trying to keep snow out of run

[roxyblue]

Hey everyone!
this is my second winter that I have had chickens. From my experiences last year I have learned that my chickens really aren't to fond of snow, (though they like to eat it

). my coop set up is kind of complecated to picture.... I have a small coop meant for two to four chickens. The original run is also big enough to hold up to four chickens but I wanted to give them some more space to roam whenever they felt like it, (because they have resricted free range times due to hawks and other dangers). Soooo I built an additional run that they also have acsess to. last year I covered the original run with plastic, the problem is that I had only two chickens last winter. now I have four darling chooks running around the yard, and I really want them to have more space then that. The problem is that it just isn't practicle to cover the larger run with plastic as well

. before this post gets WAY to long, I would just like to ask everyone what they do with there chickens during the winter.
thank you everyone,
-roxyblue

 

[karlamaria]

I cover my entire run with a tarp, sides to. I leave one end open during the day if its not snowing for light and my run stays dry and snow free.

 

[CMV]

I bought myself an electric snow shovel after last winter. I am looking forward to using it. Last winter I had to shovel as much of my run as I could because my doorway is too narrow to admit my snowblower. Never again! I nearly broke myself, and I was only able to clear about half my run (which was still around 400 sq. ft.). I also threw some pallets in my run to allow the chickens to get above the snow, which helped out a lot. My princesses hate the snow, too. They would sit inside the coop all day during the winter if given the chance.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Now we have a lot of the run covered. Before that, I shoveled the snow out of the run. My chickens don't have as much space in the winter as they do in the growing season, when they're free ranging, but they do fine. How much space will your chickens have in the part of the run that's covered?

 

[srothove]

My ladies are currently chillin' in their coop as it snows outside. I opened the door to see if they would range and they didn't budge. How is that for PRINCESSES?

Apparently, they don't like snow yet.

 

[roxyblue]

thank you everyone!
those all sound like great Ideas, question, how do you shovel snow of of straw, or do you not at all? the small covered run is only about 4 by 8, I don't like leaving my poor girlies in that all day. I think I might try the tarp Idea, does it need a lot of support to hold up the snow? or can it hold on it own while covering a say 15 by 10 area?
Thanks again everbody
have a great day!
-roxyblue

 

[Marcymom3]

I have a tarp covered 11 x 11 ft run for my chickens. It also has a double layer of chicken wire with a center support with a crosspiece. With all the rain we had a few weeks ago I had to add a few additonal supports. I am afraid it is going to collapse if we get a lot of snow. When it rains I have to go up there and lift the saggy places so that it drains. I saw on here that people make hooped roofs out of plastic tubing. I think I might look into that since it is said that the snow will fall off of that instead of piling up and sagging. Good luck!

 

[simplynewt]

I would agree with everyone else by using a tarp. They are pretty cheap at Lowe's or Harbor Freight.

If your run is covered with wire so the preditors in the sky wont get in, then all you would have to do is drape the tarp over your run and secure it to the sides with staples are tacks or something like that.

Good Luck and hope this helped some.

 

[Goaldielocks]

Hi! We have a run that is covered, but the 3 sides are open with chicken wire. Before the snow blows, we cover the 2 larger sides with clear plastic. That way the girls can get fresh air, bit no real breezes. They can hang out in the winter and I can still see them from the house. Having the sides keeps the snow out, which is great for them, and less messy in the spring for us and them. We also snow blow paths throughout the yard for the chicks and the kids. It's like having a labyrinth for them to walk though AND they haven't realized yet that they can fly over the snow, so they stay along the path. I never lose them in the winter!

 

[anderson8505]

I live in Florida, so I'm just posting this to rub it in....