I need a temporary winter roof for my run . . . .suggestions?

[heidibeidi]

Well, last year my silly hens would not take one step out of their coop into the run. I suppose cold was part of the problem, but I know it was mostly the snow that bothered them. Now that I have five birds instead of three, I know they will need that extra space in the run. So we "planned" on building a roof on the run, probably with the tinted plastic sheets . . .but it's mid Nov. and it's clearly not getting done this winter. Bummer!

So we will wrap the run in plastic sheeting to keep out the wind, but I need some ideas for a temp roof for our run that won't collapse on them in the heavy Wisconsin snow. I keep thinking a big tarp on an angle, but I'm just not sure!

Any ideas?

The coop is inside the garage, so the part you see is all run. To keep hawks out we put pieces of trellace and bird netting for the summer.

Thanks for any help!!

Why can't I figure out how to post a picture on here???

 

[benjoycei]

big tarp is a good idea

 

[heidibeidi]

Here's the picture of our run.

I'm just worried about a tarp because the run is about 8 feet by 12 feet. That seems like a big flat area to collect heavy snow?

 

[WoodlandWoman]

How did you construct your run? What is the support for it?

 

[heidibeidi]

It's adhered to the garage and there are concrete blocks on the front two corners . . so not a ton of support. When we put up the run we weren't really thinking about a roof, just netting. That's why I'm worried about the weight of the snow!

 

[Rosaleen]

My run is very similar to yours ( you can see it on my page). Anyway, we used recycled commercial signage - thick plexiglass for a roof. Perhaps you can get some ideas at a recycling center.

 

[Barnmaradotte]

Go to a sign shop and ask for an old throw away sign face. Best you can get and it's free. polycarb is best.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

You can build a REAL roof in a day.

By the time you put up a framework good enough to support a tarp (that WILL collapse in the first snow), you could have the real thing