Wildlife netting, but not roofed

[DrFyl]

Hi, all. Due to losing the smallest, but still a good-sized Buff pullet a month ago to a predator in the middle of the day (hawk?) I scrounged my area for wildlife netting. Found a farm store that had 3 rolls of 1/2" almost invisible nylon netting (horrible to work with as I'm 1/2 blind and my crooked fingers kept getting caught in the holes!) but it would only cover the L-shaped area on two sides of the coop, so had to order fabric netting (found a great "Made in USA" company -- American Netting and Fabric, Inc. -- that shipped it fast!) and finally got the pen covered. Using a metal pole, I had to support the 30' x 30' square of green fabric netting to keep it from sagging. I cannot roof the pen, but if I leave the coop open during they day, will the chickens figure out to go inside in bad weather, and even if they get rained on, will they be okay? I mean... they won't melt, right?
Funny that when we homesteaded in VT and had free-ranging laying hens (3 Buffs culled from poultry farm and one flighty Banty whose eggs were everywhere), and even though we were backed up to woods and a stream, we never lost one to predators. Here, in the

center of the country, even though I skirted the pen with 1" chicken wire and have the coop behind the house and inside the underground dog fence (3 dogs) I lost a 6 wk old chick.
I wish the fabric netting was brown. I feel like I have a circus tent out back.

 

[cavemanrich]

I leave the coop open during they day, will the chickens figure out to go inside in bad weather,

Chickens naturally seek out dry areas when it is raining, Usually before it rains, it turn cloudy and dark.. Another signal for chickens to go into coop.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[DrFyl]

Chickens naturally seek out dry areas when it is raining, Usually before it rains, it turn cloudy and dark.. Another signal for chickens to go into coop.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

Thank you. I was hoping they would go into the coop by themselves. Do chickens ever take water baths like wild birds do? I know they take dust baths, but I wondered what they'd do in hot weather if I put a large, shallow container of a water in the pen?

 

[Lor]

Thank you. I was hoping they would go into the coop by themselves. Do chickens ever take water baths like wild birds do? I know they take dust baths, but I wondered what they'd do in hot weather if I put a large, shallow container of a water in the pen?

Some might stand in that shallow container to cool off. I've not seen one water bathe.
I hope the netting works for you. It sure is a pain to put up and keep leaves and sticks off of.

 

[aart]

Do chickens ever take water baths like wild birds do? I know they take dust baths, but I wondered what they'd do in hot weather if I put a large, shallow container of a water in the pen?

Shade is most important.
I use shallow pans with huge ice chunks for them to wade in.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

How hot does it get where you are @DrFyl ?
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[DrFyl]

Some might stand in that shallow container to cool off. I've not seen one water bathe.
I hope the netting works for you. It sure is a pain to put up and keep leaves and sticks off of.

I was cussing to beat the band while putting up both kinds, but the fabric was easier to handle. Good thing I don't have close neighbors, although, depending on which way and how strongly the wind is blowing, any neighbors within a 2-mile radius might be rattled. It gets very hot here in the summer, so maybe I'll try a water bath for them, just to give them the option. Thanks

 

[DrFyl]

Shade is most important.
I use shallow pans with huge ice chunks for them to wade in.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/
View attachment 3079252

How hot does it get where you are @DrFyl ?
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 3079257

I'm in the center of the USA, and our summers can be very hot and dry. I wondered about ice! It gets so hot, I have to change out the bird bath water a couple of times during the day. The 100 gallon horse troughs get as warm as bath water!

 

[aart]

I wondered about ice!

I use 9x14 totes to make the big blocks of ice,
not worth using regular ice cubes they melt way too fast.

 

[DrFyl]

Shade is most important.
I use shallow pans with huge ice chunks for them to wade in.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/
View attachment 3079252

How hot does it get where you are @DrFyl ?
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 3079257

Oh, and I do have shade for them. Cedars to the west and an old elm over the pen. Great for shade. Horrible for dropping twigs on the netting every time the wind blows which is most days.

 

[DrFyl]

I use 9x14 totes to make the big blocks of ice,
not worth using regular ice cubes they melt way too fast.

Cool! Good idea. Will have to find room in my upright freezer, though.