Storms and chickens

[Fairytwinkles]

Hi all.

I've had my girls 3 months now in a Go Up with a 3m run. They get let out to free range round the garden every day too.

Am I right in thinking that if there is another AF outbreak and the chickens are put on lockdown, will they have to stay within the run and not come into the garden? Does having the green and clear weather covers over the top of the run count as a 'covered run' ?

Finally, I know in theory that the 3m run and coop is big enough for the girls to be in and not actually have to come out of, but I'm pretty sure they will go bonkers in there, especially as we have a very bossy bluebell. Will they be ok?

This has all been such a massive learning curve for me!

Thanks

Faye

[sjp]

Hi all.

I've had my girls 3 months now in a Go Up with a 3m run. They get let out to free range round the garden every day too.

Am I right in thinking that if there is another AF outbreak and the chickens are put on lockdown, will they have to stay within the run and not come into the garden? Yes

Does having the green and clear weather covers over the top of the run count as a 'covered run' ? Yes as long as the wild bird population can't poo into the run last year it was mainly water fowl that were the carries of AF

Finally, I know in theory that the 3m run and coop is big enough for the girls to be in and not actually have to come out of, but I'm pretty sure they will go bonkers in there, especially as we have a very bossy bluebell. Will they be ok? they'll hate for a week or two but they soon adapt and get used to the lack of FR boredom can be a problem but the odd pumpkin/squash, cabbage or swede and a few apples all left whole make good distractions with pumpkins I just cut a 2 inch hole in to get them started buy a few when their cheap late October and they'll keep in a cool shed till at least Christmas if you can get the non Halloween types from a harvest festival or the bigger marrows they'll last till March

This has all been such a massive learning curve for me!

Thanks

Faye

[Fairytwinkles]

Thank you so much, I've written that down!

[Luvachicken]

Mine are shut in all the time but they do have lots to keep them entertained.

Give yours lots of perches and things to sit on.

Give them peck blocks - sometimes more than one is needed so they can share - this will keep beaks busy.

Make sure they have a dust bath.

Use old tyres to make other perching places.

Hang up cabbages so they can jump up to peck them.

Give them a treat ball that they have to kick around to get the treats out.

 

This should keep them busy for some of the time.

 

Hopefully some others will post some more ideas for you

[The Dogmother]

The only thing i would add to sjp's reply is to ensure that your run is completely covered down the sides as well as the top, and to use a clear, waterproof cover. I use 'glass clear market stall tarpaulins' from ebay, held in place with bungee hooks. If you have smaller runs, then clear shower curtains would work.

 

We can expect these preventative measures to be in place every winter now, so i am always careful to go through this on each of my courses; it is important to make sure that there is more than enough room in your run for the number of birds you have. If your bossy bird gets too pecky, then fit her with a bumpa bit to prevent any wounds or cannibalism.

[Cat tails]

The 1m clear tarp for the Cube fits on the Go quite nicely. With a 3m run, you could probably get one 1m tarp and one 2m tarp.

[sjp]

The only thing i would add to sjp's reply is to ensure that your run is completely covered down the sides as well as the top, and to use a clear, waterproof cover. I use 'glass clear market stall tarpaulins' from ebay, held in place with bungee hooks. If you have smaller runs, then clear shower curtains would work.

 

does completely covering the sides reduce the cross flow air through the run to much on smaller runs and encourage condensation and increase damp conditions ?

[The Dogmother]

No

Sorry, i should have specified that you need to angle the bottom edges out slightly by anchoring the bungee hooks to the outside edge of the run. This increases airflow.

[Valkyrie]

This is the latest report - it doesn't look good for this winter either. I hadn't heard about the swan in June. I hope we don't have to do it earlier than last year. The fellow down the road with all sorts has kept his netting up all year round - although he was really late into 2017 before he actually covered his birds.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/636631/poa-hpai-uk-europe-update16.pdf

[Cat tails]

No

Sorry, i should have specified that you need to angle the bottom edges out slightly by anchoring the bungee hooks to the outside edge of the run. This increases airflow.

 

As the sides of the Go Up run are already slanted, this shouldn't be a problem. Also the back of the run onder the coop and the front would still be open.

[The Dogmother]

This is the latest report - it doesn't look good for this winter either. I hadn't heard about the swan in June. I hope we don't have to do it earlier than last year. The fellow down the road with all sorts has kept his netting up all year round - although he was really late into 2017 before he actually covered his birds.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/636631/poa-hpai-uk-europe-update16.pdf

 

Interesting.... the outbreaks are in places where the preventative measures are likely to be less stringent and adhered to than in the UK, mind you, I saw plenty of uncovered flocks last winter!!! It's good though that there is more awareness worldwide, but we just need everyone to take the threat seriously, and take all the necessary measures to prevent the contamination of stock and the spread of the disease.

 

I predict that the price of Christmas geese and turkeys will be very high this year... unless the dogs bring down another deer between now and Christmas, I think I will be blagging a leg of lamb from a friendly farmer!!!

 

No

Sorry, i should have specified that you need to angle the bottom edges out slightly by anchoring the bungee hooks to the outside edge of the run. This increases airflow.

 

As the sides of the Go Up run are already slanted, this shouldn't be a problem. Also the back of the run under the coop and the front would still be open.

I would just cover it as much as is reasonably possible, don't forget that mice can possibly track in wild bird droppings. I would lay bait traps if you have a mouse issue, and cover the runs as much as you can. Those of us who live near large areas of water, or are on migratory routes will be most at risk.