Looking for suggestions: Clear sheeting to cover chicken run for winter

[chickmamato7]

I tried clear shower curtains and it ripped in less that a week. I then priced heavy gauge plastic sheeting and it was very expensive, and not even sturdy or clear enough to see through. Then I found some 30 gauge clear marine vinyl, sold by the roll on Amazon. It comes in 54" wide X 10 yard rolls @ $156.50 w/free shipping). It's very strong and transparent, plus a good height for keeping things dry and draft-free. I just used a staple directly on the fabric, and haven't had any issues so far. It is sturdy enough that I plan to remove the staples carefully & reuse it every year.

https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Marine...rd_i=B07C8HN711&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_rp_22_sbo

 

[Sally PB]

I tried clear shower curtains and it ripped in less that a week.

So far, my clear shower curtains are holding up well. I got the heaviest ones the store had, and used the grommetted holes to zip tie them in place. We have had some pretty good winds, and so far, so good.

 

[RojoMarz]

We used plastic sheeting, then covered it with snow fence (instead of furring strips).

 

[chickmamato7]

Good idea adding a snow fence! I have a large coop that is open on 3 sides, so that is why the shower curtains did not hold up for me. I used the clearest ones I could find, which were $3.00 each. I think they can be an inexpensive alternative to contractor plastic if you only have a small area or one side of a coop to cover. It did not hold up in my situation, with heavy wind blowing in (and out) from 3 directions.

 

[SnootyHen]

I have plastic sheeting over the top and all except one side. I used Flex Tape to seal the corners and the bottoms are weighted with my anti-dig bars and big cement blocks. As well as some bags of PDZ and sand that I had on hand and made the mistake of placing to hold it in place while I sealed it but then I started to rain and I can't move the sandbag now so it lives there until spring. LOL!!

Edited to add: My run is only 12 x 8 feet so it's not a HUGE area to cover

 

[webmistress32]

I use corrugated plastic sheets that I slide along the sides of the run. When I built the run I created boards that run on the bottom and top of the run that the sheets just slide into.

I thought of this, my husband thought it was overkill. Seems like the easiest solution for long term winter after winter use.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I thought of this, my husband thought it was overkill. Seems like the easiest solution for long term winter after winter use.

For me it take ones person to slide the sheets in and it takes me no more than 10 minutes to do.

 

[webmistress32]

For me it take ones person to slide the sheets in and it takes me no more than 10 minutes to do.

That's what I thought, it's only "overkill" to get it all installed at the beginning. I love the idea. Maybe next year in the summer I'll get the brackets installed.

 

[CluckerFamily]

That's what I thought, it's only "overkill" to get it all installed at the beginning. I love the idea. Maybe next year in the summer I'll get the brackets installed.

Not sure if this will help but here is a before picture, you can see the wood that the sheets slide into

This is after the sheets are installed. I use to just drill two 1”x1” boards to help support against wind but then a funnel cloud came through the yard and only bent one of the sheets so now I put a couple more in. I only drill the support boards into the wood that the sheet slides into. Even though the sheet was bent a little, it still works every year so there was no need to replace the sheet. I have used the same sheets for 7 years now.

 

[Sally PB]

What a great idea!