What's the best way to give a flock access to the outdoors over winter?

[WillowView]

My husband and I have been keeping a small flock of chickens for a couple of years now. We've always had them in a coop with a run in the spring, summer, and fall, and we move the flock into our barn in the winter. We live in upstate NY, where we get heavy lake effect snow, gusty winds, and cold winters. Until now, we thought that moving our hens indoors for the winter was the best option. They have enough space in the barn, and they are dry and out of the elements. Our red sex-links (that we've had for two years, with no trouble with in the barn) did not seem to mind being indoors.

However, after this winter I am reconsidering our strategy. Our black Austrolorpes (who we received last spring, so this was their first winter in our barn) have not taken kindly to being in the barn. I'm seriously considering giving them access to a run over the next winter, but I'm wondering how others overwinter their flocks with acess to the outdoors. How does one keep the coop dry, as I imagine the hens would track snow indoors? Should we set up some kind of a range shelter, in addition to a coop, to allow them to go outside, even on blustery days? In the spring, summer, and fall, we use electroplastic fencing to keep predators out of the chicken run. We've been delighted with the results, but I'm wondering how it would hold up through a snowy, windy winter here.

I'm asking now for next winter:

a) so I can plan ahead and
b) before I forget what I've learned from this winter, and it's still fresh in my mind!

Any tips, tricks, and advice would be much appreciated!

 

[cubalaya]

use a roof over half the run?

 

[jetdog]

I would use the stall in the barn you have them in as a coop and cut a pop door in the wall to go out to a covered run, metal roofing or pvc roofing, wrap the run with clear shower curtains it keeps the snow out and lets the sunshine in mine is alot warmer inside on the nice days. Put sand in the run it doesn't freeze if I doesn't get wet, my girls have been dusting in the sand all winter long.