Heavy shade or bright sun?

[GBov]

We are getting a house on two acres

but the acres are split into one with almost no trees and one with 5 HUGE old grandady oaks. Both are fenced with chain link fencing so I am now wondering when we get chickens which side of the property to put them on?

Being in Florida I am tending tward the oak side, even though the shade is really REALLY dark! But dont want to put them somewhere they wont thrive. I am thinking about getting 25 cornish X for meat birds and 6 or so hens for eggs. Not counting the plan for some goats and turkeys and geese and and and oooooooooooo excited now, gettin me some chickens again

 

[cassie]

I don't know if this will help at all, but chickens can handle cold better than they can heat. If you put them on the sunny side you will have to provide them with some kind of shade.

 

[jaku]

No question about it- put them in the shade. Cornish X's will die quickly in extreme heat, so in Florida, it's a no-brainer. They will have no problem in the shade.

 

[fldiver97]

shade......

 

[GBov]

Good, thats what I thought but being new to keeping meat chickens I wanted to be sure, to be sure!

Thanks Guys

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

yep - shade. you can always raise the canopy of the trees so its more light.. but if they are really old trees... maybe not??

 

[GBov]

Quote:
They are five of the bigest oak trees I have seen in a very long time, absolutly HUGE trees!

Standing under them is like being in some dim green twilite. The chickens should love it

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
I'm not sure what you mean by "raise the canopy of the trees". That doesn't sound like something easily done, but I don't think I've ever heard that term before. Could you explain what that is, please?

 

[becky3086]

I guess that would depend on where you are located and what time of year you plan on raising your birds.

 

[bigchickenman]

I can answer about raising the canopy of a tree,that means to remove the lower limbs to allow more sun to reach the ground under the trees.