Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Lexicon]

My big worry are the freezing rain and then snow on top of that which could clog the openings making it very heavy and sag. Of course I could just roll it back for the winter, they rarely go outside in the winter.

Yes, I could see how that could be a problem. We don't get freezing rain here, so not an issue. Our climate is very similar to your northern Alberta camp's weather patterns.

 

[bgmathteach]

It's like a green tunnel I love your idea of the hoop coop with the covering, maybe I can do something like that overtop of my RR to give more height inside it. Wonder if I can get some custom made ribs to make an arch over parts of it. One side it 6' high and the other ~5' so would need to take that into account so it doesn't look lop-sided.

You would have to handle it like fishing net - there is a technical way that it needs to 'handled' - that's where my Uncle would come in hahaha! Oh Uncle Eric - can you fix this net for me???? I love watching them fixing/making nets - it's like crocheting sort of.

I might get a couple of the 25x25 ones, I think if I place it over the RR I can more easily deal with the over hang - OR - I can just leave the overhang as an area they can run under for some raptor protection.

Ideas are running wild now! Can't wait to get home

You can custom bend emt conduit. There are 'pipe-bender thingys (yup a very technical term!!)

for the length you have, you would probably use 2 10 footers, connected in the center top by a t or X connector (t for end, x for all others) and run a center pipe at the top for stability.

Think of this one as 'flipped' where the 'through' piece is the center top pipe.

Maker pipe has all sorts of connectors for conduit. I am planning on utilizing this for some protective areas when I get my 'pasture runs' completed. Since they will enclose about 1/3 of an acre and 1/2 acre respectively, hawk/predator proofing from the air will be impossible for the whole thing, but I do want to create a far amount of protected space attached to the mobile coops for when I am gone all day.

However, making the primary/permanent run bigger and safer is first priority - these are for later down the road!

 

[bgmathteach]

View attachment 3409831

What a beauty - she looks like a buff brahma...but too small. Is it just the angle of the picture, is she a banty, or something else?? gorgeous girl, regardless!

 

[bgmathteach]

My big worry are the freezing rain and then snow on top of that which could clog the openings making it very heavy and sag. Of course I could just roll it back for the winter, they rarely go outside in the winter.

With the 2" openings, I really don't think it would be a problem, especially if you made a point to shake it off, as long as branches & leaves don't get frozen on, then block the snow from falling through.

that said, honestly, if you could create some solid or semi-solid (i.e. portions of solid roofing around the tree) for the winter near the barn, and left good chunks of the rest open to the elements...where you might roll up the netting on those parts for the winter...I suspect it would work really well...and you could hang netting used on the far end of the run hung across run to safely enclose the portion near the barn. (i.e. so the netting became the far wall of the winter space...say, maybe, 25' out from the barn??? It would mean completely taking down one portion fo the next each fall to move it to become a 'wall' for the winter, then putting it back up in the spring....but if you hade one smaller peice (say, 20X10), it might be more manageable??

 

[ValarieF]

So everyday I takes these meds about 8am and 8pm. They knock me out so I sleep for a couple of hours and at night I sleep for good until 1 or 2 am then Im up for a few hours then back to bed and wake up to feed the chooks around 8am.

 

[Ponypoor]

With the 2" openings, I really don't think it would be a problem, especially if you made a point to shake it off, as long as branches & leaves don't get frozen on, then block the snow from falling through.

that said, honestly, if you could create some solid or semi-solid (i.e. portions of solid roofing around the tree) for the winter near the barn, and left good chunks of the rest open to the elements...where you might roll up the netting on those parts for the winter...I suspect it would work really well...and you could hang netting used on the far end of the run hung across run to safely enclose the portion near the barn. (i.e. so the netting became the far wall of the winter space...say, maybe, 25' out from the barn??? It would mean completely taking down one portion fo the next each fall to move it to become a 'wall' for the winter, then putting it back up in the spring....but if you hade one smaller peice (say, 20X10), it might be more manageable??

Yes that would be more manageable. When I get home I am going to do some measurements and planning. I really like the idea of that mesh netting.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I just want to let @Ponypoor and @knoturavggrl know that with your upcoming Brahma chicks I will be following those adventures closely. Brahma's are on my personal short list for future new breeds one day. Do not let the little Marshmallows know, but they actually took a spot in the flock that I wanted to have for either Brahma's or D'uccles. It is ok though, I am loving my adventure so far with the marshmallows, they are so smart already, and friendly and curious. When the time is right in the future I will have a token Brahma or two. Until then, when you two get your babies, I hope you post pictures often.

 

[Ponypoor]

Yes, I could see how that could be a problem. We don't get freezing rain here, so not an issue. Our climate is very similar to your northern Alberta camp's weather patterns.
View attachment 3409831

Such a beauty! She is a Buff Grahma right? I am told they fly... Also they are cold tolerant - which is a plus for me.

 

[Lilion]

Today we cut a door in the coop wall so I can gather eggs from the outside. Hopefully they'll continue laying on the right spot. Gave them some new hay in the run, which made for some happy chooks and discussed the new run...which will be 8' wide and 12' deep...about double our hoop run. And unlike the current one it'll be predator-proofed. Looking forward to it! Here's a couple short videos (with my husband putting in his 2 cents.)

 

[Ponypoor]

I just want to let @Ponypoor and @knoturavggrl know that with your upcoming Brahma chicks I will be following those adventures closely. Brahma's are on my personal short list for future new breeds one day. Do not let the little Marshmallows know, but they actually took a spot in the flock that I wanted to have for either Brahma's or D'uccles. It is ok though, I am loving my adventure so far with the marshmallows, they are so smart already, and friendly and curious. When the time is right in the future I will have a token Brahma or two. Until then, when you two get your babies, I hope you post pictures often.

Sure will!

I am enjoying watching your marshmellows and their growing feathers - sure hope that Chiquita is ok with them flying up on things she can't reach - poor Henny was beside herself when her chicks kept flying up onto the round bale she couldn't get up onto hahaha! I had to lift her up with them.