Removable walls / inserts?

[Boise-girls]

I've seen references here to moveable walls or wall inserts. Any tips on how to construct those? Right now, I'm using the entire coop and coop run as an open-air coop, as we're having 100-105 temps. I'll need more walls in the winter though. Our winters are relatively mild, but we do get occasional deep snows and temps can dip into single digit. (SW Idaho)

I am planning to enlarge the coop next month - it's too small for 6 banties, especially when the weather turns cold. They have a covered 8x8 run and a larger 24x56 fenced area that they spend most of the day in now.

 

[NatJ]

I've seen references here to moveable walls or wall inserts. Any tips on how to construct those? Right now, I'm using the entire coop and coop run as an open-air coop, as we're having 100-105 temps. I'll need more walls in the winter though. Our winters are relatively mild, but we do get occasional deep snows and temps can dip into single digit. (SW Idaho)

Tarps are sometimes useful. They are good at blocking sun, wind, rain, and snow that could come in from the sides. (Not good for roofs if snow can pile up on them!)

But tarps can also flap around and rip loose, so you have to be careful how you fasten them. And they need replacing fairly often-- you might get through the entire winter with one set of tarps, but you're likely to need new tarps for the next winter if you're using the typical cheap ones. There might be higher quality tarps that last longer, but I haven't done enough research to know.

I have used tarps on the sides of chicken pens through some winters in Northern Virginia. They got kind of ratty as spring approached, but even a worn tarp will block a lot of wind and rain, so I just left them until the weather was nice and then threw them away.

 

[Boise-girls]

Thanks! I'm using several tarps for shade right now, so could be an easy progression!

 

[RojoMarz]

For our wind/snow block, we added clear plastic sheets to the run walls. Those "flapped" too much, and were tearing up. So we added orange plastic snow fence on top of the plastic and zip tied it to the run walls. Plastic sheeting offers protection and the snow fence is heavy enough to stop the flapping, but also doesn't tear.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have no need of it myself in my climate, but I'd make actual panels of exterior plywood, Hardiboard, or some other such thing and fasten it to the framing with bolts.

That would be durable, secure, and wouldn't have the problem of flapping in the wind.

You could even include top-hinged windows in the panels so as to have some adjustable ventilation in case of need.

 

[NatJ]

I'd make actual panels of exterior plywood...

That would be durable, secure, and wouldn't have the problem of flapping in the wind.

Yes, it would be durable and secure and won't flap in the wind.

It would also cost more, weigh more, and be harder to store in the summer.

Which is "better" depends on who you ask

 

[Boise-girls]

Panels are more what I had in mind. The windows are a good idea - temps can be unpredictable, with a big variance between high and low in the same day.

 

[3KillerBs]

Yes, it would be durable and secure and won't flap in the wind.

It would also cost more, weigh more, and be harder to store in the summer.

Which is "better" depends on who you ask

I come from a family with a serious over-engineering habit.

My father figured that anything not intended to last for 100 years was a temporary make-do and my husband's older brother, an airport engineer, once build a deck that he proudly proclaimed could handle landing a helicopter on it.

 

[Krugerrand]

It looks like you already have some cattle panel in the background of that one picture. I'm a HUGE fan of cattle panel and T-Posts. They are something that you can easily put up and take down. If you don't already have a t-post puller, they make life so much easier. Depending on the height you need, you can cut off a bottom horizontal piece and then push the vertical pieces into the ground for extra stability. Add some of @RojoMarz 's snow fence and plastic sheets and perhaps that might work for you?

I found that if you attach 1/2" hardware cloth prior to putting them up, it's much easier.

 

[Boise-girls]

What's the best way to attach the hardware cloth to the panels? Raccoons are my main concern. We don't have foxes, bears, loose dogs, etc. to worry about.