Sun Shade Fabric vs. Tarp for Coop Run?

[harldane]

Our 6 week old girls (or maybe girl and 2 boys) have been spending much of each day outside now in a makeshift run...a portable x-pen made for dogs.

For the time being, I've been covering it with a Coolaroo dog bed to keep the sun off them, keep them inside, and keep other animals outside.

As we begin construction on our final run for them, I'm trying to decide if sun shade fabric that can be purchased by the foot at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. will be enough protection from the sun for the chicks or if I should get a small tarp instead.

I like that the breezes can go through the shade fabric, but the tarp will provide more sun protection for them here in So. California.

Our run will be similar to the eglu and this one: http://www.thehatchingpost.com/forsale.html using the dog house suggestions from Mother Earth news.

Any preferences from anyone more experienced then me?

Thanks!

 

[HenHaven]

Are you planning on using it over the top or hanging on the sides? It gets 95+ here in the summer, often over 100. I have a roofed coop and then hang shade cloth on the sides. I used the very heavy shade cloth, and it cuts down an amazing amount of heat, plus the breeze can go through. It has lasted 2 going on 3 years, but I do take it down in the winter.

Well, duh, I just looked at the link you posted. In that case, I would use shade cloth to allow the breeze to move through. A tarp will hold in a lot of heat.

 

[pasta514]

I would definitely go with the shade fabric. Typical tarps are not UV protected and would last maybe 1 season. I've been using shade sails after 3 years (summers only) are still like new. I did have a single ply, non-UV tarp based canopy once and as the previous poster mentioned it trapped heat and lasted about 8 weeks before self-destructing. I also have UV tarps bought at www dot creativeshelters dot com (the white ones) that last about 3 years (all year round).

 

[patandchickens]

Shade cloth is great stuff -- I use it to reduce the heat loading from our front bay window and W-facing sliding glass doors in summer, and it does amazing things. If you stretch it reasonably tight it does not flap like a tarp does. And if it is at an angle to the sun it blocks even more light than its rating would suggest.

So, what about putting shade cloth on now, and then just wait and see if you need to add an additional tarp this summer? (If you do, I guarantee it will not need to be as large a tarp as if that was your only shade). It'll be easy to retrofit if you decide a tarp is needed.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[seminolewind]

Lowe's also carries 15 foot rolls of the same fabric only the roll is much cheaper. I have sunshade. I like the ventilation. However, I am going to double it , too much sun is getting thru, I live in Florida.