How do you keep your run dry and shaded? Or do you?

[TheSpiceGirls]

What do you use to keep your run dry?

I have a 12' by 20' fenced in run that is covered with heavy gague wire. So technically, I don't need anything else over the top. But because of the location of the gate and a few shrubs that are in the run, the coop (with nest boxes) is in the sunny corner. So I wanted something over that side to give them shade in the summer and rain protection in the winter.

I put up two Ondura 79" Red Corrugated Roof Panel which are like pressed tar paper. They are nice because they don't get blown around by the wind. But I should have pulled them closer to the edge of the fence because now all the water drains off of them into the edges of the chicken run.

I want to see images of what you all do to provide protection to your chickens in their runs? Do you use solid panels that provide shade? Or the clear corrugated plastic so the light comes in but keep the water out?

I need to do something different and while these panels are not very expensive, and I only need a few of them, they are big and ackward which means getting them home and up on the run is a real challenge so I want to be sure I have a solid plan before I start re-roofing their run.

 

[Pharm Girl]

Our set-ups and locations are quite different, but northern Oregon is known for it's rain. I filled the run with sand and bark chips so the rain all filters down and there are no puddles. For my little run, I have a corrugated plastic roof and plastic carpet runner attached to the side to keep the rain out. I remove the runners in the summer. The bird don't mind rain one bit as long as they have some dry areas to escape under. I have a large pampas grass in their run, as well, which they use as a big umbrella. This summer I plan to plant some banana trees and protect the base with a little chicken wire so they can have shade and maybe a little rain protection. I also have a beach umbrella anchored with cement. Like a restaurant, I can flip it up if it's raining or if they need shade and put it down in a wind storm.
Not sure if any of this helps but....good luck!

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

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Thanks. That helps. I want to see others too. I have two beach umbrellas too but they keep getting blown inside out. I have a large patio umbrella that we never use and I'd love to put to use out in their run. But it's big and heavy and I don't know how I'd lift it up 7' and manuver it over their run, open it and drop it in. And then there'd be no way I could pull it down. I like the corrugated plastic better than what I have and I'm thinking I might have to just bite the bullet and have Home Depot or Lowes deliver some to me and from there I can get it installed.

It's super frustrating when it's pouring rain, I've got to go to work and I'm all dressed up and I run out to give the girls treats and I find some major issue with the run and I can't deal with it. Grrrrr....

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

We don't get enough rain where I live for it ever to be much of a problem, but I do have to keep my run shaded. I use grape vines, which keep it shaded from early spring through November and provides a constant source of forage.

 

[Captain Carrot]

As long as the coop is dry, and the run has good drainage, the hens will be fine.

I have a tarp in my run. It runs over a line and is pegged down like a tent. This is just a place for me to leave the food bowls if it's raining so the food doesn't spoil. They've also got a forest on three sides, so they're alright for shade.

I've also got a pile of large branches and pine branches, which the chickens (and muscovies) love to climb on. Tey can also go inside this pile if they want too.


It keeps the snow off too

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

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OOOOOO, Your roo is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Black Copper Marans?

 

[elmo]

See those shade tarps on the side of Gallo de Cielo's coop? That's a really nifty design for those of you with closed coops that are in the sun and are getting too hot inside in the summer.

This feature should be in the coop building "sticky" thread.

P.S. Oops, forgot what this thread was originally about!

All of my runs are roofed with the polycarbonate panels. Two of them are on this page:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=32217

And the big run is pictured down at the bottom on this page:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=32217-the-just-right-coop

I roofed this last run not for shade (because it's in an area well shaded by trees), but to try to keep it drier in wet weather. Unfortunately, this spot in our yard is on the low side and we sometimes get pooling water there when it rains really hard.

 

[ARose4Heaven]

Quote:
Love the grape vines! I have wild grapes that grow on one fence. I may just build a trellis overhead for them! Great Idea.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

Thanks all. Great ideas. I really like the corrugated covers over your runs and think I'll put in something like that this summer when the weather is nicer. I do want them to have shade in the far corner so they stay cool while laying eggs. And then I think I'll switch over to the clear so I have a few extra feet of dry space for their feed and their sand box.

Amy

 

[Captain Carrot]

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nope, he's an Altsteirer a rare Austrian breed. I'm very proud of him(although i didn't breed him). I like the way car drivers slow down and stare at him as they drive past