How do you weatherize your enclosed run?

I wrapped my run with a heavy duty canvas, old boat cover I had, on the front I used a heavy duty commercial grade clear shower curtain, made a frame and sandwich it in between the pieces of wood, I only have to do 3 sides because it is up against the garage. Also have a 5 gallon bucket with nipples and a stock tank heater that has a thermostat built in so it only runs when needed, ss cold as it has been this system works great for me.

 

You could cover it with HEAVY clear plastic shower curtains, or with clear tablecloth covers... I used shower curtains this year, but may switch to tablecloth covers next year. I just found out I can buy a 12'x6' tablecloth cover at Bed, Bath and Beyond for LESS than a 6x6 shower curtain. They are both appear/feel to be the same mil material.

 

Since our weathers aren't as rough I use a tarp.

 

With the winds we've had the past few years, placing plastic or a tarp on the run's walls is an invitation for problems. So, instead, I made wooden boxes that my chickens use for shelter during the day. Imagine something the size of a 4-drawer filing cabinet turned on its side, without a front panel. The back faces the prevailing winds. This seems to work very well.

 

I was worried about winds, too. But I have my tarp and shower curtains secured with screws/washers and furring strips. The tops are threaded onto the wire fence with poly wire. I also pulled them taught while installing them. There is no "flop" to them at all, and they just came thru 48 hrs of pretty intense gusty winds without a problem. I am lucky that my run is made of 6x6 posts and 2x6 boards, so I have LOTS of places to secure the tarps and curtains. Securing them might be more difficult for run constructed with smaller dimension wood.

 

I went to a gas station and asked them for the window poster, they are made of strong plastic, the clerk said he will save me some, he gave me 8 huge ones. I used that. I will upload a picture tomorrow if it stops raining.

 

Ditto on the shower curtains. I found a dollar store selling some really thick, clear ones for a couple bucks each, and they lasted the winter without tearing. I am getting ready this week to put them back up for this winter. Make sure they are vinyl, not thin plastic. They should stretch and give, you should not be able to tear them.

 

This is my first winter with chickens. I was at Home Depot the other day and was all set to buy a roll of 4 mil plastic sheeting to wrap my run with. I had some concerns that it wouldn't hold up to the wind, then I remembered reading on here about the shower curtains. I found one that was marked "Heavy Gauge" so I bought one to try. The temp was in the 20's with a stiff breeze when I went out to staple it up. The lousy thing became so brittle in the cold that it shredded like tissue paper in my hands. Glad I only bought one. I know others on here have had good luck with them, but I won't waste my money on them again.

I've since decided to go a different route, and I'm not sure why I didn't think of it before. I've done a bit of upholstery work with boat seats, covers and bimini tops. There are several vinyl sheet products (Plastipane is one that comes to mind) that are used for window material in boat tops, sailboat sails, and pop-up campers. These are available in heavy thicknesses from 20 to 40 gauge which is several times thicker than the heaviest sheeting you can get from the hardware stores. It's UV stable and remains flexible down to -30 degrees. It's crystal clear rather than opaque like sheeting, which is important to me since my run is very small and I want the girls to be able to see out. I am going to make fitted panels for mine that I will be able to use season after season.

 

We have three sides of our coop in 4 Mil plastic and layered with lathe. I used scrap lumber to step the side out over the flower bed at the base. We had grown green beans in there during the summer, and they climb up the side and even into the run. The birds get the beans. We planted peas in it now, and we will be wrapping the front when it gets cold enough. I want the ventilation for now. As it is, the green house quality of the run is very good, and I put a thermometer in there today to get a reading. We are in the far western mountains of Maryland at 1800 ft. Temps were below freezing all day with windchills, and the inside of the run stayed around 50F all day. I can only imagine how it will be with this end covered. That long slanted side over the peas, is due south facing. I only wish it was clear plastic for the light for them.
Taht