Chicken shade

[dewdropsinwv]

Got the hubby to put up temporary shade for the chickens. We used an old tarp for now.

 

[dringge]

I put up temporary shade about 2 months ago. It works well and I'll just take it down in early winter so they can have the warming sun. A more permanent shade from the broiling sun is on my list of things to do. Its a long list.

 

[chfite]

A solution for rapid shade with winter sun that I found here is an elderberry bush. It is a sucker type plant that will grow rapidly to about 15 feet with plenty of spreading limbs and shade. It is deciduous, so you will have winter sun.

The chickens like the fruit that grows on the plant.

We have lots of shade here otherwise, but this seems to provide it faster than any other plant I have.

Chris

 

[dringge]

I like that idea and it should look pretty good too.

 

[dewdropsinwv]

We put a tarp over the top of their run to help with shade. It works for the most part, but we are going to have to move the coop. There is a tree behind the coop and it provides a lot more shade than the tarp does. We had temps in the 90's and heat index of 100 for about 5 days in a row. Poor chickens were panting by 10am. So to help keep them cool, I drug the garden hose over by the coop and watered it down a few times a day, gave fresh water every few hours.

 

[dewdropsinwv]

We have re-done the chicken run a couple of times since I posted this. We now have the chicken run under a big maple tree in the back yard. the girls like it a lot...then will spend time in the sun during the morning, and when it gets too hot they will lounge under the tree.

 

[Folly's place]

Good work! Mary

 

[dewdropsinwv]

My hubby is building me a new coop for the hens, and we are keeping the old one for raising meaties. The new coop is going to be nice. I will post pictures when I can.

 

[dewdropsinwv]

The new coop is done except for finishing the painting. I picked sassy peach for the paint. I'm going to have to give the coop a second coat.
The hens are happy in the new coop.

 

[dewdropsinwv]

Sorry about the heavy pics. I have more to add later but this is what I have for now