Transitioning from roofed to roofless run

[K0k0shka]

We are in East Mesa, Arizona with a open run. One wall is a 6 foot block, shared wall. We might only get a few freezing days, no snow. For shade in the summer there are umbrellas for extra dark shade, 20X12 shade cloths and a small area with a metal corrugated roof. The outer walls are built with the hardwire cloth. The rest of the top/ sides above the 6 foot wall has bird netting/hardwire cloth.
I planted grapes to give more shade along with them loving the leaves as a treat. They grapes die back in the winter so they can still sun bathe. In the run I planted Mexican elderberry & a Arabian Lila, which they don’t eat. I grow other greens for them as a treat. Bermuda grass, straw or leaf debris from the yard for the ground, then that gets recycled into the garden beds or compost piles. Our sweet Cindy a Silverlaced English Orpington on one of the hay bales and the Arabian Lilac across from her. The new babies under the lilac. We also have ducks, next to the elderberry. View attachment 2454329View attachment 2454330View attachment 2454332View attachment 2454333View attachment 2454335

I love your setup! It's beautiful, especially with all the greenery! The chickens are adorable, and that dog... That is my dream dog! Hopefully some day

 

[K0k0shka]

Well, I guess I want another breed of chicken.. what color egg’s & how many do they lay a week.

Haha yes, they're very beautiful (I have two). Mine haven't started laying yet. Supposedly they're not the most proficient layers - 3-4 eggs a week - but I got mine for the looks Regular Barnevelders lay dark brown eggs, but the silver laced variety's eggs are lighter than that.

Here are my two beauties:

They are sweet and calm, low drama chickens. They don’t like being touched even after extensive socialization (unlike my Orps, which are very cuddly), but they enjoy my company and will come and perch on me without being bribed with treats

 

[City farm]

I love your setup! It's beautiful, especially with all the greenery! The chickens are adorable, and that dog... That is my dream dog! Hopefully some day

Thank you! I love being outside gardening, growing fruit trees, herbs for tea & cooking.

That’s Tess, she loves her flock. German Shepards have to have a job. The babies got out as I was opening the door, she made sure they did not get past her.
I have other GS, the 2 young ones, her and a half sister get run on a old BMX bike. I can walk as fast or far for them. Then I come get the older girls as the younger girls cool down. GS have a large stomach cavity and have to not eat/drink for up to 1 hour after a long run. I think it’s called bloat, similar to what cows get.

 

[K0k0shka]

Thank you! I love being outside gardening, growing fruit trees, herbs for tea & cooking. View attachment 2454389That’s Tess, she loves her flock. German Shepards have to have a job. The babies got out as I was opening the door, she made sure they did not get past her.
I have other GS, the 2 young ones, her and a half sister get run on a old BMX bike. I can walk as fast or far for them. Then I come get the older girls as the younger girls cool down. GS have a large stomach cavity and have to not eat/drink for up to 1 hour after a long run. I think it’s called bloat, similar to what cows get.

Yeah, they are a lot of work. I just don't have the bandwidth for that right now, that's why I'm still waiting for the right time. I've been waiting for this dog my whole life But I'll wait some more. When I do it, I want to do it right.

 

[countryladyNH]

A Christmas present for our chickens arrived today and we decided to give it to them today! It's a xylophone, and we attached it to the inside of the run through the hardware cloth with zip ties at the level they can peck at it!! Hopefully it will be a nice boredom buster for them.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

A Christmas present for our chickens arrived today and we decided to give it to them today! It's a xylophone, and we attached it to the inside of the run through the hardware cloth with zip ties at the level they can peck at it!! Hopefully it will be a nice boredom buster for them.
View attachment 2456106

Where in the world did you find the xylophone? I have been looking for one for my chickens.

 

[countryladyNH]

Where in the world did you find the xylophone? I have been looking for one for my chickens.

Honestly, this turned out to be just the perfect one! It's reasonable and has great tone, and the size is perfect! Here is the link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ITCNWC8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We did mount ours the normal way---side to side, not up and down. We used clear zip ties to mount tightly to the hardware cloth sides of the run. LOL, we had a chicken come over so we could make sure to position it where they can reach it to peck!!!

 

[aart]

Honestly, this turned out to be just the perfect one! It's reasonable and has great tone, and the size is perfect! Here is the link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ITCNWC8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Wonders if this will strike true if mounted vertically on a wall(assumption here),
or if that will even matter?

 

[K0k0shka]

A Christmas present for our chickens arrived today and we decided to give it to them today! It's a xylophone, and we attached it to the inside of the run through the hardware cloth with zip ties at the level they can peck at it!! Hopefully it will be a nice boredom buster for them.
View attachment 2456106

Did any of the chickens give it a try? I’ve seen people give their chickens xylophones and I’ve always wondered if the chickens use them at all or not.

Meanwhile, I made myself a snow hen The real ones watched with interest but prefer to stay far away from the snow.

 

[aart]

Meanwhile, I made myself a snow hen

Excellent!!