Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[ChickensForEggs2500]

It will sure help.. You will get snow we do not much down this way

Yes! Thank you! We got snow on the first day of winter this year.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hello!
I live in WA and have an open air coop (see pic) and am wondering how to keep out moisture in the winter. They live in the open part year-round, the closed part is just their nest boxes and a space for the pullets to live in the spring. Any info is GREATLY appreciated!

Wrapping up or covering part of the run walls that face into prevailing winds should help to at least ward off rain/snow, though they really don't need that much "coverage" as it doesn't get cold enough for cold to be a huge issue.

 

[Hinotori]

Hello!
I live in WA and have an open air coop (see pic) and am wondering how to keep out moisture in the winter. They live in the open part year-round, the closed part is just their nest boxes and a space for the pullets to live in the spring. Any info is GREATLY appreciated!

Greenhouse tarps. Let's in most of the light as well. I wrapped my silkie pens with them. 10' x 50' for all 5. It got to 24° last night and their water bowls didn't freeze. Keeps out wind, cold, and almost all the rain. They aren't wrapped tight as the tarps I used aren't quite 10' long. It was expensive and I did have to buy them over a year and a half. The tarps are thick and reinforced so they last, though.

I have heard of people cutting shower curtains to size and adding grommets so they could wrap their runs. You can also buy rolls or clear or translucent greenhouse plastic but it's not as thick.

Front of pens where the gates are. The courtyard is for their "free range". I have little fence panels to separate it and just alternate who gets out what days.

Back of pens with only half the tarps up. This is actually summer mode for them. It stays cooler with the worst of the sun blocked and the wind can't destroy the roof tarps. Roof is just regular heavy duty tarps from Costco.

 

[ChickensForEggs2500]

Greenhouse tarps. Let's in most of the light as well. I wrapped my silkie pens with them. 10' x 50' for all 5. It got to 24° last night and their water bowls didn't freeze. Keeps out wind, cold, and almost all the rain. They aren't wrapped tight as the tarps I used aren't quite 10' long. It was expensive and I did have to buy them over a year and a half. The tarps are thick and reinforced so they last, though.

I have heard of people cutting shower curtains to size and adding grommets so they could wrap their runs. You can also buy rolls or clear or translucent greenhouse plastic but it's not as thick.

Front of pens where the gates are. The courtyard is for their "free range". I have little fence panels to separate it and just alternate who gets out what days.
View attachment 2461738

Back of pens with only half the tarps up. This is actually summer mode for them. It stays cooler with the worst of the sun blocked and the wind can't destroy the roof tarps. Roof is just regular heavy duty tarps from Costco.
View attachment 2461737

Thank you so much! I like how this lets in the light as well. Can I get these on amazon or at home depot?

 

[Hinotori]

I orderd the tarps off Amazon marketplace. With how everything has been going, they may or may not be currently available. The plastic rolls can be gotten off Amazon, at farm stores, and sometimes Home Depot.

 

[Hinotori]

It ran me about $30 for each 6x10 tarp. I wanted them to last. With a budget constraint, I'd try the cheap heavy duty shower curtain liners. Harbor Freight carries grommets. Those aren't hard to set, just a lot of hammering that needs done outside on a solid table.

 

[Hinotori]

I zip tie everything here. Don't use cheap ones. Not worth it. I have 120 lb test zip ties holding down the roof. The walls all have 80 lb test. I found I do have to order that off Amazon as most the ones at stores dont tell the strength and snap easy because they are around 25 lb test.

Good zip ties are still pretty cheap if you order them.

 

[ChickensForEggs2500]

I orderd the tarps off Amazon marketplace. With how everything has been going, they may or may not be currently available. The plastic rolls can be gotten off Amazon, at farm stores, and sometimes Home Depot.

Thanks!

 

[ChickensForEggs2500]

Hello!
My current coop has a dirt/poop floor. We are looking to do something to change it. My dad is going to help me pour a cement slab, and we were planning to put straw as litter/bedding. This winter we are going to install temporary walls (like what Hinotori said).
Also, I have just been informed that my coop is too small, so I will be building a 20x10 additional run. Btw I call the entire structure shown in the pic 'the coop'.
How can I keep the litter/bedding dry and mold free? It's always rainy in the winter. They do not go in the henhouse to sleep, simply because they think it's just for laying eggs in. (silly chickens). The nesting boxes are in the henhouse as well. I am open to suggestions, but just saying, I already bought cement (uh-oh) haha. Thanks in advance!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Zip ties are worth their weight in gold I have tied wire so much my fingers bleed