Considerations for wrapping run/coop in plastic to prepare for winter in Massachusetts?

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Try to get the sides of the covering securely attached. That will help prevent the wind getting under and get the flapping to happen.

I just took them down and moved them to the outside of the chain link dog run, it needs to be dry because this is where the food is. It's crazy windy right now. I did lower the hooks about 8 inches giving me more to secure the bottom with. Keeping my fingers crossed. It's time the pullets moved out of the prefab coop to the main one. I closed it up so I may be placing girls in the big house for several nights until they can do it on their own.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

I just took them down and moved them to the outside of the chain link dog run, it needs to be dry because this is where the food is. It's crazy windy right now. I did lower the hooks about 8 inches giving me more to secure the bottom with. Keeping my fingers crossed. It's time the pullets moved out of the prefab coop to the main one. I closed it up so I may be placing girls in the big house for several nights until they can do it on their own.

Add: it just started snowing!

 

[K0k0shka]

The wrapping looks fine to me. That one open wall should provide enough ventilation, if you keep it open, though you may find that too much snow blows in and you need to cover it to some extent (or shovel regularly). Is this your first winter with this setup? What would worry me more is that section of flat roof on the run. Does it have any pitch at all? Looks quite flat. What do the rafters look like under that? It will collect a lot of snow being that flat, and if it's not supported well enough, it could collapse. Snow is very heavy.

 

[zenstarling]

I’m including pictures. I have wrapped my run and I am wondering if I wrapped it too much. I live in Massachusetts. As you can see I have one section that is open. I feel badly that they can’t see outside much. Should I make a window in one section? I read that it’s most important to have the west and north sides wrapped? Is this true? What do you think of my set up and can I improve it? Thank you so so much! I’m worried they feel boxed in. Will they be too cold if I take out a section or add a window?

I’m in western Connecticut so similar weather to you, though maybe you’re on the coast with more winds. I’m working on creating windbreaks rather than full on enclosure. have you ever gardened in a plastic greenhouse? on a sunny 40 degree day, the inside will reach 80 easily and be very humid. anything inside in that situation would require some venting. you have the one section open which could be enough, you’ll have to see how it feels in there. we’re midslope on a hillside and do get winds whipping through here, so I’m more concerned about creating protected corners for them at their level, but leaving the rest open. I actually don’t want a greenhouse effect in there, where coming out of the run would be a shock to reacclimate. many many people have their runs fully wrapped with no issues, and this is my first year with them so I’m learning and seeing how it goes, and may change something! just some additional thoughts from across the border!

 

[Gypsi]

the wind is so fierce today I've put plastic on the north side of my run, as well as closing north door, and north, east and west windows on coop by stapling plastic over them. Run plastic has come down 3 times. Have a pump in their water bucket to keep water thawed, inside the coop, but it's not working. got on here to look for cookie can and light bulb bucket warmer. Guess its time to build it.

 

[zenstarling]

the wind is so fierce today I've put plastic on the north side of my run, as well as closing north door, and north, east and west windows on coop by stapling plastic over them. Run plastic has come down 3 times. Have a pump in their water bucket to keep water thawed, inside the coop, but it's not working. got on here to look for cookie can and light bulb bucket warmer. Guess its time to build it.

I’ve been using the electric pet bowl TSC sells. yes it’s on an extension cord but we have the little outdoor plastic enclosure things around the plugs. it’s been working so far!