Our Hoop House/chicken tractor - Page 9

That is GREAT! I think I will give it a go. :woot

WOW - Thanks for the tip about attaching the cattle panels to the two side pieces first.  I was wondering how I was going to do it by myself without having to call someone for help.

Question for anyone who built this type of thing.  How did you attach the fence to the frame?  I found the perfect staples at the local hardware store, but they were sold by the gagillion for 20 dollars.  There was something cheaper (a nail bend in half with two sharp ends) but they looked impossible to nail in.  My final thought was to simple use long nails and bend them over the fence.  So what has worked for people?
We changed the location of our future coop and this design is perfect for us as its dirt cheap and pretty cool looking.  I've already got the wood frame done.
Thanks,
Scott

We use fence staples, usually can buy them by a small amount at Tractor Supply or a feed store (our feed store sells them by weight.)

Here is our webpage showing how we build hoop houses and one of the tractors:

http://www.pathfindersfarm.com/hoophouse.html

Click on the small pics for larger ones. And be aware, if you live someplace where it's windy, you have to stake them down, or they'll blow right over and away!

Do you sew?  You could attach a strip of canvas, or other heavy-weight fabric along each end.  You could set grommets into the strip of canvas or just nail right through it.

And you can find grommet kits online, they're easy to use. I made some clear plastic pieces for my hoop houses least winter, wasn't hard at all.

And you can find grommet kits online, they're easy to use. I made some clear plastic pieces for my hoop houses least winter, wasn't hard at all.

Hmm, thanks for the tips. I sew just a bit. I'll give it some thought and look around for grommets.

Question for anyone who built this type of thing.  How did you attach the fence to the frame?  I found the perfect staples at the local hardware store, but they were sold by the gagillion for 20 dollars.

Our Lowes carries the one-pound boxes of fencing staples for around $4. They are big, and you don't really get that many for a pound.

My hoop house is housing all my young feathered poultry and doing well. I did string a heat lamp out there by extension cord for nights, but they are doing fine. At night I block off all the draft to the lower 3 feet and leave some air flow at top, then during the day I open up two ends for air and light. They seem content. I did have to replace the plastic along the bottom after my dog that lives on a run got loose and tore it off. The fencing held and the chicks were fine.

I need to photograph the finished coop. I did find that using 4x4 is very sturdy, but adds quite a bit of weight when dragging on grass. I can't really do it alone.

Told my darling man about your hoop house...he's really interested in checking this out.

Thanks for sharing it!!!

Okay so this will be my next project after we get the pop up camper coop done! SSHHH! Dont tell my DH!

  WOW!