High winds on a tarp and plastic covered omlet run

[Cryllc82]

One more thing- when you do add the ratchet straps, its actually even better to do it on the inside of the run in an X pattern across the walls, to keep it from shearing, depending on the direction of the wind. This is what I ended up doing (vs what my photo shows I did initially). So a ground anchor in each corner, and a strap going from one ground corner to the opposite upper corner. Provides more hold than a straight shot over the top.

I'm taking notes on all of this

 

[3KillerBs]

@3KillerBs can you help with this question?

This is what I did to prep for a hurricane this fall: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/prepping-coop-and-run-for-wind.1550228/

 

[3KillerBs]

You want to have the chickens protected, but still leave enough ventilation for their health.

Get everything firmly secured.

 

[Alagirl]

Yes! My chickens seem to know something is coming. I let them out to range in the yard and they came back into the run after a few minutes and they all sat down together in their favorite corner. I hope your chickens do well with the weather too.

I have a hawk in residence, I don't think that would work for me
If all else fails I can shove them in the shed, even though it is not set up for chickens
As long as it stays dry I think we will be good.

 

[Cryllc82]

You want to have the chickens protected, but still leave enough ventilation for their health.

Get everything firmly secured.

Thank you

 

[Alagirl]

Not to hijack this....
so over here it rained last night, then it froze.
The ladies are up and running this morning. They were happy to see me and quite impatient as I had to defrost the coop latch. I think I will need to bring a lighter when I go back out. Thankfully I carried some warm water this morning.

So they chowed down on the warm oatmeal and guzzled the warm water.
(I did up the fat content of food slightly (maybe a lot) by giving more oats these last few days. fat = energy in cold weather (but that is mammalian feed math)

I hope the OP's coop made it through the windy part of the weather last nigh!

There is a good video on youtube, how to secure one of the tent structures from Harbor Freight to the ground.

 

[Knobby]

I might consider cutting some flaps in the tarps to prevent them from becoming sails.
You should be Ok as long as the structure is secured though.
(I am getting uneasy, because it's supposed to go down into the low teens here as well.)

Yeah, I went out and cut some of the flaps on my tarps a few days ago in preparation for the high winds today. I learned my lesson after my 10'x20' garage canopy cover was blown 100' from it's original spot a few weeks ago.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

same here, it's going to have gusts of 120kph winds tonight and it's already starting to get blustery. my girls are in an enclosed run that has plastic covering the south side up about half, but non on the other sides. I just hope I don't lose the roof of the run since it's only weighted down until I fix it down properly. weird weather all across North America right now!

 

[Alagirl]

same here, it's going to have gusts of 120kph winds tonight and it's already starting to get blustery. my girls are in an enclosed run that has plastic covering the south side up about half, but non on the other sides. I just hope I don't lose the roof of the run since it's only weighted down until I fix it down properly. weird weather all across North America right now!

keeping fingers crossed.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

the winds are completely nuts here and it's a blizzard. the girls were covered in snow, the plastic didn't help. I locked them up in the coop with their food and some snacks to be safe now, at least until this wild wind dies down. I only have two girls so I just want them to stay cozy! their run is usually dry and snow free but this wind blew snow in every possible direction into every crevice.