Angie Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 I know it is barely October, but the temps are dropping and today the rain is torrential or at least it is here...It is 11c and feels like zero . Is it a bit soon to be putting up the tarps ? will the chooks get too warm if i put them up now? We are moulting too .They are in WIR with solid roof and deep kick boards so are sheltered . (I am worming them atm , will be scrubbing everything after the weekend with new bedding too , I feel i should be winter proofing too.) Also i can't get any wood chip/bark so have bought aubiose for the first time....Is this good for winter use ? for example will it freeze ? Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Last winter I ordered a glass (clear) tarp big enough to go round the WIR. I didn't get round to it, and eventually started putting it up one morning as snow was forecast. By the time I gave up - fingers so cold I couldn't move them to manipulate the cable ties - the snow was 2" deep, and I had to abandon the attempt. The moral of my story - no, it's not too early to start winter proofing! The tarp is still in the garage, waiting to be put up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Tarp up already here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Posted October 6, 2011 Author Share Posted October 6, 2011 Well i won't be putting any up today due to the rain but i definately will when i clean everything out and scrub the cube, i have got the tarps out ready even a new clear one just in case the other two are in a bit of a state. WIR went up this time last year but the tarps didn't till mid november. The wind is bitter cold here atm and dark skies, really not nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickichicky Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 2 out of 3 tarps up here too. Definately need the clear one I have over my temporary run housing my 2 Wyandotte babies. And after the 4 original girls were all hiding in one corner of their top covered run away from the wind yesterday aftenoon I decided to fold the sides down on the length of their inner run = happy girls scratching around again. Had to do a bit of nipping & tucking here and there after the wind had blown any unsecured bits around this morning. Think I'll do the Teenagers inner run the weekend. Then they'll all have somewhere to go out of cold winds when ranging in the WIR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memphisto Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Tarp on top of their first wire pen/run now, will be tarping up the rest tomorrow. Far too windy to do anything else today, kept losing the one tarp to the wind earlier. Another wire pen/run arriving tomorrow (spoilt hens) so I think we'll tarp it up before we get them to test it out for us. OH wants to get them a heat lamp, just wondering how much of a good idea this is, I thought chickens, as a rule, didn't really mind the cold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Having only having my 3 girls for 4 months or so ,they have not experienced a winter yet..reading the other parts of omlet threads I am concerned . .. They have a wooden coup which has a 6 ft fence behind it and is in a 12 ft x 6ft |WIR covered with plastic roofing (which does not leak) with a 6ft fence the opposite side of the garden , the third side is the house.They free ranger all day while we are at home. The wind today has been bitter (yes even in the South of England 1. should I do anything to the coup , 2, Do I need tarpaulin ,if so where does it go I wasn't worrying now I am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Its not essential but it does do two things, it shelters the hens from the worst of the wind if a tarp is put on the side of the run where wind is worst and also it helps keep the run litter dry which makes for an all round better experience for the hens and you My runs are tarped all year round even if its just on one side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Posted October 6, 2011 Author Share Posted October 6, 2011 Hi jakian, my winter proofing will be to put up the glass tarps around the outside of the WIR mesh panels, to keep the driving rain , wind and snow out of the run . The cube is on the outside of the run so it will have its strip of carpet and tarp over the top of it and the base vents covered over ( under the poop trays and in the nest box ). After the weather today it may even get done tomorrow, it has been wild today horrid . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Jackian, your set-up sounds similar to mine -I have a 6' fence behind the run, a greenhouse down one side of it and shrubbery down the other, and a plastic roof. Nonetheless when it rained - or snowed- last year, the run got very wet. The tarp will just keep two sides of the run dry, giving them somewhere to shelter and meaning they're not paddling in mud all day. I was astounded at how quickly it filled with snow last year, given that it is by no means exposed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 I put new acrylic panels up last month (not too soon as we've had horrible weather!). Still planning to put a few tarps up too - must get round to it before the snow arrives . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Tarp on top of their first wire pen/run now, will be tarping up the rest tomorrow. Far too windy to do anything else today, kept losing the one tarp to the wind earlier. Another wire pen/run arriving tomorrow (spoilt hens) so I think we'll tarp it up before we get them to test it out for us. OH wants to get them a heat lamp, just wondering how much of a good idea this is, I thought chickens, as a rule, didn't really mind the cold? No need for heat lamps even when temperatures are -20c the girls were warm enough. Like babies you can wrap them up and overheat them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 Oh well, tarp ordered . My OH reckoned we did not need it as he thought we were well sheltered .I remember when he said we did not need a plastic roof on our WIR and there we were one Saturday morning ...Rain lashing down and 3 chickens paddling in puddles and not being able to lift their toes up, the 2 of us rushing down to the DIY store. Back we came macs on with several sheets of plastic making sure the little darlings stayed dry. ...3 hours later it was up and ready to go ,except he had forgotten to slope it Sunday morning ,another couple of hours. So it was a case of I told you so I have not told him I have ordered it yet but I will let him know that I had orders to do so on Saturday night when he has watched the footie and had a few beers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Posted October 7, 2011 Author Share Posted October 7, 2011 Oh jacklan that was me last year i went out in a gale and rain lashing at me from all direction to put up the tarps literally minutes after they arrived, not a very pleasant experience. i laugh now but it wasn't very funny then i was so cold and wet took an hour in a hot bath to revive me Anyway the forecast is for rain over the weekend so i have been out since 11 am this morning putting up the tarps. Hard work on your own, i have made a nice cup of coffee and will be heading for a shower in a mo as i am a bit grubby and in need of a manicure, fingers very sore too,i feel set for the weather i know is only around the corner. ....................Thanks everyone , Now what about the aubiose ???? does it freeze solid at all ???? as i know it will get a little wet at the corners of the run ?????? anyone ... not used it before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 I tend to keep the top of the runs covered all year, but I've put nice new plastic tarps ( Tescos are doing them for £2) on for this winter. I just have to get a cheap shower curtain to zip tie to the exposed side of the Cube run ( I split the shower curtain so it goes the length of the exposed bit) fortunately the Cube is in the corner of the garden up against the fence. The Eglu is up against the conservatory so that's pretty sheltered too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loulops Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 How are you clever pepes getting your tarps to stay put? I invested in (clear to let the light in) plastic sheeting to cover the sides of my WIR and went for the staple gun option. This works fine until we have strong winds and then it just gets ripped down again. Oh dear, I knew it was a bit of a long shot, that working, so can anyone fill me in? Is there a way to make your own reinforced holes so you can zip tie the plastic on? But I'm thinking the sheets will make a hell of a noise, flapping about in wind. I def want clear sheeting not tarps as I want the girls to get the light. Clueless! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I had tarps but they all got ripped to shreds . So I invested in acrylic sheets which (touch wood) have withstood the storms we've had recently (and are having at this very moment!). Here's the thread I started about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 How are you clever pepes getting your tarps to stay put? I invested in (clear to let the light in) plastic sheeting to cover the sides of my WIR and went for the staple gun option. This works fine until we have strong winds and then it just gets ripped down again. Oh dear, I knew it was a bit of a long shot, that working, so can anyone fill me in? Is there a way to make your own reinforced holes so you can zip tie the plastic on? But I'm thinking the sheets will make a hell of a noise, flapping about in wind. I def want clear sheeting not tarps as I want the girls to get the light. Clueless! Tarpaflex do hammer in plastic eyelets. if the plastic is thin then a layer of tarp tape where you plan to make the holes will reinforce the plastic a bit I use cable ties or bungee cords and then use the odd staple or drawing pin to secure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I've used those DIY eyelets and although they work well initially, mine have mostly ripped (even with tarp tape reinforcement) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loulops Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Great stuff, thanks. Looks like acrylic is the way forward. Wish I'd thought to ask before I shelled out on plastic sheeting (Homer moment. DOH!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 I've got both. The acrylic is on the SW sid e which gets most of the wind. On the others I have tarps which either fold back or roll up so I can change the ventilation depending on the wind. Used the hammer in extra holes after folding the edges double and it's not torn at all but I don't have the bad winds ANH does. I use hooks in wood uprights to hold them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
