Shade/shelter solutions please :-)

[happyhens1972]

This is my chicken pen. It was originally designed as a rabbit run and there are rabbits living in one half of it, totally separated from the chooks. Each half has a 6ft x 4ft wendy house (low level shed....4ft high) and the chicken side also has a traditional style 12 bird henhouse.

These structures all throw a little shade but I would like to add something to the roof to provide much more substantial shade and also some shelter from rain as the chickens will not shelter inside the houses in the run, but just huddle underneath the henhouse.

So....firstly, I am in the UK so will need to source these things myself but not sure what's best to use. The pen roof is flat so anything I add would not drain off when it rains. I currently have a very large tarpaulin in place but it's only been up a few weeks and is already in ribbons in places as we also get a fair bit of wind....we are at the top of a hill. I have considered corrugated plastic or steel sheeting or Onduline. I'm concerned that plastic would not hold up long term and that any sheeting would be under a lot of pressure from the wind so what would make suitable fixings? I could use wooden boards covered in roof felt.....I have several rolls of felt already....but again not sure on long term durability or wind stability.

Also, are any of these things going to be any good if that are installed flat to the current pen roof or is a slope an absolute must? If so, how do I create one on an already installed structure. And all this in a shoestring budget??

Does anyone else out there have a pen of similar design and have actual experience of this issue and how to solve it? Or any budding DIY enthusiasts with a head full of solutions? I'm after all the help I can get!

Thanks guys xxxx

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I am thinking that you will have to decide to angle one side of the run roof no matter what. I used that plastic roofing material for my run, but had to set 4x4 post into the ground and slope it. Nothing I can think of flat will hold up and allow rain/snow to run off. Best of luck!

 

[aart]

You could get some shade cloth, it will let water and some wind thru.
It still needs to be well attached.
Do you get any snow?
How wide is the pen?
If you're going to do a solid roof, you'd need to build up some framing to pitch the roof for run off and add cross pieces(purlins) to attach the roof panels to.

 

[ocap]

a leaning sheet of plywood inside the run?

 

[aart]

a leaning sheet of plywood inside the run?

Lots of things to use for smaller short term options for shade.
Pallets leaned against one another to form an 'A-frame' shelter.
Old tables.
Picnic canopy.

 

[MROO]

View attachment 1855899 View attachment 1855900
This is my chicken pen. It was originally designed as a rabbit run and there are rabbits living in one half of it, totally separated from the chooks. Each half has a 6ft x 4ft wendy house (low level shed....4ft high) and the chicken side also has a traditional style 12 bird henhouse.
View attachment 1855901
These structures all throw a little shade but I would like to add something to the roof to provide much more substantial shade and also some shelter from rain as the chickens will not shelter inside the houses in the run, but just huddle underneath the henhouse.

So....firstly, I am in the UK so will need to source these things myself but not sure what's best to use. The pen roof is flat so anything I add would not drain off when it rains. I currently have a very large tarpaulin in place but it's only been up a few weeks and is already in ribbons in places as we also get a fair bit of wind....we are at the top of a hill. I have considered corrugated plastic or steel sheeting or Onduline. I'm concerned that plastic would not hold up long term and that any sheeting would be under a lot of pressure from the wind so what would make suitable fixings? I could use wooden boards covered in roof felt.....I have several rolls of felt already....but again not sure on long term durability or wind stability.

Also, are any of these things going to be any good if that are installed flat to the current pen roof or is a slope an absolute must? If so, how do I create one on an already installed structure. And all this in a shoestring budget??

Does anyone else out there have a pen of similar design and have actual experience of this issue and how to solve it? Or any budding DIY enthusiasts with a head full of solutions? I'm after all the help I can get!

Thanks guys xxxx

If you plant some chicken-friendly shrubs just outside the windward side of the run, you'll not only get some shade, but you'll get a wind-break, as well ... and it'll look nice, to boot! Berry bushes tend to grow quickly - and both you and your chickens would benefit.
Short-term, look around for someone getting rid of a child's picnic table. They're designed to be outside, small enough to fit in your run, big enough to offer shade, and offer multi-level perches for interesting games of "Chicken Tag." And from a distance, they don't look like chicken furniture ... just another picnic play area!

 

[cheekychick3]

Hi there, i also live in UK. Our run is a lot higher than yours. As you know our weather
has been hot, although our run is enclosed, with roof ect. Plus roof is covered with
netting and very thick builders cover, which works great, in all weathers. My husband
placed it at angles, so when it rains it runs off. But like i said the weather has been hot, and the 3 sides the sun are open to shade. So a few weeks ago bought this from Amazon
GardenMate 3m x 3m Tarpaulin Waterproof Heavy Duty - Universal Blue/Green tarp Sheet - Premium Quality Cover Made of 90gramm/Square metre Tarpaulin

It is huge, and we stapled on one side, where the sun comes in most. It has been
a great cheap fix. You can buy in bigger size too. It has helped keep the run cool too.
We also use old tables ect inside the run too. This cost £7.45 free p+p and next day delivery, with prime from Amazon. Thought i would tell you, as thought you could place
on one side where the sun hits most. Until you solve the issue you want. Hope it helps.
We bought this color as it is dark, and also cools the run, our girls love it, and hang out on that side. lol











1 new from £7.54
Size Name: 3m x 3m

• Dimensions 3m x 3m = 9m² (10ft x 10ft = 100sq ft)
• Heavy premium quality PP/PE tarpaulin 90g/m² - All edges stitched with double material
• Coated on both sides - UV-stabilized - Waterproof - Mould resistant - Washable - Eco-friendly - Groundwater-neutral
• Perfect for house, garden, outdoor, camping and much more
• Premium quality from GardenMate

 

[chookchick]

I use a tarp, I've had the same one for many years. It is actually clear with nylon threads in it but a solid one would work well also (you could go camo). If you use bungee cords to fasten it, it won't flap around in the wind and will last longer.

I agree, some kind of slope, even a slight one, would be very helpful so that water and leaves don't collect. Is there any way to peak the top slightly? Short of that, some covered structures inside the run could work well.

 

[happyhens1972]

Thank you so much for all of your suggestions. I do have some temporary solutions in place such as the tables and tarps you mentioned but it just looks so untidy. I don't want the pen looking like a yard sale. I made a wooden table type shelter and it looks better than the plastic one but it's not big enough for everyone, that's why I though roofing of some description might be the answer....aesthetically pleasing, wider coverage and doesn't take spece away from the chooks.

@cheekychick3 I think I have the same tarp as you there, but bigger, and it's done a grand job so far but the wind flaps it around (even with a dozen or more well placed bungee cords) and it is already in ribbons in places. It certainly isn't a long term solution unfortunately.

@MROO I can't plant anything on the windward side as the pen backs on to farmer's land....there is a small gap between the pen and his fence but insufficient to get in to dig and plant. I could possibly plant on the other side though so that could be an option I hadn't considered. Thanks.

@aart Hmmmmm, shade cloth. Maybe that might work in the same way as the tarp but not be shredded so easily as it would let the wind through rather than being flapped around. That might be the first one to try and see how durable it is.

The trouble with any roofing idea, is that it's expensive, no matter what I use, and would seemingly involve altering the structure somehow to create a run-off slope.

Oh, the dliemma!

Thanks you so much again for your input folks....plenty of food for thought here xxx

 

[cheekychick3]

Hi, just read that you are having trouble with the tarp still flapping, even though you use bungee cords. Sorry i forgot to tell you, we also use tie cables, just pierce a small hole,
in the tarp here and there, then thread it through, and it will stop it flapping. Tie cables
will hold it securely, and you will just need some on the top middle and bottom. As you know they are cheap enough, but also does the trick, to stop it flapping. Of course
it is up to you, but i thought i would let you know. Good luck.