Using A Tarp To Lower Ground Temperature

[Elspeth Dinsmore]

Your chicken yard is a wonderful place. I would like it if I were a chicken! Thanks for sharing! This morning i guess I am raking out the entire chicken run!! Didn't realize it until half their furniture was tossed in the lawn and I'm sweating from raking!! View attachment 3873532View attachment 3873533

Wow! I love your chicken run! That blue color is gorgeous as well!

That's definitely how cleaning goes, "Hm, I think I'll pick up this one thing here.... Oh, and here too...." and then the whole thing is reorganized.

 

[Elspeth Dinsmore]

Congratulations!

Congratulations on your front page feature!!

Thanks, guys! There are so many sweet people on BYC!

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

I am looking at the pictures of your chicken pen that you showed on the original post. I see very few places where your chickens could have had shade. Were there any more places that your chickens could have sheltered in? Because if not, then that would be horrible.

 

[Elspeth Dinsmore]

I am looking at the pictures of your chicken pen that you showed on the original post. I see very few places where your chickens could have had shade. Were there any more places that your chickens could have sheltered in? Because if not, then that would be horrible.

Ma'am, there is a massive Tulip tree right above the Aviary that provides shade at different levels throughout the day. We have another 100 sq. ft. attached run that is 2/3 to 3/4 shaded all day. Plus they like to rest in the shaded coop which has a fan running during the day. They have lots of roosting bars and tunnels to rest in the shade as well. We put this tarp up on the day that is got too hot. Plus they have cold drinking water, kiddie pools to wade in, and frozen treats. They are very happy chickens, and even get the luxury of coming inside in the AC occasionally.

You are welcome to go back and read previous posts where we have been discussing these things.

The Coop & Run:

The Run:

The Tunnel that connects the Run (100+ sq. ft.) to the Aviary (300+ sq. ft.):

The Coop (There is a big window I open wide for air in the Summer.):

The Aviary:

The Tulip Tree (plus an Eclipse):

You can see the tree trunk right behind Molly here:

LaFleche was super kind and helped us see the importance of putting things for the chickens to do in the Aviary!

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Ma'am, there is a massive Tulip tree right above the Aviary that provides shade at different levels throughout the day. We have another 100 sq. ft. attached run that is 2/3 to 3/4 shaded all day. Plus the coop is shaded and has a fan running during the day for them to rest in. They have lots of roosting bars and tunnels to rest in the shade as well. We put this tarp up on the day that is got too hot. Plus they have cold drinking water, kiddie pools to wade in, and frozen treats. They are very happy chickens, and even get the luxury of coming inside in the AC occasionally.

You are welcome to go back and read previous posts where we have been discussing these things.

The Coop & Run:
View attachment 3873560
View attachment 3873608

The Run:
View attachment 3873602View attachment 3873603View attachment 3873606

The Tunnel that connects the Run (100+ sq. ft.) to the Aviary (300+ sq. ft.):
View attachment 3873568

The Coop (There is a big window I open wide for air in the Summer.):
View attachment 3873597
View attachment 3873577

The Tulip Tree (plus an Eclipse):
View attachment 3873578

Okay, that sounds way better. Sorry, I suppose I did not see the pictures or you discussing this.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Also, I have another tarp tip! Using white tarps is better than using any other color of tarps, especially black. White reflects the sunlight and therefore keeps it extra cooler. Black tarps reflect the least amount of sunlight because black soaks in sunlight.

 

[Elspeth Dinsmore]

Also, I have another tarp tip! Using white tarps is better than using any other color of tarps, especially black. White reflects the sunlight and therefore keeps it extra cooler. Black tarps reflect the least amount of sunlight because black soaks in sunlight.

White is a good idea. We were just using what we had available when we felt how hot it was. We specifically tried to put the blue side of the tarp facing up to try and deflect more sun than the dark brown side could. As soon as we are able, we are hoping to get shade cloth (as recommended by many helpful posters here) because the weight of the tarp is too much to leave on the pvc pipes for long.

 

[Elspeth Dinsmore]

I also use suncloth in various locations around my barn. Recently attached a length of 5' x 20' to a fence panel separating two turnout pens. You can feel the difference in temperature when the sun shines through the suncloth --not huge but definitely cooler. Plus it breathes.

Farmtek (look online) has a large selection of shade/sun cloth panels of varying opacities, and sales on off-cuts and returns. Some pieces have grommets and/or finished edges. Worth looking at their selection.

We just checked FarmTek for some shade cloth today. It looks like such a helpful place! Unfortunately, they didn't have any remnants large enough for us and in the price range we can afford currently. However, we are so thankful to know of this resource for the future and that other people can find it as well! Thank you!

 

[tlcmurphy]

Ma'am, there is a massive Tulip tree right above the Aviary that provides shade at different levels throughout the day. We have another 100 sq. ft. attached run that is 2/3 to 3/4 shaded all day. Plus they like to rest in the shaded coop which has a fan running during the day. They have lots of roosting bars and tunnels to rest in the shade as well. We put this tarp up on the day that is got too hot. Plus they have cold drinking water, kiddie pools to wade in, and frozen treats. They are very happy chickens, and even get the luxury of coming inside in the AC occasionally.

You are welcome to go back and read previous posts where we have been discussing these things.

The Coop & Run:
View attachment 3873560
View attachment 3873608

The Run:
View attachment 3873602View attachment 3873603View attachment 3873606

The Tunnel that connects the Run (100+ sq. ft.) to the Aviary (300+ sq. ft.):
View attachment 3873610
View attachment 3873568

The Coop (There is a big window I open wide for air in the Summer.):
View attachment 3873597
View attachment 3873577

The Aviary:
View attachment 3873614
View attachment 3873615View attachment 3873619

The Tulip Tree (plus an Eclipse):
View attachment 3873578

You can see the tree trunk right behind Molly here:
View attachment 3873617

LaFleche was super kind and helped us see the importance of putting things for the chickens to do in the Aviary!

Your coop and run are lovely, much nicer than mine. We call the connection between the coop/run and their extended run along the side of our house the “Chunnel”

 

[Elspeth Dinsmore]

Your coop and run are lovely, much nicer than mine. We call the connection between the coop/run and their extended run along the side of our house the “Chunnel”

Awww! I love that name! Thank you for the nice compliments! I'm sure yours are great.