This is my first winter with laying hens in northern Minnesota. Only a few weeks into snow, and already I know that I need to start planning improvements for my chicken run for next winter.
Currently, my 13x13 chicken run is made with 2x4 wire fencing and held in place with tee posts. I have bird netting on top to prevent eagle and hawks attacks. It severed me well until we got snow. The problems I have now are that 1) the bird netting fills up with snow and collapses and 2) my chickens will not go outside into the snow covered run, and 3) my gate opens now, but when I get a little more snow on the ground it may not open.
Here is a picture of my setup this past summer:
Some things I would like to improve are the following:
1) I would like to make chicken run panels, much like the dog kennel door section, so that I could arrange/rearrange the run as desired. My coop is built on a boat trailer and is mobile; I would like to be able to move the chicken run as well so I do not plan on cementing posts into the ground to make a permanent, stationary run.
2) The panels should be built well enough to hold a solid covered top. Part of the new chicken run should be covered so I can keep the floor/litter/bedding snow free for at least part of the run.
3) I would like to staple plastic around the chicken run to cut down on cold wind and maybe even add a greenhouse like effect in the run, at least on sunny days.
4) The dog panel door works well for most of the year, but I am thinking a new door would have to be elevated about 1 foot off the ground because already I am having a problem keeping the door swinging free with just 2 inches of snow on the ground. I was thinking of a split door, with the bottom "half" maybe only one foot tall so that it could be kept closed in the winter but still not too difficult to step over and access the run in the winter.
5) The bird netting on top of the run worked great until we started getting snow. Unfortunately, the snow sticks to the web, builds up over a few hours, and collapses the net from the weight. I knock the snow off with a broom and it springs back, but still, I think I need a better winter option.
6) Ideally, the covered panels for the top should fit on top of the side panels. Everything should be like a modular system where I could easily put up side panels and throw a top (covered or uncovered) on the run by myself.
If anyone has thoughts about these ideas, I would like to hear about them. There may be other things I have yet to think about, but that's my list so far. I realize that this question may have been asked/answered before, so I did a search on BYC forums but did not find much related to my concerns. However, if someone has link(s) to this topic or my concerns, I don't expect anyone to reinvent the wheel. I have been on BYC forums long enough to understand that almost everything asked has probably been asked before, but the problem most often is to find that information.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Currently, my 13x13 chicken run is made with 2x4 wire fencing and held in place with tee posts. I have bird netting on top to prevent eagle and hawks attacks. It severed me well until we got snow. The problems I have now are that 1) the bird netting fills up with snow and collapses and 2) my chickens will not go outside into the snow covered run, and 3) my gate opens now, but when I get a little more snow on the ground it may not open.
Here is a picture of my setup this past summer:
Some things I would like to improve are the following:
1) I would like to make chicken run panels, much like the dog kennel door section, so that I could arrange/rearrange the run as desired. My coop is built on a boat trailer and is mobile; I would like to be able to move the chicken run as well so I do not plan on cementing posts into the ground to make a permanent, stationary run.
2) The panels should be built well enough to hold a solid covered top. Part of the new chicken run should be covered so I can keep the floor/litter/bedding snow free for at least part of the run.
3) I would like to staple plastic around the chicken run to cut down on cold wind and maybe even add a greenhouse like effect in the run, at least on sunny days.
4) The dog panel door works well for most of the year, but I am thinking a new door would have to be elevated about 1 foot off the ground because already I am having a problem keeping the door swinging free with just 2 inches of snow on the ground. I was thinking of a split door, with the bottom "half" maybe only one foot tall so that it could be kept closed in the winter but still not too difficult to step over and access the run in the winter.
5) The bird netting on top of the run worked great until we started getting snow. Unfortunately, the snow sticks to the web, builds up over a few hours, and collapses the net from the weight. I knock the snow off with a broom and it springs back, but still, I think I need a better winter option.
6) Ideally, the covered panels for the top should fit on top of the side panels. Everything should be like a modular system where I could easily put up side panels and throw a top (covered or uncovered) on the run by myself.
If anyone has thoughts about these ideas, I would like to hear about them. There may be other things I have yet to think about, but that's my list so far. I realize that this question may have been asked/answered before, so I did a search on BYC forums but did not find much related to my concerns. However, if someone has link(s) to this topic or my concerns, I don't expect anyone to reinvent the wheel. I have been on BYC forums long enough to understand that almost everything asked has probably been asked before, but the problem most often is to find that information.
Thanks for any suggestions.
