Plastic Wrapping Runs

[Wise Woman]

I live at 6200 ft elevation in the mountains, so it can get down into the single digits. Mostly it stays in the teens or 20s and lately winters haven't been much to speak of. I just want to be prepared. Right now I don't have anything on it and will wait and see how the weather goes before I put up my tarps. Mostly I am trying to keep the snow and rain out of the run so the chickens can be in the run all the time. We used to have an open run and it was a nightmare in the winter time. Now I have a covered run and am trying to keep it fairly dry for them. I let the east side of the coop open with no plastic on it.

 

[Folly's place]

We plan to put the plastic up on at least the east side of our run this weekend, and maybe finish it on the south side too.
It's been a cold October!
Mary

 

[wamtazlady]

I went to the dollar store. Picked up clear vinyl shower curtains there. I'll cover 3 sides but leave the side that gets no wind open. Will also put pine shavings and leaves in run. The run feels warmer than the outside when I check up on them. I think the clear vinyl acts like a greenhouse and the composting shavings and leaves also add some warmth. Birds are out in run even when it's below 0.

 

[MarkJP]

Hello,
I just finished winterizing my run for the winter here in Connecticut. We live on a farm and have open and open field that allows the prevailing west wind to come through the run. I initially purchased the run at Tractor Supply and one half of the roof was covered w/corrugated plastic roofing. The roof side near the door was hardware cloth. I decided to cover that with roofing as well. I used an asphalt type corrugated roofing that I found a Lowe's. The panels were damaged so I got them at 1/2 price. They were easy to cut to size with a circular saw. I installed a mid section nailer made from an old 2x4 in each of the four roof sections and then used special self sealing roofing screws to attach the 4 pieces of roofing....added two peak caps and not the run stays nice and dry.
I also got some inexpensive tarps from a nearby hardware store (small sizes) and screwed them onto the west side of the coop run with galvanized screws and steel washers so they acted like grommets. I put screws every 8-10" so that there was very little play in the tarp so as to discourage it ripping in the wind. Hope that helps.

 

[aart]

Hello,
I just finished winterizing my run for the winter here in Connecticut.

Hello, Welcome out of the lurker closet
Pics would be great!

 

[MarkJP]

I've decided to wrap both of my runs in plastic this winter. Hopefully the birds will come out of the coop even in the cold. I'm curious to see other peoples methods of wrapping their runs. Post a picture of it too.

I'll try and get you a couple of pics tomorrow.

 

[tigger19687]

Finished putting the cover for the carport on Tuesday I think.
Darn good thing, our forecasted 1-2 inches just turned into 8-9 Heavy wet snow !
hens are dry inside... and that is the coop/shed they live in at night

 

[MarkJP]

I've decided to wrap both of my runs in plastic this winter. Hopefully the birds will come out of the coop even in the cold. I'm curious to see other peoples methods of wrapping their runs. Post a picture of it too.

Nice- I did too. Used cheap tarps. Works great to block the wind and snow. Only did the west side of their large run since that's usually the windiest where we are in CT. Winds come across the open farmland we have and it can be brutal. I left the south and east sides open so they could get some sun.

 

[tigger19687]

Anyone know an easy way to attach a section of clear plastic on the Left end of my Run. THe pic is 2 posts up. It just has Wire fence across it. No wood frame, just the Metal sides.
Would running Rope zig-zag work you think ?

 

[aart]

Anyone know an easy way to attach a section of clear plastic on the Left end of my Run. THe pic is 2 posts up. It just has Wire fence across it. No wood frame, just the Metal sides.
Would running Rope zig-zag work you think ?

Don't block the whole end off leave top 6-8" open for ventilation.
Staple ends of plastic to thin pieces of wood(1/2" x 2"),
then wrap plastic around wood a couple times,
ziptie plastic wrapped wood to metal frame in 3-4 places
(you'll have to poke a few small holes in plastic for ties to go thru).
Does that make sense?