do not use a tarp!

[lorihadams]

We had a tarp to cover our run and boy was it a pain, every time it rained I worried that it was going to collapse the pen (a 10x10 dog kennel). Eventually it did and we came home to find after a heavy downpour that the top bars of the pen were bent into oblivion. We decided to suck it up and build a roof. Here's the before and after pics.

After our expenses it cost us about $50....the tin was free, some of the 2x4s were free and we had to buy the 4x4 posts and 4 of the 2x4x12s for the cross pieces. The most expense was the roofing tar at $12 a gallon and we had to get 2. the tin was old and starting to rust so we have to seal it. I wish we had done this last year and we would have saved ourselves a lot of money (on replacement tarps) and heartache and worry!

 

[Lollipop]

Don`t forget to run some wire around the openings at the top. Predators hate us......Pop

 

[lorihadams]

that's our project for this evening!

 

[1stepcloser]

Uh yah. We are learning the same lesson now.

My first run is too tiny and the tarp makes a fabulous rain catcher. We will be buillding up, out, and with a roof this time.

 

[fldiver97]

Good that you got the roof!!!! I used a tarp just for a few days and it drove me crazy.....Not that it takes much....

 

[Cuban Longtails]

You can use a tarp, you just have to support it properly and replace as needed.

 

[insiderart]

That big black chicken in the first photo is my favorite!