Spring winds, April showers in March, and Chicken Walls...

[griffinkid02]

SO.... what with March winds and the almost constant chance of random thunderstorms that we've been having. I decided that the chickens would be happy to have some walls. I was WRONG!



Apparently, they have an aparent phobia of blue weather tarp, even when it's laying harmlessly on the ground doing nothing but being cut to fit the framework of the pen. I put the walls up anyway, figuring that they will get used to it and protection from the elements IS slightly more important that their temporary discomfort with change.Although, 20 minutes later and the roosters are STILL crowing their defiance at the evil wind/rain shield that has enveloped 1/3 of their world lol


Anybody else have a story of their expectations of chicken gratitude turning to poultry panic?

 

[griffinkid02]

Oops, clearly I lack a basic control of font and bold usage. Apologies for the randomness. I'll learn.

 

[Northwind]

I'm sure you will. Larger font is easier for a lot of us to read though.

My chickens hate cardboard boxes and any sort of food dish that's lifted off the ground. It's really odd. I'll come by with a tray of food for them, and they'll run off in the other direction because they think it's going to land on them.

 

[griffinkid02]

LoL, that's awesome. No, when I walked the tarp down to them I was careful not to let the wind catching it and send it flapping and snapping, since I've witnessed their aversion to large flappy, floppy blanketing type object before, which actually makes sense to me. I laid it out on the ground and weighted it with tools. At this point they'd figured out that I did NOT have any table scrap "goodies" for them and left the treat bowl to investigate and one look at that tarp, flat on the ground, not waving or flapping of showing any sign of movement and they went bonkers running circles, the roosters and hen ALL crying in terror and me sitting in the middle of it all trying to decided if I should give up my endeavor. But there was a front moving through last night that was virtually guaranteed to bring drenching rains and stiff wind gusts so I knew they would need some shielding and went through with it. they seem to have accepted it today although they still have a tendency to sit and stare at their blue walls as if they don't quite trust them to stay put. Sadly even with with a solid vinyl tarp the roof leaked, they were much better off than the last time it rained, and the nest boxes stayed completely dry but when I went to check on them a little after dark there were several places the rain was dripping down and I can't figure out how it's leaking through vinyl.

 

[Northwind]

Eek, sorry you're experiencing problems with the leaking. I'm afraid I can't offer any advice on that front, it hardly ever rains where I am.
But yeah, I find chickens just don't seem to like plastic things. Steel and wood they can deal with fine. Synthetic materials? They're always keeping an eye open. Glad to hear that at least you got some shelter.