your feed back please. . . . would you like one? if not why not?. if yes then why?
NEW Walk-In Tortoise Enclosure
The Walk-In Tortoise Enclosure provides generous space for your tortoise while allowing easy, unrestricted access for cleaning, feeding and general maintenance. The enclosure is modular in design, allowing the overall length to be increased in 1.3 metre (4 ft) increments.
All of our tortoise house sizes, together with the optional Basking Porch, can be accommodated securely within the enclosure.

Optional Extras
Internal Divider Panels Allows the enclosure to be divided into separate runs, each with its own access door. Ideal for separating tortoises when required.

Galvanised Ground Mesh A galvanised welded mesh mat covers the entire floor area and extends approximately 100mm (4") beyond the walls on all sides. This helps deter predators from digging in and discourages tortoises from digging out.

Raised Skirting (300mm–500mm High) A higher skirting allows up to 200mm (8") of topsoil to be retained within the enclosure, creating a safer environment for natural burrowing behaviour.
We strongly recommend combining this option with the galvanised ground mesh.

Reduced Overall Heigh down to 1.9m instead of 2.5m.This option is particularly suitable where a full-height enclosure may appear too imposing in a smaller garden.

26/06/2026

We are making one of these little arks for a customer who asked if we still made the same model her dad bought for her guinea pig 25 years ago.

We stopped making them years ago. Back then they were called the Forsham 602A, with the larger Forsham 602B. They were originally designed for a broody hen and her chicks, but we actually sold far more for rabbits and guinea pigs than we ever did for broody hens.

Some of you will remember the old Forsham days. It's nice to know a few of those products are still remembered too.I think most folks would agree that 25 years is a fair test of whether a product has stood the test of time.
If there's enough interest, we might put them back into production.

It did occur to me that I'm getting a bit long in the tooth to still be around in another 25 years, when someone rings—or whatever they'll be doing in 2051—asking if we still make the guinea pig arks their mum bought back in 2026!

24/06/2026

MUMMY MALLARD PREPARES TO REPEL BOARDER
We really appreciate it when folks take time out of their day to send us pictures of our work being lived in.

Have you got photos of our products being used? We would love to share them.Pop your photos in the comments below, or email them to [email protected].

23/06/2026

Customers asked if we could make them a bespoke duck/moorhen house, based on their own design. My default setting is, YES . Stage one, do the drawing ✓

17/06/2026

One of my strengths is knowing what I don't know, and not ‘waffling’ in a cynical attempt to secure a sale.

A customer has just emailed me asking for help. As I have repeatedly said, I am not a tortoise keeper, so I am reluctant to advise. (Chickens, ducks, geese and doves are my forte.)
Just about every tortoise-related product, and the subsequent upgrades we offer, was originally conceived and developed by actual tortoise keepers and continues to be shaped by their experience.
Can anybody help this person, please? Thank you.

The email reads: ….. "I have stumbled across your website in my search for outdoor housing for a Sulcata tortoise (AKA African Spurred Tortoise) and wondered whether you might be in a position to help. He arrived in December 2022 as an abandoned juvenile and is now four years old. I understand that an adult Sulcata requires an insulated enclosure made of plywood, measuring approximately 10ft x 10ft and connected to an electrical supply. However, I am struggling to determine what would be appropriate.
Any assistance you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Address

Ashford
TN261JU

Website

http://www.granddadrobdesigns.co.uk/

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