Need Advice on Freezing, Windy Weather

[lazy gardener]

I buy 4 mil. clear construction plastic. The cheapest way to buy it is a roll 10' x 100'. With all of my gardening and chickening, a roll will last about 2 years.

 

[greggooo]

I buy 4 mil. clear construction plastic. The cheapest way to buy it is a roll 10' x 100'. With all of my gardening and chickening, a roll will last about 2 years.

Where do you get that?

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I picked up a roll of 10 x 25' plastic from Tractor Supply. Then used a staple gun and put it on the run to block some wind. I WANTED to make something for the chicken door. You know, like those plastic slats that hang infront of freezer doors and such that you push through but block the cold air?.... They let me know that was a bad idea.

I've seen that 'freezer door' look on a pop door for chickens. I didn't think mine would go for it so I didn't try. Luckily their door is on the north, non windy side.

 

[HoopyFrood]

The tarps were cheap. $1.70 each. If they shred I can't complain to much. LOL

Holy smokes! That's cheap! Sounds like a perfect solution

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Holy smokes! That's cheap! Sounds like a perfect solution

They are 6' x 8' with reinforced holes. I've used them for all sorts of things.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Okay, so here was my ghetto wind break: old pine boards taller than a chicken on the south side of the run (winds typically blow from anywhere between south and west - but we already had straw bails forming a break on the west side)...


Using some rebar stakes and scrap wood blocks they are now permanently in place, but easily removed when needed.




Next we wanted a little "sun room" in their favorite winter hang out spot in the run. We used an old garden window we had hanging around and cinder blocks. We have yet to add the heavy burlap "curtains" to act as additional wind breaks on the south and west sides, but we'll get it done before the next bad wind.




We're hoping this sheltered space will be a little warmer than the ambient temperature and may help keep their outdoor waterer from icing up as quickly.

They really like it so far!

In other news Charley had a bit of a regression today - she just seemed to run low on energy. But she continues to eat and drink with a healthy appetite. She has laid every day of her ordeal and is eating oyster shell, too. She seems in good spirits; she's chatty and alert. But was just moving slower than normal this afternoon after she laid. There are still no signs of respiratory illness. She is still hoarse, though. Fingers crossed she's just still in recovery mode. Meanwhile I'm still trying not to be the nervous nelly with only limited success...

 

[HoopyFrood]

I buy 4 mil. clear construction plastic. The cheapest way to buy it is a roll 10' x 100'. With all of my gardening and chickening, a roll will last about 2 years.

Nice, thank you! I just got a roll that size of 2 mil for "insulating" our front sun room by sealing it over the crappy single-pane windows (they block Most of the wind ). Got it from Amazon for cheap.

I didn't know 4 mil would survive a winter! We'll keep that in mind as the season progresses. We've made some run modifications already (previous post). We'll see how it goes with the next wind storm.

Thank you again for your help!!

 

[HoopyFrood]

Where do you get that?

We found a 2 mil roll on Amazon - we needed a 5 ft height so we just left it folded in half which makes it 4 mil

The 2 mil roll was about $20. Looks like a 4 mil roll is about $40. Go figure!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044S4LP4/

 

[HoopyFrood]

I'm guessing this will be the final post in the thread. Charley woke up yesterday morning in good spirits and spent the day being a normal chicken. She didn't lay, but that happens.

The cold weather has not abated for days and is not forecast to anytime soon (lows in the teens to twenties deg F). We've noticed in the past two days all of the girls have become more subdued. It just occurred to us that they have probably figured out what winter is and are making a behavioral adjustment for the season. They are all themselves and in good spirits. Just less boisterous all around. I would be, too, if I lived outside!