Chicken run as a Woods coop?

[Allazzo]

Wanted to get thoughts/input on an idea... Has anyone in the Midwest (hot summers/cold winters) enclosed a run with tarp for the winter to create a sort of Woods coop?

I currently have this 10'x6' run (6.5' at peak):

With this 4.6' wide x 4' tall x 30" deep shed inside run for four chickens:

Inside the shed is two crates with a 2x4 roost spanning them - though they tend to sleep on top of one of the crates rather than spread out along the roost. There are 2-3" holes w/louvers on the back side and 2 louvered holes each side of shed for ventilation (not to mention the shed itself isn't airtight because, resin shed).

So my thought is to attach another 10'x6' run and enclose the new run with tarp (leaving the existing run open) with shed at the back of the long side of enclosed run and leave doors open for the winter. Runs will be hardware cloth enclosed with apron and all that and I'll be adding support posts in center of both runs to avoid collapse from snow.

Has anyone used all tarp in this situation? And if so - what did you do to reinforce the run roof? I'm limited as to what materials that I can use since I don't own a truck and often delivery of material from my local stores will be more than the material itself, thus the tarp idea.

 

[cavemanrich]

Sounds like a good idea.
Things to take into consideration.
Your complete structure will not be very heavy. You will need to anchor well to ground,,, to keep wind from carrying away. I am not speaking of Tornado Resilience.
The tarps you are considering,,, I am assuming the light duty types. They are fine,,,,,,,,,, BUT do not have a very long life. Go with the heavier 9 mil Silver ones. They will last 3 times longer than the LIGHT BLUE 4 mil type.
Ask anything else you need to consider..


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[aart]

enclosed a run with tarp for the winter to create a sort of Woods coop?

Good to weather proof the run, but that doesn't make it a 'Woods' design.

Do you get a lot of snow?
Make sure the run has strong framing to hold up against snow load.

 

[Allazzo]

Sounds like a good idea.
Things to take into consideration.
Your complete structure will not be very heavy. You will need to anchor well to ground,,, to keep wind from carrying away. I am not speaking of Tornado Resilience.
The tarps you are considering,,, I am assuming the light duty types. They are fine,,,,,,,,,, BUT do not have a very long life. Go with the heavier 9 mil Silver ones. They will last 3 times longer than the LIGHT BLUE 4 mil type.
Ask anything else you need to consider..


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

Thanks for the tip on the type of tarp. The existing run has a tarp over it and well anchored so our recent very high winds didn't take anyone for a Dorothy ride. The whole set up is on the South side of a garage and I live in town so mostly the wind just flaps the existing tarp. Took the chickens a few days to get used to the flapping but they're not fazed now

 

[Allazzo]

Good to weather proof the run, but that doesn't make it a 'Woods' design.

Do you get a lot of snow?
Make sure the run has strong framing to hold up against snow load.

Sometimes we get quite a bit of snow, sometimes very little to none due to weather pattern changes. It's not exactly a Woods design but similar as in it would be enclosed with tarp on 3 sides and top. I would definitely need to reinforce the frame thus me asking if anyone has done something similar

 

[aart]

It's not exactly a Woods design but similar as in it would be enclosed with tarp on 3 sides and top.

Woods is way more than just that.
3 sides and a roof is just a typical livestock run in.

 

[Toad2]

Wanted to get thoughts/input on an idea... Has anyone in the Midwest (hot summers/cold winters) enclosed a run with tarp for the winter to create a sort of Woods coop?

I currently have this 10'x6' run (6.5' at peak):
View attachment 3846491


With this 4.6' wide x 4' tall x 30" deep shed inside run for four chickens:

View attachment 3846498
Inside the shed is two crates with a 2x4 roost spanning them - though they tend to sleep on top of one of the crates rather than spread out along the roost. There are 2-3" holes w/louvers on the back side and 2 louvered holes each side of shed for ventilation (not to mention the shed itself isn't airtight because, resin shed).

So my thought is to attach another 10'x6' run and enclose the new run with tarp (leaving the existing run open) with shed at the back of the long side of enclosed run and leave doors open for the winter. Runs will be hardware cloth enclosed with apron and all that and I'll be adding support posts in center of both runs to avoid collapse from snow.

Has anyone used all tarp in this situation? And if so - what did you do to reinforce the run roof? I'm limited as to what materials that I can use since I don't own a truck and often delivery of material from my local stores will be more than the material itself, thus the tarp idea.

Are you planning on adding some hardware cloth to the side of that?

 

[Allazzo]

Are you planning on adding some hardware cloth to the side of that?

Yes - all enclosed with hardware cloth along with apron to keep out predators - same as the existing run.

 

[Penpal]

All of that flapping in the wind is reducing the life of your tarp. Get some short bungee cords or toggle balls. Tie rope to each. On one side of the roof attach a cord or toggle to the structure. Throw rope over the top (over the ridge) and secure on the other side. You will need four, maybe more.

I did this on my hoop house and it is an easy and cheap fix.

 

[Allazzo]

All of that flapping in the wind is reducing the life of your tarp. Get some short bungee cords or toggle balls. Tie rope to each. On one side of the roof attach a cord or toggle to the structure. Throw rope over the top (over the ridge) and secure on the other side. You will need four, maybe more.

I did this on my hoop house and it is an easy and cheap fix.

Agreed though I haven't bought those tarps yet.

However - here was my solution to attach a tarp to the front wall of the existing run that blocks the morning sun. The side of the tarp along side the door is attached to the run with carabiners at corners (wasn't attached at the bottom yet in the image below but you can see the carabiner hanging on the front of run next to the door). The top corner of tarp that goes over shorter side of the run has a fabric ratchet strap hooked through tarp hole and then hooked to run wall on opposite side (you can see the shadow of the strap on the roof). This really doesn't flap too much in the wind, not anymore than the tarp over the top that is attached with the toggle balls.

I've used the same ratchet strap to tie that same tarp to my central AC unit for years and the straps are still like brand new so apparently very weather proof

Similar ratchet strap though not nearly that fancy: