Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

(No chooks in the house tonight fyi) good night

 

[Ponypoor]

I had to argue with Rooster Cogburn tonight. He was the last one in and he wanted me to keep the run gate open, for easy access to the yard in the morning. When I called “bed time!!” Everyone came running, but he’s at that stupid stage. So is Gizmo, but Giz pays attention. Why are there always chicken issues? Drama I don’t need!

Yep - I know what you mean. I am still having to chase those wall sitters in at roost time. Tonight I didn’t force the issue, it was too early for them to roost when I went in for supper with the family. So I had to get them down and in the hen house when I went out at 8.

At least they went in to bed easily.

 

[kattabelly]

If you can set something up sheltered from the prevailing winds (most common direction, coldest winds) by something solid like a stone wall on 2 sides (maybe more diamond shaped so wind splits to either side)....View attachment 4231455playing with ideas....wind diversions....so basically build a maze with the coop in the middle. Wouldn't have to be a full maze, just set the walls across the opening in the next layer. Granted, more long term project, but could be upgraded to more durable and/or planted with trees/shrubs.

Doesn't help much with coop NOW unless there is a semi-sheltered location to START with, then build the windbreaks off of that.

In settling the Great Plains (Northern Mississippi River, Missouri River areas), people planted wind breaks 3-5 rows wide around the house and barn area. My brother's in-laws have 1 with the outermost a double row of berry type bushes, a double...or triple row (offset from each other) of deciduous trees with the inner most a double row of evergreen spruce trees. The windbreak wrapped 3 sides of the house/yard/barns area with a corn field on the 4th. The whole of the Plains gets wind incessantly, from any direction, and winter winds sweep down from the arctic circle. Northern winds are critical to break up. Summer/fall can get winds out of the southwest or northwest or anywhere in-between. East winds are rare, so that direction is rarely blocked.

Another thing to note. Completely enclosed creates more wind resistance which causes more damage in high winds. The idea is to separate and break up the winds so it's not as strong while still allowing it through. From the sounds of things, your place gets wind from all directions. That's why I'm thinking fully enclose the coop area with open ended walls. The wind has to change direction so much getting through that it loses much of the bite.

Long-term building project, start with the innermost walls, and if you've got a region where 2 stone walls come together, start there and build out.

Edit:

For that batter, building a baffles at the door would also help. Inside or outside doesn't really matter, but run some sort of blockage across that too.

That's basically the plan, there's a run structure with a knackered roof and partial walls that I'm fixing up and roost space will be built inside that. It was hard getting materials over the summer because the local place was struggling to hire a delivery driver and then recently it's been too windy to be up a ladder with roof sheets and/or too rainy to be digging post holes every time I've had a couple of days free to work on it. It'll get sorted eventually.

Planting trees as shelterbelt isn't an option, for several reasons. The wind isn't even the main one but I'll stick this here anyway because it's funny (if you let the long grass grow up around these they make a good day shelter for a few chickens though)

 

[Sylvester017]

The deed is done….

Spoiler: Sorry Bob but it had to be done

Spoiler: And now they can play on the pile of branches!

Before
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After!
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Wonderful ~ the whole world opened up for them beyond just staring at the ground to see

 

[Sylvester017]

Yes true, and none of mine are elderly - they are all young and strong. But I do worry about my two little ones - Piglet and Cookie.
Beating up Cookie has already started - fortunately she flies quite well. And of course she has taken to chest bumping Mr. Chips which is quite bizarre really!
I am looking at opportunities to add even more junk so that there are lots of hiding places. One of the (no longer safe for people) cedar Adirondack chairs could maybe come inside the Chicken Palace for example. It is so cold and wet and windy right now I don't think I can make that move today and I am not 100% sure it will fit through the door!

Tax: Tassels and her gang
View attachment 4231354

Hope your Adirondack fits thru the door. Our hens used ours to snooze under before we made more shade for them in our old 2011 bare yard.

 

[Sylvester017]

Thanks for the suggestions but it lets in rain because the wind blows rain up under the roof overhang. One of those pop-up things would end up in the sea during the first storm here no matter how deep the legs were buried and tarp would just get shredded.

The wind means a lot of things have to be done differently here.

In our So. Calif.area we get what's called the Santa Ana Winds periodically from 35mph gusts to 100mph gusts... debris every time in our yard. Once a very large tree bough went flying into our yard missing our bedroom window by 5 feet only! So our property is no stranger to excessive wind storms. We learned that burying the canopy legs keep the frame secure ~ the canopy may get ripped but the frames stay secure. We clamp down new tarps to replace covers ~ cheaper than paying for actual new canopy covers!

 

[Sylvester017]

Going in the morning for bone implant surgery... may be offline for awhile

 

[RoyalChick]

This is true! I can just pass them off at those!

Yes they can see much better, it’s amazing actually how different they acted. At first they were looking everywhere at everything, acting terrified! Then they saw the pile of branches hahahaha. Oh Bob is right they sure can fly. And hop about on the branches!

They’ll be safer also with the main gang, it’s time they were out with them in the barn during the day, and I want them roosting at night in the Hen House.

Did you cut or yank the feathers?
I am thinking ahead for if Cookie ever needs a trim.

 

[rural mouse]

That's basically the plan, there's a run structure with a knackered roof and partial walls that I'm fixing up and roost space will be built inside that. It was hard getting materials over the summer because the local place was struggling to hire a delivery driver and then recently it's been too windy to be up a ladder with roof sheets and/or too rainy to be digging post holes every time I've had a couple of days free to work on it. It'll get sorted eventually.

Planting trees as shelterbelt isn't an option, for several reasons. The wind isn't even the main one but I'll stick this here anyway because it's funny (if you let the long grass grow up around these they make a good day shelter for a few chickens though)
View attachment 4231571

Looks like some of the trees around here. Plant some sort of bush (not evergreen) around it to break up the wind a bit or run a short section of "holey" fence along the part the wind has pushed the most. Once that gets settled in, the tree will go up some more. That's what the shelter belt does. The bushes are on the outside with the tallest trees (eventually) the deciduous ones in the middle. The winter winds bet broken first by the tiny twigs, then the tree trunks so the fully thick evergreens closest to the house don't get scoured by worst of the winds head on. They're able to insulate the middle during the winter.

Making a corner simply means inner stuff turns first, then each layer getting closer to the "winds" going farther along before turning. Needs must, plant a double type of bush in double rows for each. Both should be deciduous with the one that max height is lower on the outside.

Blackberry, raspberry, siberian pea tree sort of things. Lilac clusters too much to be the outside layer, but could go on the lee side. Deciduous trees for example could be crab apple next with walnut (grows taller) being the inner tree. Then the evergreen: doesn't have to be as tall, but needs to be thick/dense in the individual growth.

 

[RoyalChick]

Going in the morning for bone implant surgery... may be offline for awhile

Good luck and hope for speedy recovery!