Help need information we are in the path of Hurricane Mathew

[lilofthestars]

Good Morning all.

We are about to have a hurricane tomorrow. We are in Florida the winds I just seen will be about 68 miles a hour.

We have a chicken tractor. We have 4 chickens, we moved the tractor on the side of the house which should block

most of the wind. My husband drilled the top of the roof down to be sure it did not blow away, added large bricks to hold

the run down. I wanted to add a few tarps, my husband said would blow away. If it was up to me I would bring them in the house.

Please any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you so much.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

How far from the coast are you?
Are you in an evacuation zone?
Are you north or south of Lake Okeechobee/Port St. Lucie?
As long as the tractor doesn't blow away, they should be OK.
I assume you have moved it to the west side of the house which will protect as the leading edge of the storm gives you an east to west wind. When the eye is offshore to your house the winds will be out of the north and finally as it passes they'll likely be out of the west.
They'll probably get wet but at your temperatures, that shouldn't be a problem either. I tend to agree about the tarps getting blown away or shredded.
I'm sure jungle fowl have seen their share of typhoons and aren't extinct.

 

[Lost Farmer]

Good Morning all.

We are about to have a hurricane tomorrow. We are in Florida the winds I just seen will be about 68 miles a hour.

We have a chicken tractor. We have 4 chickens, we moved the tractor on the side of the house which should block

most of the wind. My husband drilled the top of the roof down to be sure it did not blow away, added large bricks to hold

the run down. I wanted to add a few tarps, my husband said would blow away. If it was up to me I would bring them in the house.

Please any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you so much.

You could add a few tie downs, Im just using walmart as a quick reference, any outdoor store will have these items. Lowes included.
Anchors: https://www.walmart.com/ip/19861459...75035&wl11=online&wl12=19861459&wl13=&veh=sem

Ratchet straps: https://www.walmart.com/ip/SmartStr...fault&beacon_version=1.0.1&findingMethod=p13n

Anchor on each side, then run a ratchet strap over the house to to each anchor, you can place a towel or some other object under the strap to not be directly ratcheting on the peak of the house. Id put 1 on the house and 2 on the run. If it rips those anchors out, then you need ot be worried about your house and not you coop. Good luck and hope everything works our for you

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Ratchet straps are a good idea.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh goodness!
I wish you all the best.

Sounds like you are doing what most people would do - secure (tie down) coop/run the best you can. Moving it was a good idea. I see you are getting some good advice.

Some people are considering bringing their flock indoors, others have found (hopefully) another place to house them.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1135998/hurricane-matthew
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1014773/hurricane-preparedness
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/08/hurricane-preparedness-for-backyard.html

 

[lilofthestars]

Thank you so much

 

[lilofthestars]

We are between hawthorne and Interlachen. Sorry I forgot to answer that question.Last update was.86 mile gusts

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You may want to reconsider our earlier discussion. I just heard this may be the most damaging hurricane ever to hit Florida in modern times. Cat 4 at landfall and you're less than 50 miles inland. I heard the St. John's river area was going to be a problem.
Best of luck to you whatever you decide.

ETA
The last I saw is that it may not make landfall and the hurricane force winds may not make it far ashore.
I'm seeing video now from Nassau in the Bahamas. It looks very rough and the eye is just approaching it.

The crazy thing is I just looked at the projected paths and after it hits the Carolinas, projections have it curving back south and at least 3 of the computer models have it slamming straight back into Florida again and crossing into the gulf.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

All I can say, is my thoughts and prayers are with all of you in FL and the coastal areas that will be impacted.

 

[wjgilson]

Should be a CAT3 off our coast. I'm a little north of you between Starke and Keystone Heights. Tie downs and rachet straps should be good for the tractor. I have a chicken house and a run. I'm hoping that the winds don't destroy either.

Good luck..Will be praying for all of us in Florida...