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[HennyPenny59]

Winter is coming, and im still not organised with my girls' accommodation .. At the moment, they only have their coop and a large grass area to roam around in, although they do have shelter under the coop, as it has long legs.

 

Im trying to organise this as easily and cheaply as possible, and very soon, with Autumn being just around the corner.

 

There are two options knocking around my head, but I cant decide which one to go for ... The first involves hubby building a walk in run with a solid roof to keep out rain and snow. Their coop would be in the run, and on dry days, and if the ground wasn't too soft, I would open the door of the run to let them have access to the grass, which is surrounded by netting.

 

The second option involves buying a good condition secondhand shed and putting it in their grass run for somewhere for them to escape to in bad weather .. I was going to make this a bit of a den for them, with woodchip on the floor, perches and also their food and water ... Again they would have access to the grass, and I would place their coop next to the shed.

 

Im leaning towards the shed, as I like the idea of them being able to get out of freezing cold winds, but do you think they might end up wanting to use this as their coop? I want them to carry on using their coop, as it is very strong and they are safe from predators.

 

Decisions, decisions ...

[kentuckyfried]

We found a solution to this completely by accident. We bought a canvas ex-polish army teepee tent for the garden for our toddlers to play in, but find that the chickens use it as a shelter when the weather is bad. It is pretty waterproof, and will last a long time in the garden, and you can put it up and down as you need to.

A bit like this one http://www.gisurplus.co.uk/shop/product.php/1092/wholesale-polish-army-teepee-tipi-tent

[Chortle Chook]

I don't know if it will sway your decision at all . . . but I recently bought the the large shelter off of Flyte so Fancy. I was so pleased with it as it is totally rain proof, does not blow over even in strong winds and has hooks for bundles of greens and even nice perches. Do my chickens use it? Hell no. They'd rather push and shove one another to fit under their hen house when it rains

 

So all in all I'd go with your plan A I think

[Tweety]

I have one of the FOF shelters too, and I would recommend it highly. My bantams all use it when the weather is bad and, as Chubby Chook says, it is strong and waterproof.

[Miggy]

I would go for the walk in run. Reason.....safer from the foxes who will be short of food in the winter and as soon as you are not watching.....

[HennyPenny59]

Thankyou for all your replies

 

KentuckyFried ... The tent is a really interesting idea, and I have one in the garage which has never been used, although it is not canvas! I think I might erect it at the weekend to see how my lot react to it .. It would certainly be useful for now, as for the last few days there have been strong fairly cold winds, and im worrying about them not having any proper shelter, and who knows it might become a permanent feature, although I would have to eventually replace it with a stronger one, like canvas.

 

The shelter is interesting too, but because its costs £159 I think I would rather buy a small shed and put a few perches in there and some woodchip on the floor .. Im imagining that if their food and water is in there, they would surely use it??

 

I think im still leaning towards the shed idea like the picture ive attached.

 

 

[HennyPenny59]

Sorry, picture didnt appear .. I will try again

[kentuckyfried]

I would be worried that if you make it too cosy then they might start roosting in it?

[jackian]

We have a WIR with a corregated plastic roof which is great but when they are FR I also have a garden table with a waterproof sun umbrella they huddle under ...Most of the time my smallest ignores all this and little Rosie stands under a garden chair with holes in

[heth1986]

Are mine the only ones who stand out in the weather no matter what?!

We've gone au natural in our run, the girls have a massive lilac bush and a few other bushes to shelter under within their WIR (which does not have a solid roof). They are on hardwoop chip, which avoids the bogginess, and they have climbing plants up the sides that protect them from the side winds. But I still find them stood out in the torrential rain

[hopingforchickens]

You're not alone, mine roost outside in horrendous weather, let alone just general daily activities! I did however invest in a WIR with roof this summer, which I hope will provide them with some protection in the winter.

[Deb Dav]

My girls also are out in all weathers in an open pen surrounded by netting. They do have lots of shelter with shrubs and trees in the pen but I did get them the green frog large field shelter to use. In it I put a cheap wooden shoe rack from Argos to perch on and they have created a dust bath in the shelter. It's handy for all weathers, come snow or sun.

 

Look here http://www.greenfrogdesigns.co.uk/Field-Shelter-Large-p/fs02.htm