need ideas for shade on the outdoor run.....(pic added)

[patandchickens]

Quote:
No, as I said, rain still gets in but more as a mist of very fine droplets rather than as a hard deluge.

Actually if you are using shadecloth vertically or nearly-vertically (like on the run fence -- which btw does buy considerable extra shade much of the year) very little rain goes thru, only a very light 'dampening' and only in the VERY hardest-blowing storms. Installed horizontally, like atop a run, it pretty much all goes thru but not in the same WAY as if the shadecloth weren't there.

If you want something that will keep the chickens totally out of the rain altogether AND will be durable/windproof/rainproof, you're pretty much talking hard solid roofing, unless you like replacing tarps and run structure a whole lot.

Pat

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
No, as I said, rain still gets in but more as a mist of very fine droplets rather than as a hard deluge.

Actually if you are using shadecloth vertically or nearly-vertically (like on the run fence -- which btw does buy considerable extra shade much of the year) very little rain goes thru, only a very light 'dampening' and only in the VERY hardest-blowing storms. Installed horizontally, like atop a run, it pretty much all goes thru but not in the same WAY as if the shadecloth weren't there.

If you want something that will keep the chickens totally out of the rain altogether AND will be durable/windproof/rainproof, you're pretty much talking hard solid roofing, unless you like replacing tarps and run structure a whole lot.

Pat

Ok, sounds good.

 

[savingpurple]

ran up to work, bought the only grape vine that was left. Then thought maybe sunflower seeds to help fill in, but they atract bees alot, so chose to go with pole beans. They will climb and feed us too. Still will check into the cloth but am only off a few days each month and today is the day, so ran out of time. I have the umbrella from my patio table in the center to help for now. We don't use it so why not donate it to the chickens

Here is what I have ........(so far)

Please keep in mind, we are on a very tight budget,and didn't have to buy but one roll of chicken wire. The rest we already had. Some of the coops I see on here are so amazing...puts mine to shame! LOL

The grape vine is in the front right corner,and then the beans to the left of that. Not as long as the little white fencing, but almost. The fencing is so my husband doesn't cut them as they grow! LOL He has been known to do that !!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Shade cloth only provides shade. Preventing water requires an impermeable roof on the run.

 

[brandislee]

If you had shade cloth over the run (horizontally), do you have to take it down in the winter to keep snow from ripping it? I would like something that provides shade in the summer and keeps part of the yard at least mostly snow free during the winter, but I'm beginning to think that hard roofing is going to be my only choice... Sounds like a great fall project.

Oh, and OP, I think your house and run is cute! With the run being short you have the advantage of being able to cover it easily. And the beans should really help. I have a ton of extra pea and pole bean seeds and was planning on doing that myself here soon, but we'll see if it gets done I did already plant a grapevine (one I dug up- my previously overgrown grapevine had self-propagated) and a climbing rose, but I don't know if we'll see much shade from them this year.

For the size of your run one grape vine will be PLENTY. It may not this year, but in the next year or so one vine could cover that entire run!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Yes, definitely.

I would like something that provides shade in the summer and keeps part of the yard at least mostly snow free during the winter, but I'm beginning to think that hard roofing is going to be my only choice...

Absolutely you need real roofing. Metal roofing panels are likely to be your cheapest most cost-effective option (do not use the cheap PVC plastic panels in Minnesota, I wouldn't be shocked if they didn't even last the first winter and they sure wouldn't last mroe than a few years; the polycarbonate plastic panels are good but generally a bit more expensive than metal, although you should check prices in your local area). If you only want a *small* porch type area you could alternatively do plywood and shingles.

Make real sure it is supported properly for the snow... you are basically building a shed without walls, it needs properly sized/spaced posts/beams/rafters or it will go flat one fine snowy day.

Having a roofed run is THE BEST though, if you can swing it.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[cullenf27]

what you could do is build a small lean to using plywood and a couple of 2x4s dug in

 

[savingpurple]

With the run being short

It isn't really that short, at least I don't think so?......it's 14 feet deep,and the front part is 8 feet across, with the back part 4 feet next to the coop. Do you all think it's too small for 7 chickens?

They sure like their roosts we put up there​

 

[Kudzu]

We recently covered a large portion of our run with shade cloth, easy peasy. Have it attached with plastic zip ties, it was very easy to install and it made a huge difference. We bought ours off AMAZON, very reasonably priced.

I will try to post some pictures later.

 

[Kudzu]

A couple of pics showing the shade cloth on top and the side of the run.