Thuringians

[Marigold]

. Do you not leave your tarps up in summer for shade?

I roll them up and tie them at the top in summer, having removed the battens which hold them in place over the winter. Being transparent, they let plenty of light through, but it gets a bit hot in summer if thy stay down, especially as there's a clear corrugated roof to the run. Howev, there are some big trees which provide good shade by 1.00 onwards in summer.

 

[dinosaw]

I roll them up and tie them at the top in summer

Thats a good idea, it is also always good to locate the run next trees and shrubs to screen your run both from the sun and the wind, I have this with two of my runs which are screened by hawthorn trees but unfortunately not with the third that is pictured but that is the problem when you have land that slopes both east to west and north to south, it is difficult to find a relatively flat spot that doesn't need lots of levelling. Shouldn't moan as I have always wanted a sizeable amount of land and it is very beautiful here but also a bit impractical, I have a 200m walk from the house up to the chickens which while keeping you fit is an exercise in frustration if you happen to forget anything, in the wind and rain it isn't very funny and I have yet to have the fun of doing it in the snow. The plus point is that nobody should hear the crowing in the morning when my new boys start up which is why I have built up there next to the run that was in situ.

Yes your right that they can change when they start to lay Chickenfan, I've had them go both ways, friendly to flighty and vice versa, it is the Araucanas at the root of it, the Silver Sussex given half a chance would be friendly birds if they weren't constantly being spooked.

 

[chickenfan]

I'm sure the Sussex will settle down when they mature.