Winter is Coming! Checklists, tips, advice for a newbie

[the poppster]

The back north wall...

note the lath...they are screwed to the studs, sandwiching the tarp between.

 

[the poppster]

The construction inside view...

looking west toward the coop.

 

[the poppster]

And inside looking east...

 

[the poppster]

And the south wall from the inside of the run...

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

I've been trying to figure out a way to make a snow free area in my run too. I've given up on tarps because no matter how tightly they are tied down or how steeply I've made the slope or support under it (tall A frame or curved hog panel), the wind picks it up and shreds it.  If it survives the winds of fall, the snow makes it sag.  I've been thinking of making a metal roof "porch" to have a permenent solution.  I know I'd have to have it angled fairly steep to help the snow slide off.  Sounds like I wi
ll have to make sure there is plenty of support to not have sagging issues with metal.  

CG

Yes eventually I would like the tin to be sloped for the snow as last year we had gotten 21 inches of snow so I can't imagine how much we will get this year if we are to get 25-50 percent more snow fall and we are to get snow this weekend already

 

[the poppster]

And the south wall from the inside of the run...

I use Torx head screws. The lath are actually those ruff cut sticks they use on construction sites to flag things, using that bright color plastic tape....you can get them by the bundle at most lumber yards...
The tarp roof has worked really well...the welded wire and roof frames support it very nicely without any major sagging....but you have to be sure to remove the snow regularly, and not get lazy and let it get to built up! The deeper it is, the harder it is to clear off....and sure it will sag if you let it get a couple of feet of wet snow collect on it....I've had at least a foot or more from one days snow fall...and it's held up well...but I keep at it....we can get 250 to 300 inches of snow in an average winter...if that's not a good test I couldn't find a much better one!

 

[aart]

Quote: Absolutely!!

Looks good, thanks for pics.

 

[JandS Flock]

Wow! Looks like they live in the Taj Mahal compared to my girls. Nice job!

 

[Alaskan]

used rotted wood....  For the life I me I can't stop laughing about that. Not that I think it's a bad use of crap wood mind you. 

Thanks!

When it snows (almost every day) I will walk around inside the run and shake the snow off, by pushing the tarp up with my hands, wire and all....or gently and sometimes not so gently thru the wire. Start from the lower roof edge working my way to the peak, one area at a time....the snow usually slides right off.....

Have you tried spraying the tarp with a silicone spray? That will help the snow slide off.

 

[the poppster]

Thanks!
Have you tried spraying the tarp with a silicone spray? That will help the snow slide off.

I actually planned on trying that...you read my mind!!! But I ran out of time....and due to the weather...I'm going to have to pass on the silicone spray this year.