Sidney Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 I have an eglu with extensions - 18.5 feet long run. I have 2 long plastic omlet covers and a short green one, leaving a gap between the green one and the other 2. The chickens are generally allowed out and I just shut the run door overnight. Do I need to remove the plastic covers for the summer and if so at what daytime temperatures do I need to do this. If so do I need to get another green cover for near the hen house to keep it dry if it rains? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 I have removed my plastic cover a few weeks ago and only place it back on days of continuous rain. The green cover isn't rain proof. As I have the Go Up, they always can seek shelter under the coop. They can deal with a bit of rain, but I would place them back if it is going to be a rainy day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 My cover has been rolled back the last week or so and will only be put in now when rain is forecast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 I have never taken my plastic cover off but when it starts to get warm we do put some material between the run wire and the plastic to give them some shade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 Think of the green covers as providing shade and nothing else, and you won't go wrong. I have a long train of cube runs; there's a clear plastic market tarp over the whole lot to keep any rain out. It is in dappled shade, so if it gets hot or sunny, I pops some opened out plastic feed sacks underneath to provide shade. I never take the clear cover off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted April 14, 2017 Share Posted April 14, 2017 I have cheap ebay groundsheets over my omlet runs after the original omlet ones disintegrated. They stay on all the time to protect the run from rain/sun/bird droppings etc (but the girls do get to FR and sunbathe - if they didn't I'd uncover the ends of the run so they got some sun) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 14, 2017 Share Posted April 14, 2017 Daylight int he run is essential... it stimulates them to feed and hence lay, it also sterilises the litter and helps to kill off any intestinal worm eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
