Heat, Cold, free range, and all the things...

[aart]

They are gonna love that patio and gazebo!
Is the grass treated with any chemicals?

 

[H_2]

They are gonna love that patio and gazebo!
Is the grass treated with any chemicals?

Great question...we have TruGreen come out a few times a year so I'll check on that and cancel it if I have to. Thanks for thinking of it. THIS is why I'm here. I'm a rookie!!!

 

[aart]

Great question...we have TruGreen come out a few times a year so I'll check on that and cancel it if I have to. Thanks for thinking of it. THIS is why I'm here. I'm a rookie!!!

I would cancel the TrueGreen now and move the coop under that gazebo

Not sure there's any good info on lawn chems and chickens.
Many folks have had to decide if they want a luxurious treated lawn or chickens,
the two don't go together well, IMO, but I'm kinda anti-chemical.
Do you have to reseed often or just irrigate or both?
Chickens will probably like the sprinklers..can work well to cool in your dry climate.

 

[feathermaid]

Um, I'm seeing a vast expanse of premium hawk hunting grounds. Do you know what other predators you have around?

I would repurpose your cute little corral for something else and build a different fully enclosed run. Easter eggers are good flyers and will easily clear a 6 ft fence. My little 4 week old olive egger can already fly up to a 3' perch. Unless you feel like building a whole network of sails around your property to deter arial predators, I personally would keep them contained in a large run, with a shade cover as well as a fenced top. Links that might give you some ideas:
Keeping Chickens Without Free Ranging
Key Points to Successful Free Ranging

Even with lots of shade, ventilation is super important, maybe even more so in winter. Chickens are very susceptible to respiratory illnesses, but maybe your dry climate could work in your favor? Another helpful link:
Chicken Coop Ventilation - Go Out There And Cut More Holes In Your Coop!

 

[Mrs. K]

They are right about shade and the size of the coop, ventilation, heat and predators. Those are issues that you need to address.

But I would not go with the swamp cooler, chickens can take heat, but they need shade and water. Most importantly, shade moves, and often times what was shady in the morning is in the beating sun come 4:00, so really you need shade and sun exposure in the early morning - if it is cool, they love to sit in the sun. They will need shade over head at mid day, and they will need shade protection around 4:00, often times the hottest part of the day. So I think you need to add a lot more shade. Pallets, pieces of plywood, tarps are all ways of adding shade.

However, good shade will also provide limited protection from aerial predators, at least some... the advice for building a run that is totally enclosed, is good advice. Predators once they find you are merciless.

Get a much bigger water jug for the summer than you think you need, in the summer mine holds 3 gallons, with nipples. Cause they can go through more water than you expected, and if you are late getting home, well there is extra.

When it get really hot, soaking the sand with s a bucket with a slow leak, mine enjoy taking a 'dust bath' in that mud when it is quite hot.

I think in the current picture, the coop itself needs shade, it will be well over 100 degrees in there by late afternoon.

Mrs K

 

[H_2]

I want to thank you all for your support and advice. My landscaper and I clearly had no idea what we were doing so I'm going to take the time the chicks are in the brooder to make big changes. THANK YOU.