Canopy Added To Run

[jlwquilter]

I think I accidentally started 2 threads. My phone freaked and I hit create thread again. Grr. Can a moderator delete the other thread please?

 

[jlwquilter]

In the heat of the day at 3pm in SE Florida where it’s flipping hot

Hens enjoying a cool cantaloupe treat. If you look closely you can see hens under the platform.

 

[jlwquilter]

...
If more people put coops on platforms the stuff digging under issue wouldn't exsist.

I use big pine logs to form a dig barrier. I get them from people’s yard waste piles. My land is so low I don’t have trees! Wish I’d know that little correlation before I bought this parcel - lol!

But the towns nearby have plenty of pine trees and someone is always taking one down. Have truck and trailer and chainsaw and away we go! I also use them as landscape edging around flower beds. And as steps down a short slope. They last years before they rot down and turn into lovely black dirt.

We took the logs and laid them outside the electric fence. Then used those step in stake things - some of which I actually bought! - to secure the fence but high up so the bottom non electric wire was on top of the logs. Used U staples to attach wire to logs. This keeps the electric fence out of the grass, makes weed whacking so simple along the fence, and keeps the fence out of the water during flood events. You can see the post things zip tied to garden posts every so often to give the perimeter structure.

 

[jlwquilter]

Since I added so much wood chip mulch (free from a tree guy) to fill the run and do away with mud when it rained- I covered all the grass growing in there.

So I took the U staples out of one log. I set up a chicken wire enclosure using chicken wire and step stakes that I got from that same guy I got the free coop from (!!) outside the one log. I roll the log out a few feet creating a gap under the electric fence. The hens walk under it and into a grass filled enclosure! I only do this when I can stay out there to watch them as it’s not predator proof at all. The hens were hesitant the first time - they know the fence will zap them - but after I lured the first brave soul out the rest followed. It’s only been a week but once already I found them waiting by the log for me to let them out!

 

[aart]

Anything less and it all slides back down.

Which might be fine for the birds but not for you.
Maybe some worm gear pipe clamps could be used as stop half way down the lower leg section. Probably doesn't really matter, tho the 'moving shade' can be annoying,
keeping it higher may be better airflow.

Will just throw my hot weather blurb, not as hot here as Fl but pretty darn uncomfortable.
Deep all day shade is best but....
I give a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins about once a week during heat waves. It really seems to help....started this after they saved a heat stroked hen once.
Can mix up a smaller amount, just wrap the packet tight and store in a dry cool place. Always have plain water available too.

BIG(9x14x2") chunks of ice last all day for wading, sitting, and sipping.
Much more useful to the chickens than frozen foods and treats.

Make space in your freezer!

 

[jlwquilter]

I looked at the canopy and for us making it shorter doesn’t work as then it would be too short for us to walk under.

Moving shade is way better than no shade!

I’ve put several gallon jugs in the freezer as well as refilled Gatorade bottles. Place them frozen in the waterer and the pans. Seems to help. I did use the sav-a-chic once in the water already this summer. Don’t know if it helped but it didn’t hurt.

Got to run!