What to put on the top of our run?

[hd_darcy]

We've had our coop and run for years. The walls are like 6 or 7 feet. Unfortunately, we left the coop door open for awhile as we forgot one night, and then after finding safe chickens, we thought we were golden and left the coop door open with the run door shut thereafter. Well, after awhile...duh.. we lost several chickens one night . Lesson learned the hard way.

I am now looking for something to put on the top of the run. It's fairly large run, but I don't remember the measurements. I'm in Wisconsin and we get hard winters. I've read maybe hardware cloth, or galvanized steel? Would love to hear more as far as the price and what benefits one has over the other. Also would highly appreciate recommendations on where to buy. Thank you!

 

[iwiw60]

As you get a lot of snow like I do here in Oregon, you should most probably go with a 'hard' roof. My run is topped with metal roofing with a slope so I can slide the snow off. Wishing you all the best!!

 

[LauraSac]

Our run isn't big, but we have corrugated panels as the cover, and they're at a slant so rain runs off (snow isn't an issue here). We also have a "sun roof" of hardware cloth to let the sun in. When it's too hot or raining, we put loose panels on top of the sun roof to keep it shaded or dry. The panels are a deep green plastic and look nice with our red coop.

 

[Jeannie C]

I am also in WI. I have a frame of wood and a tarp stapled to it. Just replace the tarp every couple of years. Of course I am only dealing with an 8 foot square.

 

[jetdog]

Massachusetts chiming in, we get "wicked bad snow
storms" corrugated suntuff roofing from home depot and with a little persuasion the snow slides right off.

 

[CHIKENROOKIE]

I use aviary netting over my run, price for 25x25 was approx $70. In winter I stack some straw bales and use scrap plywood for a spot out of the weather.