Take part in study on PFAS 'forever chemicals' in eggs

[Isabel]

Just wondering what shelter you guys provide for your free-ranging chickens? Our 3 have their house on legs and a run which opens up into a large, electrically fenced off area. Although there's shelter under the house, it's limited esp as I keep their feeder under there during the day. The chickens are in the orchard and I want to keep their housing as low-key as possible so don't really want to cover the run but am thinking ahead to winter winds and rain. Would something like this http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/The_Chicken_Shelter.html be suitable? It's mobile so I can move it around within their area (thus making cleaning under it much easier) - but I'll have to convince DH to build one! Any other suggestions would be most welcome!

 

Thanks

 

Isabel

[Chucky Mama]

Mine don't have any shelter provided apart from an old wheelbarrow against some trellis that they use sometimes. There Cube run is open all the time where their food is so they could go in to shelter if they wanted to - but tend not to. They have dug various favourite holes around the garden under shrubs that they use, or they stand outside looking pathetic That little shelter looks cute but expensive to me.

[The Dogmother]

Mine have a clear tarp over the run, and will shelter in there when the weather is bad. Otherwise, they prefer to be out in the garden.

[lillybettybabs]

My other half has cut some clear insulated plastic to fit the sides under the cube so they use that as shelter if needed

but the light still gets through.

[docsquid]

Ours have a clear tarp over the cube run, but tend to prefer to get soaking wet instead - go figure! There are plenty of bushes that they can shelter under, and they do prefer these to the run, but in winter there is less shelter. Again, doesn't seem to bother them. They are pretty hardy really.

[Plum]

I suppose it depends how many you have but I think I would make something bigger than the FOF one but on the same lines. It does look good. It would have to be away from the netting so they don't leap over

[Isabel]

Thanks everyone for your replies and ideas. Plenty of food for thought. I think if DH could make something like the FoF shelter that would be something portable and then it comes to where we put their house and f/r area for the winter .... I'm trying hard not to lose all our grass. They're great at the moment - 6 weeks on the same spot and you'd hardly know it - but I've incorporated the bank of a bed into their fenced off area and it's brilliant for scratching/dust bathing etc. The FoF shelter is £££ .... the materials would cost a fraction of that but a good idea for something discrete and moveable. Thanks again.

[Guest]

Mine just tend to stay outside they have their house/run to go in which is really sheltered but no they decide to annoy me by standing outside in the rain shouting out than go in the house.

 

Good thing about pekin's THEY GO IN THEIR HOUSE. Marsh Daisy's don't and Light Sussex they couldn't care less what they do they might plonk themselves half in the run half out

[Isabel]

Funny you should say that Rhys ... I've noticed ours disappearing inside when it's really wet - the wind doesn't seem to bother them too much. Am getting 2 Pekins next week, mainly for the children ... should be interesting

[migsy]

My OH is building my WIR this weeking (assuming it arrives!). It will have a mesh roof and I've ordered some mesh for the floor as well. I'd like to put a cover on it and a few of you have just mentioned clear tarp. Could you tell me what that is and where I could get it please? Thanks!

[migsy]

Just looked them up on the internet! Seem like an option.

[The Dogmother]

Try Tarpaflex online, they're good, but if it's a large-ish run then I'd suggest using clear corrugated plastic or polycarbonate roofing.

[Plum]

I got mine for side of run here http://www.qvsshop.co.uk/glass-clear-tarpaulins-51-c.asp They are strong and a few inches bigger than the given size.

[chicken bark]

Mine free range and have had nowhere proper to shelter from the rain. I did rig up a tarpaulin tent but the strong winds put paid to that so I purchased a really cheap run on ebay and have put tarpaulin over that. I am thinking of putting perches in it too as I liked the look of the FoF chicken shelter so much.