TIL my chicken run needs a sun shade for the summer heat

My girls were panting and hiding in the corner all afternoon, and I felt awful. I have some old canvas drop cloths and a few wooden posts I could use. How do you attach a shade cloth so it stays put in the wind but is easy to take down? I don't want it to flap around and scare them.

3 comments

3 Comments

eric_hunt6423h ago

Man, this is the whole story of my life lately. You get a problem, you fix it as hard as you can, and then you realize you built a permanent monument to a temporary need. The smart move is almost always the one that lets things flex and come down easy, whether it's a chicken shade or a patio umbrella. Over-engineering is a trap.

cole_miller10d ago

I mean, bungee cords are your friend for that. They let the shade cloth move a bit without tearing, and you can just hook them onto grommets in the canvas. Finish it with a quick-release knot on one corner so you can drop it fast for cleaning.

the_kelly10d ago

That bit about the quick-release knot is actually genius. I used to just crank everything down with rope and proper knots, which made taking the cloth off a huge pain. The bungee cords letting it move makes so much sense, stops all that stress on the grommets. Totally changing my setup for next season, this is way smarter.