What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I've had them for ages but thought it might be a good time to fit them (what with a "hurricane" on its way ).

 

Very pleased so far, they are almost invisible and seem to be securely held in place by Rapstraps. One is bowing a little so I'm working on a plan for that one!

 

It's not a particularly cheap option but as I spent quite a lot on a glassclear tarp which only lasted a year or two, I'm hoping this will be better value longterm. Here's the original thread which inspired me!

 

(Don't be frightened by the ghost in the last photo, it's just me .)

 

[Olly]

Wow - impressive! I seem to recall you fitting Perspex to your Omlet run.

 

I might look into this, I've got a glass tarp but haven't managed to fit it yet. Only had it a year !

[Lewis]

Looks good!

 

I almost couldn't see it 'til I read they're almost invisible + looked again

 

Are they on the inside or outside of the WIR? And, did you cut them to size or buy them like that?

[Cooks]

brilliant idea!!!! really hard to see with me morning eyes

[Sam]

That looks good, took me a while to figure out what/where they were

 

How have people managed with corrugated plastic roofs over their wir when it's snowy? Have they stood strong?

I was thinking about throwing salt on the roof but then realised it would blow away ..

[Snowy]

Mine has withstood several inches of snow for the last 2 years. As long as it is well supported from underneath it should be fine.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Are they on the inside or outside of the WIR? And, did you cut them to size or buy them like that?

 

Mostly on the outside but inside on the bottom half of the stable door (the corners made it tricky). I sent them measurements and they emailed back a quote.

 

 

How have people managed with corrugated plastic roofs over their wir when it's snowy? Have they stood strong?

 

Mine also withstood many inches of snow . I'd recommend putting in as many supporting batons as you can manage.

 

My only downfall was using a rake to clear the snow off, making multiple holes in the plastic as I did so . Didn't realise till it started leaking .

[beach chick]

panels ANH? what panels? where?

looks very good, we are hoping to do ours next weekend, but they will be opaque rather than clear. wont look as good as yours though.

I also gave up on glass tarps, too windy here.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Best laid plans . We've had extremely high winds today and I came back from work to find 3 of the 5 panels strewn about the garden . Luckily they haven't broken but they are obviously going to need something more substantial to withstand the wind (although hopefully we won't get the tail end of a hurricane very often ).

 

I'm thinking beading is perhaps the way to go. Failing that, putting them on the inside where at least I could fix them more easily.

[beach chick]

oh what a shame! did they rip because the wind got under/behind them, or where the fixings are? not sure about beading, sounds as if it might be an awful pain.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

All is not lost . The Rapstraps and the acrylic are undamaged so I just put the acrylic sheets back on but on the inside. It seems to be working well so far (still pretty stormy out there ). It should be easier to clean too .

[beach chick]

fingers crossed...

[Lewis]

Glad they didn't break!

 

Hope it all says put now

Been trying to think of other ways to do it, guess beading would be the next best thing.

[Plum]

Looks good I screwed mine onto the outside surface of the uprights and used washers, but sure battons will work well. If you leave a small gap at the top of the panel it'll let air in and reduce the pressure on the panel but not let rain in

[Space Chick]

I have used clear perspex on the roof of one of my rabbit runs, it can break though... Can't it Lewis However, it is brilliant

 

I need to do something with the roof of WIR2 as it is leaking something chronic

[sandyhas3chucks]

Sorry if asking and it has already been posted, (did look ) but did you find prices similar or did you find "the best place " to purchase .

And would you be happy to share?

I have seen for those that might have bits of run that clarity is not important that twin wall poly-carbonate is a fair bit cheaper on one site so was thinking perfect for a roof

Anyone any thoughts??

[Seagazer]

Looks really good. We had a large sheet that we placed at the back of the run as the rain always seemed to blow into the run that way. Its not attached at the moment because of it being summer

 

Putting it all round the bottom will be good in snow as the last time it snowed my run looked awful as I pegged large thick plastic bags around the bottom to try to stop the snow going inside.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I can't really remember what prices I found on the internet (it was a few months ago now) but I tend to do a lot of research before buying stuff so I suspect that Trent Plastics must have had the best price.

[sandyhas3chucks]

cheers. not come up with that name will look 'em up.

[sparkysmum]

Hi Vicki, have just come across this thread - where have I been What a brilliant idea Def going to do the same. Ta. Alli x

[atsw]

It's not a particularly cheap option but as I spent quite a lot on a glassclear tarp which only lasted a year or two, I'm hoping this will be better value longterm.

I think I must have been lucky then, my "Glass Clear" tarp is still going strong. I usually put it up in early October, but with all the sunny weather at the moment I shall be delaying a while this year .

 

I think there was one small tear along a fold (from the original packing), which I tapped over with strong, clear, tape and that sorted things. I think summer storage is key. I don't fold mine (15' x 6'), instead it's rolled on a length of downpipe and stored in my garage. In the autumn it comes out and is securely fastened by multiple eye hooks at the top and a row of heavy duty fence posts at the bottom. I also run a rope across the front at midway level to prevent "sail effects". Seems to have done the trick.

 

This was taken last year, the logs have been replaced by the heavy duty fence posts (looks nicer and works better).

 

Andrew

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sounds like you looked after yours much better than I did . I wonder if having one massive tarp is the key too . Mine was cut into so many small bits, perhaps that's what makes it vulnerable to rips. I do have a particularly windy garden though, which doesn't help .

 

Still delighted with the acrylic, still totally see-through and has stayed put now it's on the inside .

 

I'll have to resurrect some of my intact tarp "blinds" for the top half soon though!