Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[blogger1]

Sounds like a great idea, I was just at a restaurant the other day that has an outside patio that they enclose for the winter using a similar method. Got me to thinking about doing it for a my coop also.

 

[aart]

Has anyone built a "storm window" of sorts to attach to your run wall to block the wind? Thinking of going to Home Depot and getting some 1x3 material and plexiglass. Sandwiching together to make a single piece, and then attaching the whole frame to the run wall. I could store it against the wall in the barn during the summer and not have to worry about plastic every winter. Its just a thought.

Not quite what you asked for, but might spark an idea.

I kinda use 'storm windows'...actual panels from sliding windows.
A couple form a year round 'foyer' for the pop door and 'under run' from the wicked west winds here.


I also put another similar panel up on the north side of the 'under run' in winter to keep snow from blowing into that area.

Terry H uses plastic on conduit rods for winter wind blocks, rolls them up for storage in summer.

I do similarly with 6x15 shade cloth.

 

[meltel]

Does anyone know if a 250 watt submersible water heater would be sufficient in a 5 gallon bucket?

thats what i bought and heard they work great!

 

[zndzant]

@aart
Liking the idea of plastic on conduit rods. How would you anchor the rods to the run wall to keep it secure?

Heres my run setup again. Front faces south. That pop door is used for more ventilation in summer. The usual pop door faces due west and we get some nasty west/northwest winds. So what I want to protect is the entire west end and around the northwest corner.

 

[aart]

@aart
Liking the idea of plastic on conduit rods. How would you anchor the rods to the run wall to keep it secure?

Oh, um, conduit clamps ......if you look at that link it shows how he did it.

 

[zndzant]

@aart
Just realized it's very similar to what cross stitchers use to keep their fabric taut. We call them qsnaps, but same principle. Easy peasy! Thanks for the idea.

 

[ToniTalley]

Has anyone built a "storm window" of sorts to attach to your run wall to block the wind? Thinking of going to Home Depot and getting some 1x3 material and plexiglass. Sandwiching together to make a single piece, and then attaching the whole frame to the run wall. I could store it against the wall in the barn during the summer and not have to worry about plastic every winter. Its just a thought.

Yes. I got those corrugated roofing plastic panels, clear vinyl. They cut with heavy duty shears and I have them held up with a long piece of wood...like a furring strip...screwed on across near the top and near the bottom. It's not super sealed but it keeps out 99% of the wind and snow and rain. I figure it's going to be easy to remove in the spring, store, and put back up every year.

 

[zndzant]

@ToniTalley
That's pretty much what I was thinking of only with flat plexiglass instead of the corrugated roofing.

 

[ToniTalley]

Plexiglass ws my first idea but it's really expensive. The corrugated panels are so much cheaper. I think the 26" x 8 ft. panels are under $20 each.

 

[RaZ]

Plexiglass ws my first idea but it's really expensive. The corrugated panels are so much cheaper. I think the 26" x 8 ft. panels are under $20 each.

Used those for my patio roof. They will degrade over time and can be brittle and crack. But I got about 12 good years out of them. Replaced them this summer. 12 foot by 26" were $38 each. Up here in metro Detroit.