Run construction and maintenance

[WonkierZulu]

So it doesn't get hot if the hens lay eggs. White reflects light better as red holds more heat

 

[WonkierZulu]

Or grey whatever is lighter. White works the best

 

[WonkierZulu]

So it doesn't get hot if the hens lay eggs. White reflects light better as red holds more heat

 

[Skunkie]

So everything is finished and the girls have been enjoying their new digs for almost a week now. I have a question regarding the roost bars. The hen house has 2 roost bars and they are set with the narrow side facing up. I have seen a couple of recommendations to set the bars with the wide side up and was wondering if that is necessary. The older 2 chicks are 11 weeks and the younger group is around 8 weeks old.
Should I flip the roost bars to have them wide side up?
If so, should I wait until they are a little older (bigger feet)?

So far I’m really happy with the security of the run.

 

[3KillerBs]

Should I flip the roost bars to have them wide side up?
If so, should I wait until they are a little older (bigger feet)?

You could flip one and see which they like better.

I like to give my chickens options -- figuring that they know how to be chickens better than I know how to be a chicken.

 

[aart]

have seen a couple of recommendations to set the bars with the wide side up and was wondering if that is necessary.

Doesn't really matter...tho many profess otherwise.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Looking from inside, you could move the door up fairly easily, cut 8" or 10" higher and put the piece you cut from the top on the bottom. A little tweak on the outside trim and voila. Or possibly build a box around it inside the coop to keep bedding from getting to it.

If you leave it the way it is and you use deep bedding, you'll hate yourself.

My thoughts, exactly!!

 

[Skunkie]

We made a little box inside the chicken door and it’s working perfectly!
I thought it would be all about the eggs, but we are enjoying these chickens so much (and we’re not even close to getting eggs yet)

 

[agedog1]

Thank you! That was mostly DH and not my work
Here is a photo from a little farther along, with the roof almost finished. We’ll be attaching the hardware cloth today . Around the base of the terraces I’m going to dig outward a bit and place a hardware cloth apron, cover it back over with dirt and then we’ll put rocks around the edges to help keep everything in place. I don’t want anything digging under to get in the run. Besides the hawks and owls, we have coyotes, raccoons, skunks and opossums. And we have herons that hunt the gophers but I don’t think they’ll bother the chickens. A couple of days ago one had a gopher and a hawk tried to steal it away! He gave up pretty quickly but it was interesting to watch.

View attachment 2744588

Wow Very Very nice!