I can't believe it! Run NOT frozen!

[Nicole01]

I live in MN and we decided to plastic up the run to keep the snow out. Granted we haven't have much snow, but the outside ground is as solid as a rock. The inside run is as sandy as normal, which equals happy dirt baths! On the warmer days 20 and up, the water stays outside in the run, which never freezes! I bring it in at night. Here's our finished run, we did uncover a little more plastic for ventilation.

The chickens have been very happy even though there has been no free ranging due to the 3 sets of hawks(2 pair of redtail) hanging around. My neighbor recently had an attack and EVERY time she lets them out, the hawks circle above her flock.

 

[roxyblue]

Hey!
we did the exact same thing with our run and I must say that the girls LOVE it! They also have restricted free range time now due to a pair of red tailed hawks that have been camping out in a oak on our property. grrrrrrr

 

[HoglundH]

Is that radio for the chickens? What do they like to listen to?

 

[Rosaleen]

Quote:
Lol.....when my hens come in at dusk the lights and radio are on...mine like the oldies station (which is also playing a lot of Christmas songs). At midnight on Christmas eve I always went out to the barn to play Silent Night on my fiddle for the horses, chickens and cats....just one of our quirky holiday traditions.

 

[Nicole01]

Quote:

I'm trying to get them in the Christmas spirit to give more eggs as gifts to us.

They greatly reduced in egg production since the days have gotten much shorter. I was getting 6-7 eggs a day and now I'm lucky to get 2, once in a while 3 in a day. Sometimes they all take the day off and no eggs are laid.

 

[sweetypie]

Very nice! I will be doing the same!

 

[Rosaleen]

Quote:

 

[iBoodle]

Quote:
Lol.....when my hens come in at dusk the lights and radio are on...mine like the oldies station (which is also playing a lot of Christmas songs). At midnight on Christmas eve I always went out to the barn to play Silent Night on my fiddle for the horses, chickens and cats....just one of our quirky holiday traditions.

That made me laugh!

 

[kittycooks]

Hey, MN neighbor! I think the plastic works great too. The first year I had it too air-tight and frost built up on the inside, do keep an eye on that. My hens have stopped laying too, but they don't get music to listen too.

I expect they will pick up laying again in January like last year. I found the sand in the run stays dry unless we have a lot of snow and thaws like last year. Fingers crossed for a milder winter this year!