Temporary food shelter (and chicken shelter)

[pawsplus]

So my young ones keep refusing to go into their Mini Cooper except at night. I don't understand it! I leave food in there in case it rains and when I return even if it was GREAT food it's never gone. The same food left in the run is gone in a flash.

We hadn't had much rain but this week I knew we would have some so I rigged up this quicky shelter. It's just a 2x2 piece of exterior grade plywood, which has 2 holes drilled on 2 sides. Through those holes I ran heavy wire and I wired it to the sides of the run in the corner.

Then I put a screweye in at the point and attached a piece of cable to it with a clip on the end. The clip attaches to the pen, holding that corner up. It seems to work--it rained yesterday, and when I got home the chix were dry and their food had been eaten.

Thought this might be useful for someone.

Closeup showing cable attachment:

 

[ChickInDelight]

I don't see any evidence that they have been on top of the board - and that is what I expected. My own girls like to be out in the weather - preferring a bush or tree to their night house.

 

[pawsplus]

No, I don't think they have been up there--but they're young and not yet roosting very high. I don't mind if they CHOOSE to be out in the rain--just wanted them to have a place they would go into if they wanted/needed to. For some reason they won't go in their little coop during the day even for favorite treats, so I felt they needed another option.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
great idea! Thanks!