Winter question for those with enclosed runs

[davidr]

Trying to get ready for winter

The question is should I enclose the sides of the run for winter

My choices so far are nylon reinforced plastic sheeting all around. plywood sheets. a combination of both, or don’t bother.

I was thinking that enclosing the run would give them more room and keep them out of the wind. The run faces north, and is 10' x 8'

Would really appreciate others thoughts on this. I’m open to all suggestions.

Thanx,

David

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

I would perhaps pick two sides and put up some plastic or something, not all the way up, just enough so it will block the wind for maybe three feet high, so they can still be "outside" but not necesarily blown around by the wind. (or have the snow/rain blown in on them so badly.)

If the run faces north, maybe do the west and north sides with some plastic sheeting. Or, alternatively, you could just stack some hay or straw bales around those two sides (on outside of run), to block the wind a little.

meri

 

[Mahlzeit]

Unless you have severe wind by you I wouldn't do anything at all. Mine go out all winter long with no issues at all. If it's really cold and you have single combed chickens keep an eye out for frostbite on the combs. But I have had no issues with that.

 

[CityChook]

Hey David - I did not enclose my run last winter and am planning on doing so this year. I'm a little bit OCD when it comes to how the coop looks, so just wrapping it in a tarp would definitely be out. Plywood tends to make the run awfully dark and hard to see in to/out of, so I'd pass on that one. The sheeting could work, but I don't know if I'd want to run staples into the wood year after year. Maybe if the sheeting could be stapled to a frame and then the frame attached? Hmmmmm....

What I'd like to do is make some framed plexi-glass panels that can be hooked on and locked down (much like old-fashioned storm windows on a house) for at least the North and West sides, maybe even the east side. I found that even tho my run is covered and the door was open daily, the girls wouldn't really go outside much. I think it was just too cold. And the snow still ended up inside the run by blowing in from the West. With the sides enclosed, it would be more like a greenhouse. And the plexi would be strong enough to be used year after year and then simply stored in the garage rafters during the summer.

Like Mojo said, I would leave space at the top for air circulation and ventilation - maybe like the top foot or so? Don't know. Let's keep in touch.

PS - I think your set up is gorgeous.

 

[Monk]

I tried plastic all around, had some serious condensation problems.
We get some serious snow from time to time, relatively, two feet plus. The run is covered and well pitch to shed the snow. I have made plywood panels for the north and west sides to keep the bulk of the snow out, keeping it manageable for the chickens. I plan on posting pics of this winter experiences.

 

[patandchickens]

Never plastic-cover all of a run.

However in cold or windy or snowy places, I feel there is a lot to be said for putting plastic (or whatever) on at least some sides of the run.

My preference is to enclose all but the south side of the run. If you are trying desperately to eke every last calorie of solar heating out of your setup and would like a thermally-buffered run to vent your coop through, you can partially plastic-cover the south wall too, but leave a goodly gap at both bottom and top. I know it may seem perverse to leave a gap (an I'm talking like at least a foot, possibly a lot more) at the TOP of the run - won't that let all the heat out? - but otherwise you will have large, possbily massive, condensation problems (which could affect your coop as well, if it's vented thru the run).

Good luck, have fun, great-looking coop!,

Pat

 

[davidr]

I like the idea of removeable panels.

I'm thinking of plywood panels with a plexi window, much cheaper than an all plexi panel. Bolt them to the chicken house with carriage bolts and wing nuts. I might leave the gable end open for ventilation, or make a panel with vents to keep out the blowing snow.

I have to bend my brain to this some more before I have a final design.

David

 

[cthrash1]

I didn't do anything different with my chickens last winter and they did fine(had to dissipate my flock in February)...Did keep vasoline on the single combs. Course we don't get too far below freezing very often but it is cold here all winter. When it was really cold out they would hang around in the coop but they also came out and picked and ate etc... I always left the hatch open during the day so they had a choice. Most would stay out though.