Protecting run in winter

[AntiqueB]

I use shower curtain around the sides, and thick plastic sheeting on the roof. The curtains and sheeting overlap like shingles, so there's a bit of ventilation there, as well.

 

[Chold05]

I’m in SW PA. Winters get cold here and the wind is a problem.

At first, we did the plastic but it torn during the season from wind and the noise scared the girls. So we purchased clear polycarbonate panels (like the green house panels) and installed them with washers and screws. We leave the 1 side open for ventilation that isn’t typically in the wind. They’ve held up wonderfully. A little expensive up front but worth it, IMO.

I put them up and took them down about 7 times last year because the weather was all over the place.

 

[Henny Wrenny]

Did you order them online? Can they be ordered in specific sizes? Do you have a picture you could post?

 

[Chold05]

Did you order them online? Can they be ordered in specific sizes? Do you have a picture you could post?

I purchased them from Lowe’s. They have various sizes there and we just cut them with a cut off wheel to size. I want to say they were $80 per piece. (Expensive, I know. So we spaced out the purchase.)

I also numbered them with the corresponding section of coop for easy assembly each year.

 

[Henny Wrenny]

Thank you so much! I’ll have to deal with plastic this year since I have it already but will definitely look into this over the next year for next winter. Great photos too. They always help.

 

[Sally PB]

I also numbered them with the corresponding section of coop for easy assembly each year.

Good idea! I did that with my panels because they are slightly different heights to accommodate the roof and uneven ground.

 

[Henny Wrenny]

I purchased them from Lowe’s. They have various sizes there and we just cut them with a cut off wheel to size. I want to say they were $80 per piece. (Expensive, I know. So we spaced out the purchase.)

I also numbered them with the corresponding section of coop for easy assembly each year.

 

[Henny Wrenny]

Are these the panels you purchased at Loews? Thank you for all your help. What size bit was used to drill holes?

 

[Chold05]

Yep that’s it! I think we were actually able to just screw them right up if I remember correctly. Didn’t need to pre drill the holes.

It does make a bit of a mess when you cut them to size (just a heads up so your flock doesn’t try to eat the little pieces )

 

[Folly's place]

We use the clear vinly sheeting that comes in rolls, and double it up on the open walls of our roofed run area, leaving at least a foot open at the top. It will go up soon, depending on the weekend weather when DS does the ladder part of the project.

This is the south side, and the east side is also done, just on the lower six feet of the wall. The north and west sides are solid walls, and that little window also gets covered, because some birds roost just inside it.
Those plastic panels look great, but are much more expensive than this. And the sheet vinyl lives a couple of winters.
I would like to find actually clear sheet vinyl, but so far no luck. This coop and run get some heat gain from the sun, so it's often not as chilly as outside.
Mary