lefttowrite
Chirping
Hello! I’m almost done with my coop and am looking to build a run next. I’ve left adequate space for it and have factored in windbreaks, ground drainage, etc in the site. I’m not so much worried about the bottom of the run as I am the top. I live in northern MI where we can get 3 feet of snow in a single storm.
I know my run needs a cover since we have hawks but after building the coop (a single-slant roof, 8ft high on the east side, 6ft high on the west) I’m worried my husband will not be up for doing 20 ft MORE of all that roofing with me!
So, my question: What do you snow-laden folks do? I’m tossing around these ideas:
- A. Extending the same sloped roofline of the coop down another 20’ for the run (but metal or plastic roofing?)
- B. Bending some cattle panels into a semicircle, covering with plastic (and hardware cloth at the bottom), and framing in a door at the end.
- C. Just building a basic fence (again, fortified with hardware cloth) and tacking up netting/mesh up top that may or may not let snow through.
Cost, time/ease of building, and snow load are all factors. I have been nitpicky with coop security, so not as worried about a totally predator-proof run.
I know my run needs a cover since we have hawks but after building the coop (a single-slant roof, 8ft high on the east side, 6ft high on the west) I’m worried my husband will not be up for doing 20 ft MORE of all that roofing with me!
So, my question: What do you snow-laden folks do? I’m tossing around these ideas:
- A. Extending the same sloped roofline of the coop down another 20’ for the run (but metal or plastic roofing?)
- B. Bending some cattle panels into a semicircle, covering with plastic (and hardware cloth at the bottom), and framing in a door at the end.
- C. Just building a basic fence (again, fortified with hardware cloth) and tacking up netting/mesh up top that may or may not let snow through.
Cost, time/ease of building, and snow load are all factors. I have been nitpicky with coop security, so not as worried about a totally predator-proof run.