covering your run

[patandchickens]

Wayne beat me to it

Yes, DO NOT rely on the pipe framing of the chainlink panels to withstand a heavy load (and snow can get really really heavy, maybe not *usually* but if you have a surprise foot of wet snow and then some rain...)

I suppose if you didn't want to sink posts you could try to cheat by putting the (4x4 or larger) corner posts for your roof structure just sitting on the ground, and strap them well to the chainlink panel corners and rely on that to keep 'em from falling over. I would not do it in a windy area, and frankly if I were going to do it myself I'd rather take the (not very great) extra time and labor to sink the posts 3' and know it will stay put and last... but, as cut corners go, it's probably not the worst. Better than just perching a flat roof atop the chainlink panels though (although that's ok in not too windy, not very snow-prone areas)


Pat

 

[first time farmer]

I had the same issue with my old coop. It was made out of anything i could find laying around. I used 4 inch trees and other random peaces of wood. I had 3/4in plywood for the roof that worked ok until we had a huge ice storm and the wood holding the roof up cracked thats when i decided to build a new coop the roof is slanted it is 7 feet in the front and 6 feet in the back the snow we have had so far this year has just slid right off

good luck my whole farm is/was impravised at one point or another