Transitioning from roofed to roofless run

[K0k0shka]

I'm also really impressed with your temporary basement digs for your birds. Very nice! Except that many of mine would have flown through that upper opening...
About breeds; don't confine yourself to only Orphingtons! There are so many others that are worth trying!
Mary

Thanks! That area was already fenced off with the baby gate and relatively empty (it was the kids' play area and only had a few large items in there, bouncy stuff and such) so it was pretty easy to convert it. The biggest push was to protect the floor. I left the rainbow mats in place and covered them with waterproof tarps, then cardboard (all taped together so they don't kick it around), and then shavings. Here are some process shots, before the shavings went in:

 

[3KillerBs]

Great news!

 

[aart]

Yep, the honey approach definitely did NOT work with that neighbor

Any reaction from the neighbors?

 

[K0k0shka]

Any reaction from the neighbors?

Not yet. The vote was late last night and the neighbors didn't attend the virtual meeting. And the Board said they are not obliged to tell the neighbors anything (at this point they don't want anything to do with those neighbors ). They'll follow standard procedure and put the news in the local paper, and that will be that, so unless the neighbors call them and ask specifically, they'll need to wait for the paper (assuming they even get and read the local paper... I don't). Sooner or later the neighbors will find out, and I'd LOVE to see the look on their faces, but I don't know if I'll have the pleasure. Unless I run into them in the back yard and tell them myself. I'd need to really bite my tongue not to gloat though!

 

[countryladyNH]

Thanks! I am SO relieved.

I think I'll let the chickens enjoy their new apartment for the day, and then I'll move them out before bedtime. I might as well, they're in there already and feeling comfy (it's cold and very windy outside). This adventure, like everything else, has really highlighted the differences between the two breeds. The Barnevelders, always suspicious and distrustful, huddled in a corner yesterday after the move, and even refused to eat their favorite treats when I tried to bribe them out. The Orpingtons, on the other hand, went exploring and checking everything out, and gladly gobbled up all the treats and asked for more! I am so in love with Orpingtons as a breed. I only got the Barnevelders because they are pretty And they're not too bad, but any additional chickens I get from now on are only going to be Orpingtons.

Here they are, enjoying their fancy apartment this morning (I used the screen door I'd made for their coop for the hot months as an access door):

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We just love Buff Orpingtons and that is all we had initially for several years. We now have 6 BO and 2 Speckled Sussex.

 

[bobbi-j]

Not yet. The vote was late last night and the neighbors didn't attend the virtual meeting. And the Board said they are not obliged to tell the neighbors anything (at this point they don't want anything to do with those neighbors ). They'll follow standard procedure and put the news in the local paper, and that will be that, so unless the neighbors call them and ask specifically, they'll need to wait for the paper (assuming they even get and read the local paper... I don't). Sooner or later the neighbors will find out, and I'd LOVE to see the look on their faces, but I don't know if I'll have the pleasure. Unless I run into them in the back yard and tell them myself. I'd need to really bite my tongue not to gloat though!

I’d be tempted to just move them back out in the yard and not say a word. Just go about my business, maybe playing some nice, happy music to (loudly) sing along with.

 

[countryladyNH]

I’d be tempted to just move them back out in the yard and not say a word. Just go about my business, maybe playing some nice, happy music to (loudly) sing along with.

Thumbs up!!!

 

[Baumshell28]

Paint nice designs (sorta nice!) on the tops of those umbrellas!
Mary

Ooh...you could paint an umbrella with wording like the sign I made for my coop. I’ll have to send you a PM since it’s a bit tongue-in-cheek and not necessarily age appropriate to publicly post in the forum...on its way in a minute!
Other Points I’d Mention;
*This is my first year with chickens. I have 7 Barred Rocks & 5 Golden Comets. My Golden comets are not anti-social, but not necessarily people pleasers either. But....my Barred Rocks are super sweet girls. Every time I go into the run, there’s at least one (usually 2) girl/s hitching a ride on my wheelchair; a couple of them will perch on my shoulder if I sit still long enough!
*Im always amazed at how the lesson of “Kill ‘Em with Kindness” works so often. It brought you out on top with city officials. And, personally, I also tend to use it in a not so nice way...like I would totally take the opportunity to kill the neighbor with kindness next time I saw them. “Hi, neighbor! How’s your day? Mines been incredible; really great, couldn’t be better on this side of the fence! I mean, beautiful yard, happy chickens, yummy eggs, etc!!!” Pahahaha!

 

[ronkonkoma]

I have a roofless run. Just aviary netting on top. Pea gravel half Of the floor. The rain washes away the manure. I love it.

 

[drinkoj]

Not yet. The vote was late last night and the neighbors didn't attend the virtual meeting. And the Board said they are not obliged to tell the neighbors anything (at this point they don't want anything to do with those neighbors ). They'll follow standard procedure and put the news in the local paper, and that will be that, so unless the neighbors call them and ask specifically, they'll need to wait for the paper (assuming they even get and read the local paper... I don't). Sooner or later the neighbors will find out, and I'd LOVE to see the look on their faces, but I don't know if I'll have the pleasure. Unless I run into them in the back yard and tell them myself. I'd need to really bite my tongue not to gloat though!

Again your better than me as I would be doing this.