Show off your shelters! (please?)

[SunAndDirt]

Howdy everyone!

I have been free-ranging my flock A LOT and they are finding less-than-ideal places to shelter and dust bathe. I am starting to plan a few portable shelters to place around the property with hopes of luring them to tear up specific areas.
(Instead of my nicely graveled quonset hut floor, for example)
I would love to see what everyone is using, this is such a talented and creative group!
Do we have a thread of photos for shelters (not coops or runs) that crafty folks have thought up to use already because I can't find it...

 

[c2chicks]

how about just plopping down a couple of those great plastic playhouses? they provide nice temporary shelter from the elements, hawks etc. Easy to move about and pretty cheap off Craig's List. I don't know how many birds you have, but my three love their "Cluckers Clubhouse".

 

[chfite]

You could make a table 18 inches tall and set it where you want. Three foot diameter for the top would give them shade and keep the majority of the rain off, so that the soil would be dry for bathing.

I don't have one of these. I have many bushes that provide the same benefit. It just seems to be a good idea.

Chris

 

[teach1rusl]

HAHAHA...it doesn't matter how cute, clever, innovative, etc. you make little shelters for them, they will still wreak havok on the areas you most want them to stay away from...LOL! I had an adorable little doghouse (had windows and a little roost I'd added), sat it up on a little table platform (like chfite described) - sat that out under my cedar trees. They'd pop in on occasion, but still hit areas of my yard where I didn't want them. I also had on old whisky barrel with both ends off - laid on it's side w/a little roost nailed through the middle. It did keep the feed dry, but didn't keep them out of the no-no places of our property...lol. Your best bet is to use a little chicken wire around your hut to keep them out...

Here's the cute little doghouse PREconversion...

 

[SunAndDirt]

I figured fencing will be the only way to totally eliminate them from a specific area, but I am also looking for some portable options to move into the garden where I am going to over-winter pasture them. Thanks for all the feedback!