How to keep run "roof" from sagging?

[patandchickens]

If it's well stapled on, you should be fine -- that is an unusually well-supported run top! (Also good craftsmanship).

If you are really, really paranoid, just go out and thump the snow through the mesh once or twice during a heavy wet snowfall. I would probably not bother, myself, though

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[al6517]

I agree it looks great and shouldn't sag even if you had some ice on it. Your Critics are jealous LOL.

AL

 

[MissJenny]

Have the "friend"

who pointed out the sagging issue come fix it. (There's one in every crowd -

- we don't know why, but there is.)

Your run looks great.

Jenny

 

[elmo]

Why would snow make that sag? The snow will fall right through chicken wire.

You do know that chicken wire isn't predator proof, right?

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Alas, no, that is not how it works. (Except for a very cold, dry, powdery snow). It *does* pile up.

Snow takes down wire-topped runs pretty frequently.

THIS one is not a worry, though

Pat

 

[Wynette]

Okay, how in the world did you get the chicken wire so darn flat? My run is similar, and ours is all wavy...we couldn't get it straight/flat to save our lives!

What we do when the snow build up on it is just go in with a large barn broom and hold the brush part of the broom up against the chicken wire, and sort of push it up & down quickly; the snow will fall right on through, relieving the pressure.

I think it looks great!

 

[WiseChicks]

I think it looks just fine, and if you only get snow 3 or 4 times a year, you could throw a tarp or a sheet over it if snow is predicted, and then just flip it off when it stops snowing (thereby lessening the mud build-up, too!)

Beautiful run, and my chickens will be jealous!

Katie

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Alas, no, that is not how it works. (Except for a very cold, dry, powdery snow). It *does* pile up.

Snow takes down wire-topped runs pretty frequently.

THIS one is not a worry, though

Pat

You certainly know better than I do...it's been a long time since I've seen snow here in Texas. I was raised in Vermont, but that was very many years ago.

 

[Country4ever]

Beautiful run Pat! And it looks very structurally sound. I wouldn't worry a bit about the snow. As someone else said, if it starts to pile up, take something and poke at it, and the snow should fall through.
I live in the midwest and we have a fair amount of snow. My run is about 16x21 with just 2 4x4 posts in the middle, and I have netting on the top that holds snow. But I just push on it with a broom or something, and it falls through. I would say don't worry about it. And maybe don't invite that critic back again.

 

[PatS]

Thanks everyone! It is a relief to have one less thing to worry about as we head into fall.

Pat is correct, we get a very wet snow when it does snow here. Sometimes the flakes merge together to make quarter sized snow flakes. If we have a "snow day,", I can bet I will be outside on a ladder with a hose, cleaning off the satellite dish!

Wynette, We stretched and stretched the wire by hand. My poor fingers were SO sore at the end of that project. But both DH and I can be a bit compulsive, I guess.

And thank you to everyone who responded. What a wonderful and helpful group this is!

-Pat