Need Chicken Run Improvements for Winter

[gtaus]

How about cattle or hog panels bent into a hoop run? You can cover with transparent tarps. I used some panels bent into hoops for green beans and cucumbers this year and plan to cover them with aforementioned tarps for extra run space protected from wind and snow SHOULD mostly slide off. I anchored them with some short lengths of iron well pipe we had laying around and also light weight t posts. I haven’t ordered the tarps yet but your post reminded me of my plan.
They’re pretty easy to do even by yourself. You can of course make a wood frame etc like people do but Since this will be in my garden behind electric and field fencing In not going to bother with that and will move the panels in the spring when it’s time to plant.

I have given considerable thought to making a small, 8 foot long, cattle panel hoop greenhouse/chicken run that I could simply frame up in some 2x6's and just drag it wherever needed. I could use it as a chicken run in the winter, and a greenhouse for the other months of the year. I like that idea because of its dual use. So big plus for that. Plus, the natural dome of the hoop house helps to shed snow and reduce build up.

The disadvantage with a cattle panel hoop house is that it would not be very modular and I would need another chicken run for the non-winter months. If possible, I would like to just have one chicken run, made out of some type of modular units, that could be used for both summer and winter.

But, the hoop house idea is on the top of my consideration list and I have already priced out the cattle panels and plastic at our local farm store. I have watched about a dozen cattle panel hoop house videos on YouTube and I have all the tools and skill needed to build one. A number of people are using those hoop houses for a chicken run in the non-gardening season and really like them. I almost built one this year, but my mind is still stuck on modular panels, like a dog kennel panel, that would be easier to move around and reconfigure in different shapes.

 

[gtaus]

They even make sloped tarp roofs for them.

I have had some time to research these tarp roofs on Amazon.com. They look nice, but in the Questions and Comments area people are saying they collapse under 6 inches of snowfall. Where I live, that's called mid-morning on some days. So I don't think those tarp roofs would work for me as built.

"Mine just collapsed last night, bringing the sides on the kennel down with it. Two panels have to be replaced now and a new roof has to be purchased. We had 6 inches of snow and another inch of ice on top. I didn't expect it to hold up.
By Heather on February 13, 2014"

"The manual says it won't support heavy snows. Looking at the design, I think it would do OK with a light snow load. I doubt seriously it could take a heavy wet load. ... I would suggest a heavier duty model for northern tier states.
By Anonymous… on September 29, 2013"

Not only did the tarp collapse in the first comment, but the side panels as well. I think someone else on this thread cautioned me that a heavy snow load would probably collapse my side panels. I don't know where I going with this, but it seems I need to do more thinking about any portable design if I want to make it worthy of supporting a roof and expected snow load.

 

[Sequel]

I have had some time to research these tarp roofs on Amazon.com. They look nice, but in the Questions and Comments area people are saying they collapse under 6 inches of snowfall. Where I live, that's called mid-morning on some days. So I don't think those tarp roofs would work for me as built.
"Mine just collapsed last night, bringing the sides on the kennel down with it. Two panels have to be replaced now and a new roof has to be purchased. We had 6 inches of snow and another inch of ice on top. I didn't expect it to hold up.
By Heather on February 13, 2014"

"The manual says it won't support heavy snows. Looking at the design, I think it would do OK with a light snow load. I doubt seriously it could take a heavy wet load. ... I would suggest a heavier duty model for northern tier states.
By Anonymous… on September 29, 2013"

Not only did the tarp collapse in the first comment, but the side panels as well. I think someone else on this thread cautioned me that a heavy snow load would probably collapse my side panels. I don't know where I going with this, but it seems I need to do more thinking about any portable design if I want to make it worthy of supporting a roof and expected snow load.

Still sounds like the hoop would work for the winter. I’m going to try it, I’ll let you know how it works. We don’t have snow like you do, but we had enough last winter to make a mess of my hawk netting.
Sash! Don’t tell my husband I’m making a hop chicken tunnel run!

 

[gtaus]

Still sounds like the hoop would work for the winter. I’m going to try it, I’ll let you know how it works. We don’t have snow like you do, but we had enough last winter to make a mess of my hawk netting.
Sash! Don’t tell my husband I’m making a hop chicken tunnel run!

Yes, I think the cattle panel hoop house has lots of advantages in the domed design which would help shed off snow. For my area, the dome would still need to be supported to bear a snow load, but that would be relatively easy.

I found a 10 year old thread called Easy Portable Fence Panels (2010) here on BYC forums where they discuss building wire panels on a 2x4 wood frame. Then you just add panels to get your preferred configuration. Those panels were something like I have in mind, but they used a flat roof on top of the panels, and that would not work for me as our snow load in winter would crush a flat roof like that.

 

[Sequel]

That is so pretty! I’m following to see what you come up with.

 

[gtaus]

That is so pretty! I’m following to see what you come up with.

Just to be clear, I copied that picture from the 2010 BYC thread - it's not my chicken run. But it is a good example of where I would like to go with the idea of panels. Just need some good ideas to add a roof that sheds snow and/or can handle a good snow load. I don't want to get into a position where I have to shovel off the roof of the chicken run every time it snows. I already have enough work keeping our driveway clear so we can get the cars out. Last winter was brutal with about 4-5 feet of snow banks.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I have a dog kennel run with a peaked roof, but it isn't very portable because it is crazy heavy. However, my roof setup might give you some ideas. I attached 4x4s to pier blocks. I move them wherever I need. They support a peaked roof made with welded wire covered by a tarp. It doesn't snow here, so I don't need much roof support, though.

I wonder if there is a way to do those panels posted above with a domed hoop-type roof? Idk. It's 2:30 am here, and I'm exhausted. My brain hurts...

 

[aart]

I found a 10 year old thread called Easy Portable Fence Panels (2010) here on BYC forums where they discuss building wire panels on a 2x4 wood frame.

Good to use use font settings to illuminate the links.

I think you're wishes fall under the 'can't have it all' column.
You have a movable coop, so could use poultry netting in summer to move it all around...but that would thwart your deep run litter efforts and more difficult with the bird netting over top.

A modular winter(with significant snow fall) run is a pretty tough order. Most folks who use mobile coops on pasture move them closer to the house in winter and bolster the snow/wind protection.

Even tarped hoop coops need to be cleared of snow, this is a partially built hoop coop 'temporarily' sitting on a trailer. Cattle panels started to bow, middle span ties(top and bottom) had not been installed, but it was pretty easy clearing it off.

 

[gtaus]

Good to use use font settings to illuminate the links.

I don't know what the proper way to highlight a URL is these days. Years ago, we underlined a URL to make it stand out. But back then we always used www.Amazon.com. Today, most links appear to be highlighted by a different color (blue on BYC forums) and now we just use Amazon.com. I really don't mind if the URL is a different color versus underlined. I just accepted the way BYC reformats their links.

I think you're wishes fall under the 'can't have it all' column. You have a movable coop, so could use poultry netting in summer to move it all around...but that would thwart your deep run litter efforts and more difficult with the bird netting over top.

You are absolutely right, I realize some of my wants are in conflict with others. So I'm trying to consider all my options and come up with a better plan for next year. I think I can make some improvements, just don't how at this point.

A modular winter(with significant snow fall) run is a pretty tough order. Most folks who use mobile coops on pasture move them closer to the house in winter and bolster the snow/wind protection.

I had planned on moving my mobile coop from our backyard closer to our house for the winter. I had also planned on building a smaller 4X8, porch like chicken run with a slanted roof when I moved the coop closer to the house for the winter. But when Dear Wife and were discussing options where I could move the mobile chicken coop for the winter, she would only agree to a location in the front yard that as far away from the house as it is in my backyard. So, since she rules the world, and as you stated I have started some deep litter in the existing chicken run, I decided just to leave the mobile chicken coop in the backyard.

I was disappointed because all the hard work I did to build my coop on an old boat trailer to make it mobile, it's basically ending up as a stationary coop anyway. Instead of moving my coop closer to the house for the winter, I ended up getting a 100 foot extension cord to reach the coop in the backyard.

To make me feel better about the situation, I remind myself that I can see the chicken coop and run in my backyard from my home office, the kitchen, and the dining room. So I do look out there multiple times per day. Having said that, now that we have about 2 inches of snow on the ground, none of my chickens are going outside into the chicken run. They are perfectly happy to stay in the coop.

Even tarped hoop coops need to be cleared of snow, this is a partially built hoop coop 'temporarily' sitting on a trailer. Cattle panels started to bow, middle span ties(top and bottom) had not been installed, but it was pretty easy clearing it off.
View attachment 1965469

I have seen these cattle panel domed coops/chicken runs on YouTube and those who live in snow country usually recommend running a support beam along the top length of the dome to prevent bowing of the panels, keeping its shape to shed off snow, and if wet snow does accumulate it will provide some additional support. That seems to work for many people and if I do build a hoop house, I will be adding those beams for additional snow support.

@aart, as always I appreciate your thoughtful comments on the many threads where I have asked for help.

 

[gtaus]

I wonder if there is a way to do those panels posted above with a domed hoop-type roof? Idk. It's 2:30 am here, and I'm exhausted. My brain hurts...

Last night, I too was trying to put together some complicated plan on building a domed hoop house inside a modular panel chicken run, and …. Yeah, too much to think about and too tired, so I went to bed.

Sometimes all these ideas and suggestions just need to simmer on the back burner for awhile. I don't know where I will end up, but like I said, these improvements will be for next winter, so I'm not in a great hurry and no building would start until next spring at the earliest.