Winterizing Run

[CKfarm22]

Hey y’all, I’m in NJ where the winters can get pretty brutal with temperatures and snow. I’m wondering what ways some of yall winterize your run.

 

[Sally PB]

I had heavy duty tarps over the run, and they did very well. But we're going to replace them with polycarbonate sheets this fall, so that it's lighter in the run. It was dark and gloomy last fall/winter.

Another thing I did was to take shower curtains and zip tie them over the west (prevailing wind) side. I went around the SW and NW corners for about 3 feet. This cut the direct wind, but there was still plenty of ventilation. Some people build removable panels to put up for the winter. I might do that next year.

I also ran an exterior grade extension cord to the run and used a large heated pet water bowl to keep their water thawed.

 

[CKfarm22]

I had heavy duty tarps over the run, and they did very well. But we're going to replace them with polycarbonate sheets this fall, so that it's lighter in the run. It was dark and gloomy last fall/winter.

Another thing I did was to take shower curtains and zip tie them over the west (prevailing wind) side. I went around the SW and NW corners for about 3 feet. This cut the direct wind, but there was still plenty of ventilation. Some people build removable panels to put up for the winter. I might do that next year.

I also ran an exterior grade extension cord to the run and used a large heated pet water bowl to keep their water thawed.

Removable panels like what? And thank you, we might do the polycarbonate panels this year

 

[DobieLover]

Reinforced poly sheeting attached to exterior of run with snaps and vertical boards to pin it down.

I custom fit it to the run and seemed the edges with banner seeming tape.

It's going into it's third winter this year and it's holding up great other than one spot where a tree rat tried to chew it's way in.

I also add one more bale of hemp bedding or pine shavings to the coop in late fall.

 

[CKfarm22]

Reinforced poly sheeting attached to exterior of run with snaps and vertical boards to pin it down.
View attachment 2801033

I custom fit it to the run and seemed the edges with banner seeming tape.View attachment 2801042
It's going into it's third winter this year and it's holding up great other than one spot where a tree rat tried to chew it's way in.
View attachment 2801044
I also add one more bale of hemp bedding or pine shavings to the coop in late fall.

What kind of snaps do you use? And i like this idea

 

[DobieLover]

What kind of snaps do you use? And i like this idea

Just regular snaps. I got them off Amz. They are just to hold it in place until I get the boards up. They do the real holding.

 

[CKfarm22]

Just regular snaps. I got them off Amz. They are just to hold it in place until I get the boards up. They do the real holding.

I currently have vertical boards on my run, could i use that tape and just tape it to the wood there?

 

[DobieLover]

I currently have vertical boards on my run, could i use that tape and just tape it to the wood there?

No. It wouldn't hold up. It's not meant to be used that way.
This is the sheeting.
These are the snaps.
This is the tool to insert the snaps.
This is the banner seeming tape.

I made the covers in 6 sections that I labeled. I store them in the cellar when they come down. I ripped deck boards in half and used them to pin the tarps down onto the vertical uprights on my run with 3" exterior screws.

 

[RojoMarz]

We put clear plastic sheeting on the run walls. The plastic was then covered with plastic snow fence.

 

[Folly's place]

We also use the rolled plastic sheeting, doubled, over the lower 6' or so of the open run walls. There's plenty of ventilation above, and on the east end of the building. Here we use staples to hold it in place, and then screw boards over it into the framing that holds it in place for the winter.
Not pretty, but effective, and inexpensive.
Mary