Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

I'm wondering what it will take for us to get that it's not technology that defines the level of civilization

Given the history - stone age, bronze age, iron age etc. - I don't think we'll ever give it up. Wellbeing is a different matter however; Bhutan is leading the way on that

 

[Perris]

I don't see much point in an economy that doesn't enable people to thrive. But I'm no economist.

I don't think economists are interested in that either! Just in making money for a few people.

 

[Perris]

Q:

how it is possible that Ex Battery hens have gone from being completely captive, having never even seen grass let alone eaten any, to wanting to roost outside

A:

Today was warm. Even I have to admit this. Around 27C in Bristol

I've got a problem

I'm going to have to build a coop run.

Who are you kidding? You've got an opportunity!

 

[RoyalChick]

I don't see much point in an economy that doesn't enable people to thrive. But I'm no economist.

I wouldn’t mind a robot assistant to help around the place.

 

[Shadrach]

As you know, I'm a hopeless builder but would a carport-like structure over the top serve to protect the run from the worst of the elements?

The problem is wind. It's a rare day when there isn't a wind blowing and we get some very strong gusts.

 

[no fly zone]

Skeksis photobomb

 

[Molpet]

I read up your article when looking a bit on hoop coops. It's clear and to the point.
Our plastic greenhouse makes so much noise when we have heavy wind that I can't really imagine chickens feeling safe though. I'm not sure it's a suitable type of structure in very windy regions ?

I have a forest preserve probably 1000ft to the west so the strongest winds are blocked.
I fasten the west side of the tarp with washer and screws. The east side is 6 inches short and I use ball bungee to hold it tight. So far no problems with the tarp. The north side has 6mil plastic stapled on. I have had a strong south wind blow that out.

North side in winter with half CX cockerel

 

[Shadrach]

You may have already considered this, but plenty of other people make a square or rectangular wood frame for the door, and use wire mesh to cover the rest of the end.

Tarp is one option for weatherproofing, but it needs to be fastened down tightly so it cannot flap and shred itself, and replaced regularly. In my area, cheap tarp will last all winter, more expensive tarp will last at least two full years. The times I've used it, my structure was heavy enough or anchored well enough that it didn't blow away, but I can't predict what would happen in your conditions.

A few articles with photos:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-hoop-coop.65569/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-hoop-coop-chicken-tractor.72211/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mos-cattle-panel-hoop-coops.73385/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cattle-panel-hoop-coop.74636/
(I just looked at the photo at the top of each article, rather than reading all the details for how they constructed it-- the construction looks fairly obvious to me, and I doubt you would be exactly following anyone's directions.)

@Molpet 's looks a solid construction. I'm likely to go for something like this.
I'll be laying the skirt on the ground and fixing the outside edge with nail boards to discourage digging and make moving it all easier later on.
It still amounts to quite a bit of money. I thought this coop and run chicken keeping was a cheap hobby.

 

[RoyalChick]

I thought this coop and run chicken keeping was a cheap hobby.

What on earth gave you that idea? You know it is big business. There is never big business where things are cheap!

 

[Shadrach]

What on earth gave you that idea? You know it is big business. There is never big business where things are cheap!

If it was big business I could understand but backyard chicken keeping is a very very small business. If I stood in Bristol city center and asked people if they kept chickens I doubt I would get one in ten thousand answer yes.