Using tarp over run for rain/snow?

[WriterChick]

the3ofus+oursixchicks :

i also have tarps on mine. when it rains it of course puddles but i just get out there with a long piece of lumber thin too and prop up the tarp til the water runs off. sometimes i have left it up so that its almost like a tent. most of the time i just hold it up to where the water will run off though. its really no problem much. i would rather have a regular tin roof but this will do for now. but we do plan on redoing some things this spring or before.my set up is completely covered with chicken wire. so the piece of wood i use will just fit through the hole of the wire to prop the tarp to get rid of the rain water.

Yep, this is what I do, too.​

 

[wilobrookfarms]

I know the blue tarps are awful! We had one over our woodpile, same problem. I was grabbing blue strings with the lawn mower forever! I purchased heavier brown ones. They seem pretty durable? We'll see? I also thought the brown would blend alittle more and not look so garish! Got to think of the neighbors.

 

[TheIvoryKitty]

Quote:
Yep it was indeed the blue tarp. Ugh!

 

[Ksane]

I used the plastic roofing for the roof of one of the runs also. It's polycarbonate (sp?) and real strong. It comes it a bunch of colors. I got it at Home Depot. 1 26" x 8' sheet is $16. There's 10' lengths also though.

 

[Hens & Hounds]

We are having the same problem & just ordered a 22x30 silver tarp (medium duty) from amazon (harpster tarps) We will be putting it up this weekend (or trying to)

Our A frame doll house converted coop is totally surrounded by our run which is 6 foot tall in most places & taller where we lined up a carport frame & have a very heavy duty hunter green tarp over from East Coast Shelters...in the past these A frame carports have held up w/ our last years 36" of snow & for over 11 yrs, never have being taken down. They were not cheap 11 yrs ago & now we are not able to spend that kind of money so this is why we purchased the silver harpster tarp from amazon. Trouble is finding a tarp that is not overly priced for being custom made. Seems when putting up tarps the only way to avoid pooling of water even w/ a slight incline & tight supports underneath is having a A frame which I seen for dog runs such as you described in our Tractor Supply, they do have a couple different sizes which vary in price but the 10x10x6 chainlink dog run is around 100 bucks. Here is a link of it from TSC http://www.tractorsupply.com/pet-ca.../kennel-roof-cover-kit-10-ft-x-10-ft--1012319 then you have to worry about how to secure the aframe sides up top from predators. I am the zip tie queen & buy bags of the black 1000 per bags 8 inch ones from Home Depot for $19.99 alot

I r4eally wish we had more than 4 4x4 posts in our pen & wish we could have a do-over as there is so much I would change if I had the money to

To give you an idea of how hard it is going to be to cover the whole run which would be covering their coops ridge vent also I will add some pics...w/ winter right around the corner I am knocking my brain on how to make this work for very little money

Good Luck w/ whatever you decide to do!

 

[purpletree23]

I did the same thing last winter that you did this year. I was soooooo proud of myself until we had a heavy snow. I said a lot of bad words that day but I've been thinking all summer long as to what to do this year.

Same idea that another person posted for you. Raise one end of the dog run up on blocks. Use cinder blocks to cover the openings the are on the sides of the dog run. They are heavy but I add a few at a time every couple of days. Doing it all at once would be impossible for me so I break it down into manageable parts. The guys at Home Depot or Lowes can load your car (not too many blocks at once) and when you get them home use a wagon to get then to the coop. A wheelbarrow is too unsteady.

Once you get the sides covered put corrugated roofing on the run. The pieces kind of fit together like a puzzle. To attach this to the run I use a long rope to tie the roofing down. Go over the roof and then under the top bars and tie tight. Do this in 3 areas. If that sounds too hard you can always put the rope over the top and tie the ends to cinderblocks on the outside of the run. This way you can use the cinderblocks to pull the rope taught.

The snow and rain should slide right off.

I know it sounds like a lot of work but the hardest part is getting the materials to your house and then out to the coop. Do you have a niece or nephew or grand kids or a friend that can help you?

When it's time to dismantle stack the blocks neatly and lay the roofing on its side somewhere near the coop. None of the materials will rot.

 

[nightshade]

I would not use tarps we did that years ago and it was a disaster when we got a decent snow load. And was a horrible mess to clean up the following spring. I would go with the heavy rolled green house plastic or a solid roof. It costs more but is totally worth the lack of heart aches and head aches in the long run I think.

 

[BEvans1Farmer]

Just bought this last week. Not sure how them man made or got it, but it's super strong and should work. Also, the tarp is of some thicker material, not exactly sure what it is, but waters should

roll off it

 

[BEvans1Farmer]

Oh and btw, I'm cleaning up the tarp and I'm going to put some lower Gauge plastic wire.

 

[QuietPony]

I was going to tarp our run, but then learned about this stuff.
It's a bit more pricy, but worth it I think.
http://www.shadepro.com/Cloth-and-Steel-Colors.html

It might let some rain through but appears to be more durable than tarps.