Help me with run roofing ideas?

[Jessicanesh]

We ended up building our run at the last minute just two days before we had a major snowstorm a few years ago. Instead of using metal roofing material which was out of our budget, and not being able to find any miscuts, we opted for corrugated asphalt panels since I knew the corrugated plastic would t last many winters here in NE. We picked ours up at Lowe’s for $20 each our 12’x7’ run (4 panels). Unfortunately we overlapped too much and didn’t leave enough of an overhang which would have been helpful in rainy weather. We use a roof rake to remove heavy wet snow but otherwise leave it alone.

 

[Charliwolf]

So last summer I built a very large permanent enclosed run - 12x24 - after losing 12 free range birds to a weasel. I meant to roof it before winter but it took forever to put up and I couldn’t get the roof done. It has hardware cloth side panels and the floor has 3’ of hardware cloth on the ground all the way around inside to prevent digging.

I want to do clear poly carb panels for roof (we have major snowfall and dark winters and I want them to have sunlight in winter if possible) but it’s going to cost $600 to cover the whole thing and I’m not sure I can swing that. I can do half for snow protection but I need to keep the weasel out from the other half. I’ve seen those jerks climb. An open roof is a disaster. Metal is possible but it’s also really expensive. And doesn’t let sun in.

Hardware cloth on top? Something else? Can you do electric netting on a roof? Would that work?

Here’s a pic. That tarp area is now very small- We do get a LOT of snow. Right now they only get supervised outside time because of the &$@@ weasel. I’d like them to be able to be out all day unless it’s very cold. The panels have hardware cloth now up to the top beams. View attachment 1669237

Did I mention we get a lot of snow?...View attachment 1669252
They have just this small area right now under a tarp. Most cost effective snow preventive predator proof way to roof this? I wouldn’t have made it so big if I had thought more about how hard it would be to roof...View attachment 1669250

Ours has bird netting over it...works well as far as keeping critters out...as far as roofing it...unless you plan on sloping it pretty well and sweep the snow off of it...its not going to help with sunshine...but you could try either only covering a portion of it and letting the chickens continue to act like free rangers.