Plastic on coop prevents wet runs

[plymouthrocksrock]

Ever wanted a dry run?
I know how you feel, but simple measures can solve the problem. I use thin contracters plastic, (The stuff they have on half built house when it rains.)
I got mine at Lowes, but other places might have it to.

 

[MamaChic21]

do you have any pic's, would love to see them. Do you mean those plastic roof that is like endless S shape ? Do you just put that on the floor, anything else you put on top of the plastic ?

 

[geebs]

Oswego... PLEEEZE send picture!!!!! we live close to each other so I know you got the monsoon too... Ya help a fellow PNWer out wit a pic.

 

[bills]

Do you simply lay the plastic on the ground, or are you supporting it somehow above the run?

 

[gogoalie]

I've got a triangular tractor, & used what we call "Visqueen" to cover the run, & it was large enough to cover from the front of the tractor to the hen house, & all the way down both sides to all weights to be rolled up along the bottom to keep it from blowing a way, & I nailed a coulpa board to the front & rear of the visqueen to keep from blowin' round.

I see that it keeps the snow out, but I won't be able to move the tractor now, as it's frozen to the ground, & the poop is piling up...any suggestions on that?

 

[patandchickens]

Over the run, presumably. In areas that get snow you gotta make sure your roof framing/wire is strong enough to support the resulting snowload.

I use 6-mil vapor barrier plastic to winterize my runs, and as long as you get it attached real well and in windy locations add some <whatever> across it to minimize flapping, it works really well... leave at least half of one long side un-plasticked so there isn't a humidity problem.

Pat

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Suggestion for 'cannot move tractor this time of year': don't live in Alaska, lol (or anywhere else with snow. Or deep mud. Go move to Maui, you can move your tractor *all year round* there. Take me with you, too!

)

Suggestion for 'poop is piling up': remove poo as much as possible. Covering the ground with a light layer of shavings or pine needles or whatnot every day or two will (mostly) keep the poo from freezing solid to the ground and enable you to remove it more easily. It will also cover over whatever poo freezes down so hard that you cannot chip it off, so the chickens have something cleaner and *warmer* to walk on. Just keep adding thin layers of dry fluffy material as needed until you get a brief thaw when you can remove the upper layers, down to where it is still frozen solid, and then add more dry stuff back in.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[RoeDylanda]

Thanks for this post! I'm still in the planning stages and just was shocked to find out that I can't put the coop where I'd planned... because my property line is ten feet from my garage wall, and not 30 feet away at the ridgeline like we'd assumed. So now it's got to go in the front yard, which is okay but not optimal drainage-wise. This will help a *lot*.

Actually, I'm just really grateful that we got the place surveyed BEFORE I started sinking poles in concrete.

Happily, the neighbors are fabulous and said they don't care but they may not be there forever, and I'd like to stay legal.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
You might also take a look at my muddy run page (link in .sig below) for some suggestions. And get a dumpload of roadbase or other cheap aggregate to put down before you build the coop, to build up a raised pad where it will be located.

Pat

 

[plymouthrocksrock]

I havethe wavy s plastic on my roof, but in the rain, water comes through the sides of the chicken wire. The thin plastic goes on the sides of the run to keep the rain from coming in.
I'll see if I have any pics.
By the way, in the summer, you just take it off to allow proper ventilation. [you staple it on, but few staples are needed.]