Plexiglass walls in run?

[khind]

Bizarre question, I'm sure. But we've started to have torrential rain the past few summers. Although the run has a metal roof, the dirt floor just gets drenched. Hubby got some large plexiglass to make outdoor run "windows" to attach over the wire run walls, thinking they could be closed if rain is suspected or certaintocome. That way, especially in the event we are leaving town for several days, a sitter could close the "doors" to protect the run. But in our hot summers (90, mid-90s, upper-90s), I'm afraid that would be the worst material for keeping cool. I've only read about the temperature advantage of plexiglass in winter.
Ideas? Knowledge? Experience?

 

[TheBajan]

I would be concerned about heat build-up as well as ventilation. Address both of those issues as you move forward. I really don't have any other suggestions or insight. Good luck!

 

[3KillerBs]

I have no experience with those panels, but I can't think that turning a run into a greenhouse in the summer is a good idea.

If the floor is just dirt with nothing down on it you need to add a good layer of bedding to absorb the water -- wood chips, shavings, straw, pine straw, leaves, etc. A mix of material is best because it won't pack down into anaerobic mats.

Also, see if groundwater is running into the area and use grass swales or French drain to divert it.

Can you extend the roof overhang beyond the wire to improve things that way?

 

[khind]

...I can't think that turning a run into a greenhouse in the summer is a good idea.

If the floor is just dirt with nothing down on it you need to add a good layer of bedding to absorb the water -- wood chips, shavings, straw, pine straw, leaves, etc. A mix of material is best because it won't pack down into anaerobic mats.
Also, see if groundwater is running into the area and use grass swales or French drain to divert it.
Can you extend the roof overhang beyond the wire to improve things that way?

Thanks. That was my concern as well on the plexiglass (greenhouse effect).
When I say dirt floor, I guess I mean that the coop is on the ground and it's not raised up. (Which I now know was a mistake. At least we have it secured so that critters can not break in or dig under.) The floor is the dirt ground, but I do also use some pine shavings & dried leaf litter on the dirt in fall, winter, & spring. In the summer the chickens spend a lot of time outside & not in the run, unless it's very rainy, so during this time of the year I don't usually use shavings or leaves. And then if the ground gets wet I clean up and mix some PDZ stall refresher in the dirt. But it sounds like it would still be a good idea to use shavings & leaves in the summer anyway?

Groundwater per se doesn't seem to be the issue, But I think what has happened is, since the chickens dig to dust bathe on the dirt floor, and then they do the same thing on the ground right outside the coop, I've got some areas where the coop floor & the ground right on the other side has become too low, & also has too many depressions in which water accumulates. It also seems to me that there might be some water that gets onto the coop floor just under and around the door and outer walls for the same reason: water pooling in those spots has further lowered the ground level right there. To handle that problem I often get dirt from elsewhere on the property and haul it in. Ugh. (Should've built a raised coop.)
Overhangs: Great idea, which I only just recently thought of too, and placed right outside the coop door, to help stop additional pooling up right there. I'm trying to come up with ways to place others in strategic locations.
I'm also looking at gutters (if I don't tear this coop down and start over...).

 

[3KillerBs]

But it sounds like it would still be a good idea to use shavings & leaves in the summer anyway?

I used deep litter year-round in my in-town chickens' run.

The composting action and absorbent action is beneficial in both heat and cold. It acts like a sponge, but drains well, if the material has a good mix of textures so that it doesn't pack and mat, so that even in the wettest weather the surface was only damp, not soggy.

 

[woodworm]

I suspect a bigger roof overhang would be a better option if possible, however maybe you could just do the bottom couple of feet in plexi glass - it might be enough to reduce the problem?

 

[AgnesGray]

We had this issue. We attached suntuf roof panels to the side of the run where the rain tends to hit, but left space for air to flow near the bottom and top of the run. They filter a lot of the heat and UVs and still allow some light to pass through. On the other side where the sun hits the run, I've planted some fast-growing (hopefully) vines to provide some shade on the other sides while still allowing for ventilation.

I second the suggestion from woodworm to lengthen the roof overhang, if possible.

 

[khind]

We had this issue. We attached suntuf roof panels to the side of the run where the rain tends to hit, but left space for air to flow near the bottom and top of the run. They filter a lot of the heat and UVs and still allow some light to pass through. On the other side where the sun hits the run, I've planted some fast-growing (hopefully) vines to provide some shade on the other sides while still allowing for ventilation.

I second the suggestion from woodworm to lengthen the roof overhang, if possible.

This sounds great. But I'm confused about how you left space at the top and bottom. Did you attach the panels by maybe drilling holes through the panels and then looping wire (or zip tie?) through the run "caging?" And would you say you left the top and bottom exposed a couple inches open for air (and, consequently, a little bit of rain, which I have no problem with)? Did you have to trim the panels? Were the ridges vertical?
Or did you attach the panels horizontally from the roof, maybe screwed to 2×4s (holes drilled in roof) that came out a few inches from the run caging (wall) at the top, and then run the panel almost down to the ground (like a really long awning), and then maybe stake it to the ground outside a couple inches above ground level?

 

[AgnesGray]

This sounds great. But I'm confused about how you left space at the top and bottom. Did you attach the panels by maybe drilling holes through the panels and then looping wire (or zip tie?) through the run "caging?" And would you say you left the top and bottom exposed a couple inches open for air (and, consequently, a little bit of rain, which I have no problem with)? Did you have to trim the panels? Were the ridges vertical?
Or did you attach the panels horizontally from the roof, maybe screwed to 2×4s (holes drilled in roof) that came out a few inches from the run caging (wall) at the top, and then run the panel almost down to the ground (like a really long awning), and then maybe stake it to the ground outside a couple inches above ground level?

The roof on our run is also suntuf panels over wire over wood framing. The side panels (more suntuf) are 8 ft and are screwed directly into the run framing that is wrapped in hardware cloth and we can remove them during dry seasons (original plan, but now I'm thinking we never will). Leaving the space at the bottom, some drops make it in, but it went from mud to damp dirt while we figured out what we wanted to put in as litter so was a huge improvement. I can snap some pics when we get home this evening if that doesn't make sense.

 

[khind]

The roof on our run is also suntuf panels over wire over wood framing. The side panels (more suntuf) are 8 ft and are screwed directly into the run framing that is wrapped in hardware cloth and we can remove them during dry seasons (original plan, but now I'm thinking we never will). Leaving the space at the bottom, some drops make it in, but it went from mud to damp dirt while we figured out what we wanted to put in as litter so was a huge improvement. I can snap some pics when we get home this evening if that doesn't make sense.

This does make more sense. Thank you. But - I'm not gonna lie - if you have a picture or two, that would be even better!
The roof on our coop and run is metal. And we got some brown panels that look to be a similar shape as the panels you're talking about (I think so, anyway, taking a peek online)and we attached some to the west side for rain run-off & because it gets so hot. But I kind of wish we would have brought it down further.