4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[abwsco]

After having heavy rain for far too many days last week I have made hubby put a cover on top of the run of the corrugated plastic.

 

However, we had more heavy rain this morning and the soil is wet again I think the rain must have been coming in sideways. Do those of you with covered runs have the sides covered as well? If so what do you use as it's going to cost a fortune if I have to get more corrugated plastic sheeting plus we wouldn't be able to see into the run properly either. Thanks

[Hen Watch]

Not much you can do about rain coming in sideways especially after the downpour we had here today (hailstones too....). I did pop out and put the shower curtain back over my run today (tied down with bungee cords) but I usually only use it in winter. My run floor is waterlogged today but then the downpour was v. heavy.

 

I usually have one side covered and one open. I use the winter shade, just like it's shown in this picture. See below.

 

http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken%20Extras&sub=General&product_id=95

[abwsco]

Thanks Katy.

 

I should have said my run is this.

 

[Hen Watch]

Ahh..... I see what you mean, it is a bit exposed for driving rain. I suppose you could still use something like the Winter Shade as it has clips on each corner but the view of your chickens might be a bit restricted. The smaller shade they do for the cube might be too small and not effective.

 

http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken%20Extras&sub=Spares

[bokbokbok]

@abwsco, I have an £8 tarpaulin from B&Q which I am thinking about putting over the top of my run which, when built, will look fairly like yours. I don't for one moment believe it will be water tight but am hoping it will keep the worst off the soil underneath.

 

Is that a silly idea? The tarp is actually so big it could be doubled over. And at £8 I can afford for it not to be a huge success I suppose.

[Gallina]

Omlet now do a shade for the Cube that covers the top and one side: you put it on the side where there is a prevailing wind. This indicates that they are aware of the problem. But this solution is not cheap, especially as you will probably need two of them.

 

With most rain showers, a top cover is enough. If you cover up everything, it will get steamy and damp and unpleasant inside. I just let my Cube runs get wet when the weather is severe. It seems to get wetter inside the Cube run that it did with the Eglu run, probably because there is more space for the rain to drive in.

[Egluntyne]

I use plastic sheeting from Dunelm Mill to cover my Eglu run, and I do put it right down to the bottom, as rain does blow in sideways occasionally, and saturates the Aubiose. I find it works well.

 

I anchor it down with those elasticated hooky luggage cord thingies.

[abwsco]

@abwsco, I have an £8 tarpaulin from B&Q which I am thinking about putting over the top of my run which, when built, will look fairly like yours. I don't for one moment believe it will be water tight but am hoping it will keep the worst off the soil underneath.

 

Is that a silly idea? The tarp is actually so big it could be doubled over. And at £8 I can afford for it not to be a huge success I suppose.

 

We didn't put a tarp on the top as we thought the water would just sit in big puddles on it unless of course it's on a big incline. Plus hubby prefers the look of the plastic roofing sheets.

[abwsco]

I use plastic sheeting from Dunelm Mill to cover my Eglu run, and I do put it right down to the bottom, as rain does blow in sideways occasionally, and saturates the Aubiose. I find it works well.

 

I anchor it down with those elasticated hooky luggage cord thingies.

 

Egluntine, how much is the sheeting? I'm just wondering if we could somehow attach it at the top and then just roll it down when needed. A bit like a roller blind IYKWIM. Also, is it fairly flexible?

 

Hubby has also pointed out that the run is in an area where the soil always was the dampest in the garden so I suppose that hasn't helped

[abwsco]

Omlet now do a shade for the Cube that covers the top and one side: you put it on the side where there is a prevailing wind. This indicates that they are aware of the problem. But this solution is not cheap, especially as you will probably need two of them.

 

With most rain showers, a top cover is enough. If you cover up everything, it will get steamy and damp and unpleasant inside. I just let my Cube runs get wet when the weather is severe. It seems to get wetter inside the Cube run that it did with the Eglu run, probably because there is more space for the rain to drive in.

 

Do you perhaps think we'd be OK if we covered up part of the run along the bottom, say a couple of feet? That would keep some more out wouldn't it. Knowing our luck we'll probably only have rain and wind together all the time now

Edited July 8, 2008 by Guest

[Tessa the Duchess]

We made a strong but flexible side cover for my walk in run out of plastic sheeting. It works like a roller blind, only you have to roll it up by hand

It has ties at the top when it's not in use and we attached rubber loops on the bottom which fit on to metal hooks to keep it in place. It works really well as before the auboise got soaked from rain coming in sideways. I would post a pic. but it is pouring with rain

 

Tessa

[abwsco]

We made a strong but flexible side cover for my walk in run out of plastic sheeting. It works like a roller blind, only you have to roll it up by hand

It has ties at the top when it's not in use and we attached rubber loops on the bottom which fit on to metal hooks to keep it in place. It works really well as before the auboise got soaked from rain coming in sideways. I would post a pic. but it is pouring with rain

 

Tessa

 

Ohh Tessa, that sounds great. A pic would be brilliant when it stops raining It's been dry for us so far today but I think it's on the way again looking at the black clouds

[Phosphorus]

I don't put a cover over the sides of mine - mine is 10ft by 13 ft with corrugated plastic top. I find that rain comes in at the sides but only tends to soak the aubiose for about 10cm in around the borders. Hopefully the rain will calm down and it will dry out. I am going to sprinkle some Stanoslan F down later - that apparantly will dry it out a bit as well as disinfect and prevent any nasties attracted by the wet aubiose

[Tessa the Duchess]

 

Found a pic. of the cover rolled up, will take one of it rolled down if it ever stops peeing down.

 

Tessa

[Egluntyne]

Egluntine, how much is the sheeting? About 3 quid a metre I'm just wondering if we could somehow attach it at the top and then just roll it down when needed. A bit like a roller blind IYKWIM.Good idea! Also, is it fairly flexible?Yes, it is very flexible.

 

If you go to the shop. it is usually with the plastic tablecloth material. Also, it looks blue on the roll, but is completely clear when rolled out.

[abwsco]

Thanks Tessa and Egluntine

 

Tessa, your sheeting looks perfect but can I ask how you attached it to the metal(?) pole at the top please. Thanks

[Tessa the Duchess]

Tessa, your sheeting looks perfect but can I ask how you attached it to the metal(?) pole at the top please. Thanks

 

I machined a hem ( you need really strong cotton to machine through the sheeting) and then threaded the plastic pole through it. It is then hung on three metal cup hooks, there are three cup hooks at the bottom and I attached some rubber ties which hook on to keep the cover flat.

 

Tessa

[MedusA]

I anchor it down with those elasticated hooky luggage cord thingies.

 

Do you mean "bungees", Egluntine?

 

I have corrugated plastic roofing on my walk-in run, but it does bow in places and leaks a bit at the joins where the rain puddles. Still, it's only in some places and overall keeps the run a lot drier than if it wasn't roofed. Anyway the girls quite enjoy having some damper spots to dig for worms etc. I'd be surprised if much rain gets in through the sides.

[abwsco]

Well, no surprise it's raining again Have discovered two reasons why the run has puddles in it.

 

One, the rain is being blown in and two the plastic corrugated sheeting isn't hanging over enough so the rain is pouring down the weldmesh, hitting the wood at the bottom and bouncing back into the run. Looks like I'm going to have to get longer sheeting now and tell hubby he's got to take off what he's put on and put the new stuff on. More expense and work Plus, he's away at York races this weekend so it's going to be another week before he can do it.

Edited July 9, 2008 by Guest

[abwsco]

Tessa, your sheeting looks perfect but can I ask how you attached it to the metal(?) pole at the top please. Thanks

 

I machined a hem ( you need really strong cotton to machine through the sheeting) and then threaded the plastic pole through it. It is then hung on three metal cup hooks, there are three cup hooks at the bottom and I attached some rubber ties which hook on to keep the cover flat.

 

Tessa

 

Thanks Tessa

[chelsea]

just to add to this thread.

 

We have just decorated our front room and I had a beige roller blind in my window which was nearly 6 foot wide, instead of throwing it away - hubby rigged it up at the front of the chooks run - so if its really windy/wet we roll it down and if its sunny we also roll it down, its fab!