Transitioning from roofed to roofless run

[cmom]

Many years ago I had a coop that we would move around with our tractor. I had a temporary fenced run that was also moveable. The county came up and wanted to include the coop as a building on the property. We told him it was a chicken coop and we moved it around, we are very rural on a dead end road. It took quite a bit of convincing but eventually he agreed. He could plainly see there were chickens in it. Originally it was a brooder coop but we eventually moved it out to where the outer coops are. The coop was on skids. There were wheels attached to the run.

 

[BDutch]

Many years ago I had a coop that we would move around with our tractor. I had a temporary fenced run that was also moveable. The county came up and wanted to include the coop as a building on the property. We told him it was a chicken coop and we moved it around, we are very rural on a dead end road. It took quite a bit of convincing but eventually he agreed. He could plainly see there were chickens in it. Originally it was a brooder coop but we eventually moved it out to where the outer coops are. The coop was on skids. There were wheels attached to the run.
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Great idea for everyone who has enough room to move a chicken coop or run (or both) for a few meters and can change prohibited building to a movable thing/caravan/mobile home which is not a building! And therefore allowed.

 

[Karen K]

All I can say is I wish you and your chickens the best. I am so grateful for the neighbors I have, which is why our starter home became our retirement home. We have lived here on 1/2 acre since 1987. Even though we are allowed chickens, we checked with our bordering neighbors beforehand. Almost 1/2 of the people have lived here about as long as us. Our neighbor closest to the coop run grew up here and then bought the house from his mom. When neighbors have moved they introduced the new owners to the neighborhood. We have a large vegetable garden and share our produce with our neighbors. Before COVID we used to have a garlic roasting party in the fall. I can't imagine living to the nightmare that is your neighbor. I know I am blessed.

 

[Folly's place]

We use a hoop house for meat birds, it works very well. However, it's not predator proof from digging animals at all. We use it short term, three months at most, and drag it around the lawn next to our house, and near the fenced dog yard. As permanent housing, critters would figure it out.
Mary

 

[K0k0shka]

Hey k0k0shka,
I lost track of this thread in the beginning. What a crap to have such a neighbor and a local government that doesn’t support its residents who where first and lived in harmony without having rules and regulations.

I didn’t read it the whole story. But if there is anything you still want to improve because the umbrellas won’t live another year just ask.

Btw, don’t plant ivy for cover . My neighbours did , for over growing the property fence . I hate it because it grows everywhere and its nasty work to eliminate because its poisonous and I got allergic from it.

ps: I don’t know if anyone mentioned that a ‘roof’ below 1.50 meters doesnt count as a roof (where I live). And solar panels are a great roof too for chickens to keep dry. What are the regulations on solar panels in you’re community?

Thanks! I'm not going to plant ivy - it's incredibly invasive and destructive over here because it's not native. I'm going to stick with the umbrellas. Repair them some over the summer and see if they last another winter. I'm not sure what the regulations are as to roof height, but a roof below 1.5 meters wouldn't work because I want to be able to walk under it. Solar panels won't work either, they'd count as a roof (I asked). Basically no structure that covers the top. The umbrellas are a separate item that's already used in yards without restrictions, so they're fine.

 

[Karen K]

Don't know if this has already been asked, but what about a carport canopy or one of those portable canopy tents?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

You might also consider used/reclaimed billboard vinyl. If you need to cover a large area, relatively cheap, its got excellent weather resistance, but lacks structural strength - so if covering a hoop coop, etc, where support is moderately closely spaced, or over a dog kennel style run... Not so good pulled tight at the edges like a tarp.

 

[K0k0shka]

Hi Kokoshka! How are things going with Mr. and Mrs. Crabby? We're super busy here with the flock, building a 3 bay compost setup with salvaged pallets and yard work/clean up, but are taking a little time to whip up this cute Peeps cookie Easter chicken coop we found at Walgreens! (Just adding our own colored royal icing to customize). LOL, blew out and colored a bunch of goose eggs! I think of you and your hens often! Happy Easter! www.thecountryladyantiques.com

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Hey, nice to "see" you again! I haven't heard from the Crabs in months, so I'm hoping this is over, but I just can't relax. Whenever my hens lay an egg and announce it, I cringe at the sound and expect a call or email... Those people have sure scarred my chicken experience. But I'm not giving up. On the contrary - I'm hatching more chicks this spring

I had a walk through your website again. I love your tomato cages! Do post some pics when you put the Easter cookie coop together. Looks adorable! I just turned off the Christmas lights on my coop last weekend Mr.Rooster still stands, he's just not lit up anymore. I think I'm gonna keep him up there permanently, and only turn him on November to March

 

[K0k0shka]

When you replace your umbrellas you might look into commercial restraurant supply houses to get something intended to be out in all weather for years.

Very good idea, thanks!

 

[K0k0shka]

I like the fence with green leaves there, looks nice, what is that, looks like Morning Glory vines? My chickens would probably be pecking them, real or fake.

Thanks! It's supposed to be faux ivy, but it does look more like morning glory, now that you mention it. The chickens tried pecking at it a couple of times, but when they saw it wasn't edible, they gave up and haven't bothered it since. I like the look, I'm going for a natural look in my run (so lots of faux wood containers, too, nothing that looks plastic).