Shade?

[davecash]

What could I build outside in the chickens yard for them to get under for shade. I know they love it outside, but its too darn hot and sunny out there for them to stay out there... What can I build, or what do some of you guys have?

 

[kelly]

I have a tin roof over 1/2 and then chicken wire on top of the rest.




Kelly
5 RIR's

 

[aran]

dave check out this pic and you can see the simple A frame I made for this exact purpose...it works really well and the birds are in it ALL day.

 

[aran]

i made this out of 2 old sections of stockade fencing with a couple of 2x4 struts holding it together at the front. There is another smaller piece of fence trimmed along the back to again hold it together...floor is straw/hay with 2 inches of pine shavings underneath. Whole thing cost me nothing since I had the crappy fencing laying around behind the shed.

 

[GoodEgg]

My coop is an A-frame open at both ends during the day ... they would rather be in there than in the run most of the time.

My run is shaded with tarps. Not too pretty, but I can control them and have shade all day, regardless of where the sun is. The heavy duty tarps seem to offer better shade than the regular ones, but they all do.

I have a tree nearby, but I wanted hawk netting over the run, so I avoided the tree.

trish

 

[greginshasta]

Aran, will the chickens live in that in the winter?

 

[aran]

no no no...they have a proper 10x6 coop with their nesting boxes and roosts in which they sleep in at night...they just like to hang in the A frame in the heat of the day. Both the A frame and the main coop are within the 30x40 foot enclosure I have for them. Here is a pic...everyone keeps teasing me that it looks like a prison ...i was new to chickens and was worried about predators...i am prepared to accept that i may have gone a TAD overboard on the security front LOL

 

[aran]

you actually cant see the A frame in that pic LOL...its in the far front Right corner of the run...that corner which is the ONLY one you cant see in the pic LOL...i will have to get a better pic.

 

[Mac]

I have to laugh aran, I did the same thing - error on the security side of things. My entire run in encased, top, sides and BOTTOM with heavy galvanized 1x2 wire. I truly believe, nothing but a human or bear could penetrate the run or coop. Now I'm worried about snakes.....but I don't think so. Hey, you do what you can and hope for the best! Love your run, although doesn't look like mine, the basic "feel" is the same.
Leave my hens alone!!

Mac

 

[Southern28Chick]

aran,
I love your whole set up it reminds me of mine. Mine is covered with gamebird netting though. I was thinking someone could make the same A frame type of shelter you did with old wood pallets.

Luckily my chickens have half shade in their yard most of the day so I don't have to build anything extra.

Here's my chicken yard (40'x50'):