Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[ldutch123]

Curious if you know how they had the hardware cloth attached and...was it the wire that tore or did they tear the wire off of the frames to which they were attached?

Also what do you feel theropod installation of the hardware cloth is because we do have coyotes near

 

[flocksalot]

I agree! My summer doors are that way. I have several angled across as well as corner bracing, but how I do things and how others do are two different things. I think they just thought it was over kill, and well theirs just ended up being kill. I do mine that way for strenght and durability. I don't wan't to have to redo them every year. No way! My son will have gotten probably 100 more chicks and I have to build new coops and there is no time for redoing a simple door.

 

[flocksalot]

Also what do you feel theropod installation of the hardware cloth is because we do have coyotes near

The only theropod I know anything about is a dinosaur. Youngest boy is eight and still a bit into them. If someone else knows anything about it chime right in as I'm curious.

 

[Beekissed]

I don't know...I have plastic mesh on my coop!

 

[chikenscratch]

So, I have a question for all of the experienced keepers on here.....my chickens were panting/breathing with their beak open during our recent 80 degree humid weather. They were moving around and eating/drinking normally. Is this normal and how does this translate to hot 100+ degree temps for the summer?

 

[JenellYB]

I'm kinda glad to see someone actually say they've had coyotes rip right through hardware cloth like it was nothing, becasue I've wondered about that in a lot os posts on these boards, the assumption that hardware cloth is sufficient against larger predators like coyotes or even dogs. In my own experience, is simply isn't.
I've seen even medium sized dogs rip through hardware cloth...better than chicken netting, yes, but not dog or coyote proof.
I also used to raise a good number of rabbits, where hardware cloth was the standard for caging, and it simply did not stop dogs, they'd rip right through it. I learned to rely only on chain-link fencing for dogs or coyotes, at least as a perimeter fence surrounding areas where hardware cloth was used for caging. I usually used 5 or 6 ft chain-link, not always mounted on 'traditional' pipe posts and toprails as for standard yard fencing, because of costs. Instead, usually treated wood posts with either a top and bottom treated lumber rail, or strong heavy guage wire interwoven through the links top and bottom and pulled tight and tied/stapled to the posts. A few times, I had to re-inforce even that with an electric wire near the top, to stop climbing predators, like cats, both domestic, and wild bobcats..and I think racoons can climb pretty well, too, as well as an electric wire 5-6" from the bottom, to stip smaller predators such as weasels or mink, that might be able to get through the chain link openings.
the very best I ever had was a yard where I used treated wood posts, attached first a 36" wide band of 1/2" hardware cloth all around the lower part, then installed the chainlink right over that....had 'em stopped big or small. Sounds like a lot of work and expense, but that set-up served me well for nearly 12 yrs, until we moved from there.

 

[COUNTRYBOI]

yeah people think I'm blowinbg smoke when i say hardware not enough the 1/2 x 1/2 is not as bad and for good start I'd go with 2x4 red brand 4 or 5 ft one strand electric 4'' from bottom two runs on top 4'' apart I'd put 36 1/2 x1/2 inside base that way can raise lil ones no prob then all you have to worry with is the sky thats were something big and mean in the run will be handy geese big tom turkey or really mean rooster that wants to kill everything not lady like in his pen .. I'm raiseing up some dark cornish heard good things about them ...

 

[COUNTRYBOI]

So, I have a question for all of the experienced keepers on here.....my chickens were panting/breathing with their beak open during our recent 80 degree humid weather. They were moving around and eating/drinking normally. Is this normal and how does this translate to hot 100+ degree temps for the summer?

they will pant when they get warm thats there way of cooling off make sure they have shade open air space and water theyll do fine if enclosed place a fan near them if you feel they need it ......

 

[Beekissed]

So, I have a question for all of the experienced keepers on here.....my chickens were panting/breathing with their beak open during our recent 80 degree humid weather. They were moving around and eating/drinking normally. Is this normal and how does this translate to hot 100+ degree temps for the summer?

I don't know that I ever saw my layer DP girls panting, though they have been in temps in the 90s(though we didn't have the humidity that most have where I lived). Maybe your hens are getting their first taste of hot, humid weather and will maybe adjust to it before it gets more so. Some chickens will even molt a little of their winter underwear long about now to help with that transition.

I'd just make sure they have plenty of shade areas in which to rest during the hottest part of the day, fresh water in a shady place(I add some mother vinegar to mine but that's just something I do to help keep the electrolytes up during hot weather) and make sure they have good cross ventilation in the coop at night at the roost level.

Some folks on this forum provide misters for their chickens during hot weather but I've never had to do that. What I have done is freeze some water in ziploc sandwich bags and place them in the waterer during the hottest weather. These are easy to change out and refreeze easily.

 

[chikenscratch]

Thanks. The area that we built the coop is shaded for most of the day in the warming months and exposed to sun but not wind in the cooling months. I'm happy to hear that panting is a normal way of cooling off for them. I live on the Illinois/Wisconsin border so it shouldn't get too hot for too long here!