Advice on keeping the rain out?

[jentralala]

My coop is a renovated 8x8 site built playhouse. I only really used the frame and the roof, everything else got torn down and re-built. I built it so that the back half is all walled, but 4 feet on each side is hardware cloth, and a strip down the front on each side is hardware cloth, plus a door made out of the mesh. I made it with all this ventilation due to living in sunny florida, where temps routinely get over 90F. The coop is in a lot of shade though, and with all the ventilation it stays pretty cool for my six hens.

However, when it rains the pine shavings get really damp. Is there a way to keep the rain out? I've thought about adding some kind of tarp to the sides that I can roll up in sunny weather, and roll down (and tie to stakes in the ground.) Would this work? Any other ideas? Thanks!

 

[Manamisugar]

Instead of pine shavings, sand is a great way to deal with the rain. On the floor of the coop, use something that will dry quickly and use shavings/hay for nesting boxes.

 

[vehve]

Is it possible to add some more roof overhang?

 

[Maty]

My coop is a renovated 8x8 site built playhouse. I only really used the frame and the roof, everything else got torn down and re-built. I built it so that the back half is all walled, but 4 feet on each side is hardware cloth, and a strip down the front on each side is hardware cloth, plus a door made out of the mesh. I made it with all this ventilation due to living in sunny florida, where temps routinely get over 90F. The coop is in a lot of shade though, and with all the ventilation it stays pretty cool for my six hens.

However, when it rains the pine shavings get really damp. Is there a way to keep the rain out? I've thought about adding some kind of tarp to the sides that I can roll up in sunny weather, and roll down (and tie to stakes in the ground.) Would this work? Any other ideas? Thanks!

Hello there I have the same problem, I live in Miami I had the same idea and bought a tarp in Amazon and will install it tomorrow, will let you know how it goes

 

[Folly's place]

Wider soffets are best, but probably hard to retrofit. A tarp on the windward side will help, for sure.
Mary

 

[Aunt Angus]

I used cheap shower curtain liners on my previous coop. Worked like a charm.