Ideas for Chain Link Enclosures

[crystal1957]

Winter is upon us...any ideas for enclosing what I have to work with? I have 3 large chain link enclosures--6 feet high, length and width 12 feet. Large roosting perches from tree branches--on a diagonal, threaded between the chain links...

One large chain link enclosure is butted up against the other one, separated by just a common wall--another chain link 6 foot high separating them. With this particular set up, about 8 of the hens every night rooster on top of the chain link fence, where I have a nice pole...they could switch and fly into the other area in the morning but they fly down to their regular section. Thse two sections I don't know how to enclose, due to the roosting posts and the roosting perch they prefer above on top of the fence...
Plus I have an electric fence--running across the top and bottom, on the outside, a pulsating one...

The other chain link enclosure is on it's own--covered with a tarp for a roof--pvc pipes shape the top like an umbrella...and the tarp if tied down. This group also chooses to roost on the heavy tree branch across the width (10 feet) of the cage, threaded on each end, through the chain link... Also an electric fence...

Adding 6 mil plastic and wrapping it will only hit the electric fence on the bottom--and couldn't get a snug fit to keep in the warmth... a warming light will not be warm enough with the open area... and not enough room to put a small dog house/hen house inside these chain link fence enclosures...and I don't think they would go in it, especially those who are used to roosting on the heavy tree branches...

I can't fit a 10 foot 'first up' gazebo type of enclosure with the wind curtain...though I do use this concept in another area, that is very large and that I can put it inside the chain link. That area is not a problem and has been set up like that for 2 years now. On that one I just line the inside with 6 mil plastic, doubled...both inside and out, affixed with strong tape that is wrapped around the ceiling bars...works so well.

I am stumped on resolving my current problem with these other smaller chain link fence areas... Let me hear your ideas!!! (Money is tight...)

 

[knjinnm]

Where are you located? What predators are in your area?

 

[patandchickens]

and how cold does it get where you are? that makes a big difference?

Pat

 

[cmom]

Can you post some pictures?

 

[crystal1957]

North Florida...Last year we had several days where temp droppd to 16 degrees. That doesn't come every year, but we do get frost at night, starting in December and not every night. January and February more frequent frosty nights.

Last year a friend had hens that went up in the trees during the 16 degrees cold front...and they froze to death.

Thought of the 150 watt heat bulbs, maybe affixed to the chain link, pointed in their directions, on the outside of the fence...

I don't know if I can train these hens to go in an enclosure...

Pictures to follow tonight.

Thanks folks.

 

[crystal1957]

Oops--it's dark already outside--sorry, lost track of time. I was going to go back outside and do a few close ups. Will have to wait til morning...

there is a common chain link fence divider that poses the most problems--enclosed on the sides and has a tarp roof, but as the birds roost they are completely exposed to the air, not the rain, but there is no warmth protection.

Photos tomorrow...

 

[elmo]

I think what you need to focus on is providing wind blocks, rather than trying to "keep in warmth." Unless you have breeds of chicken that are known to be sensitive to cold, as long as chickens can stay dry (this is very important) and out of wind, they should do fine in your winters. Here in North Texas, a very experienced poultry keeping friend with 25 years experience keeps his birds in roofed, chainlink dog kennels and the only thing he does in the winter is tarp the sides. His birds thrive, and some of them are quite small bantams, too. Our cold spells never seem to last for very long, but we do get freezing weather every winter and it dips into the teens from time to time, too. We even get snow sometimes!

Your friend's birds up in the trees that froze might have gotten wet. Wet feathers can't insulate. In the set up you have, are all of your kennels roofed? If not, that's the first thing you need to do. Rather than cover the sides of your kennels with plastic or tarps that could flap into your electric fence, maybe you could use something rigid, like plastic or polycarb panels, or even just plywood.

 

[crystal1957]

Beautiful picture...and encouraging words... I FINALLY got this darn pictures uploaded. The Araucana Picture, if you look very closely--has a chain link divider with a horizontal pole....about 5.5 feet above ground, and 8 go up there at night, the others, if you can see those tree limbs below, roost there...

 

[crystal1957]

Also here is a picture (I hope) of the Black Sex Link/NHR birds--all they have is a knee high group of 2 tree limbs...

All chain links have tightly affixed tarps

 

[chicks4kids]

I use visqueen to close in their predator proof run. I found that sometimes the visqueen would blow off after strong winds or heavy rain, so in addition to the duct tape I used, I also used 2x4's horizontally on the outside screwed to the fencing on the inside to help keep the plastic from blowing. It has helped wonderfully and the visqueen has stayed in place ever since.