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

[hennible]

I'd think it will be fine if there's enough hens for you boys... My one roo has 8 the other has 6. The roo with 8 girls is only ever with 4.... I'm sure he breeds everyone but he seem to like 4 the best.... They are the ones that stay with him all day, the others do what they want.

 

[Fancypants1]

Started to winterize the run. Halfway there.

 

[aart]

Started to winterize the run. Halfway there.

Cosy!!....Now make yourself a long handled snow scraper to keep the snow load off that tarp...I learned this the hard way, after the fact, is why I mention it.

 

[Fancypants1]

Yes, I plan to keep up with the snow as it falls (whenever I can that is). I should probably keep a ladder out there too - I'm only 5 feet LOL.

 

[Minflick]

Same But Different Department:

I strung heavy clear plastic sheeting over my clotheslines last year, in a Very Failed attempt to make a bit of a greenhouse for my more delicate outdoor plants. We don't get snow where I am, but we do get the occasional rain storm, which can dump a serious amount of water. The tarp held, with a good 10 gallons of water in it. It bent the T-poles for the laundry lines..... Not badly, but it's noticeable if you stand in the right place. Nor did it save my plants, incidentally, but that's a whole 'nother story!

You need serious support under the tarp, and to pull it snug with ties or bungees or some such, so there's no sagging areas to collect debris, snow, etc. One of the reasons actual, official, greenhouses work is because they're rigid, and there's a limit to how much of anything can collect on top of them.

 

[Wxguru]

If you tarp, see if there is a spot along the tarp run that you could bolt down a 2x4 on it's end so you have a slope of sorts for rain runoff...won't help with the snow, but should keep rain from accumulating for the most part.

 

[traceyj]

We get 5' snow a year so I'm not tapping, I'm gonna take it and scatter straw but the she'd is big so they might stay inside, will open the doors tho so they get fresh air

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I came across this image last fall and it just struck me as a great winter Run to create. Very cozy. Lots of roosts. Jungle Gym things to do for the birds to help with winter boredom...etc. It looks like bent pvc pipes holding wire and attached to 1x4 or 1x 6's with plastic over the top. Only issue being you'd need to vent this somehow. But the snow load should shimmy right off and The plastic shouldn't be easy to catch in a strong wind...etc. The Winter Wind does amazing things with tarp and plastic. When you think you have it all sealed and buttoned down-- it usually comes up and needs attention before the winter is out.

IDK...It's a winter set up of a Hoop Coop. For those looking for an inexpensive way to make a covered run...this may be something to take a look at.

 

[Blooie]

That's similar to my set up, and we are getting ready to put the clear plastic up this week - today if I can talk hubby into it.

 

[Alaskan]

We get 5' snow a year so I'm not tapping, I'm gonna take it and scatter straw but the she'd is big so they might stay inside, will open the doors tho so they get fresh air

yes, it is very difficult to keep things from collapsing from the snow load. If the snow is wet and sticky, it can even stick to and then collapse netting or wire that is on the run top.