Need help with tarp roof holding water

[SobbaChickens]

My temporary chicken run is completely covered with a tarp to keep anything from flying in or out. I placed an 7ish' board in the center of the run to create a peak and it's been working nicely. This morning we had a lot of rain and my board snapped in half and the tarp filled with water. I had to start at one end of the tarp and push up while walking to the other end to push the water out, talk about a waterfall!

Any ingenious ideas of what I could do?


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[silkiechicken]

My very first chicken coop had the same problem. I solved it by building a big A frame with a 45 degree angle slope so water would not collect on the tarp. A stick in the middle just caused the tarp to rip after about 6 months. The tarps on my A frame lasted about 2 years before they wore out. These were the brown silver heavy duty tarps in the PNW. My best advice is to some how make or build a slant or A frame roof.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can use 1 inch PVC pipe, electric conduit pipe, or hog panels to form a semi-cirlce topper. I have seen some good pictures of those here on BYC. You might do a search for "hoop coop" which will sho the hog panels that can be attached to the top of a fence.

 

[SobbaChickens]

This is just a temporary run so I'm not looking to modify it that much. I just need a way to help with the water, the run and roof won't be changing so hopefully I can figure something out.

I'm not sure if placing more boards around the coop would be better, maybe a board at the 1/4, 1/2. and 3/4 marks? That might take a bit of the pressure off.

Thanks!

 

[4 the Birds]

I agree that a sloped frame is what your tarp needs. A quick solution? Punch some drain holes in the tarp with a knife!

This is actually what I did since my dog pen tarps are basically sun shades. I am replacing tarps with bead board as they rip and wear out from the Winter snow and Summer heat.

 

[mollybuck]

you could get some conduit and make a bow top? i'm not sure. my run isnt built yet and I was wondering the same thing..i like the hole idea too. that should work, maybe put the board back up in the middle and cut the holes along the edges?

 

[Ridgerunner]

It’s possible wind could have snapped your board and then it filled with water, but probably water pooled on the tarp and the weight broke the board.

I’ve run into this problem while camping. I’d stretch a big rope between trees and throw a tarp over than to give a dry shady place to eat and hang out. Rainwater pools in the tarp instead of running off because the bottom edge is pulled tight and forms a pocket.

This is more art than science and may be a bit hard to describe, but I tie a rope or cord to the tarp at a couple of those grommets and tie those to stakes or something on the ground to pull the edge of the tarp down in between the ends and make a channel for the water to run off. It takes a bit of trial and error to get it right, but you get better at it with a bit of practice.

 

[AmpersatChick]

If you're just using it to keep things from flying in/out you may switch to bird netting. I think it is pretty cheap.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

That's a great idea.

 

[donrae]

We had the same problem and changed to netting. It won't hold up under snow, fyi, but with rain it does just fine. If you get much rain, no matter what you're going to over weigh the support boards, unless you use so many boards it's pretty solid. Or, drain holes in the tarp.