Hoop Coop Retrofit

[McChooky]

I live in eastern NC, USDA Zone 8a, aka a hot and humid climate. I built my hoop coop this Spring, and it appears to be holding up pretty well...

...except for the tarp on top, despite the fact that it's supposedly a "heavy duty" tarp.

The hem, including the grommets, ripped:
View attachment 3603375

Original construction thread is here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fuzzis-chicken-journal.1550586/

That's a long thread, so here are the important build timeline links:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fuzzis-chicken-journal.1550586/post-26819925

Brief overview of the build:

February 24, 2023:
View attachment 3603372
View attachment 3603377
The blue tarp is tucked underneath the heavy duty gray tarp, partly to protect it from any sharp ends on the hardware cloth.

View attachment 3603420
Current inside view:
View attachment 3603434

Current outside view, including shade cloth:
View attachment 3603421

I have another shade cloth, with grommets, 14'x16'. I was thinking of just tying it down over the tarps, as rainwater does drip through the shade cloth.

Other thoughts after looking over other hoop coop builds here, is installing some sheets of corrugated material over the tarp area, but metal might be too hot for the area.

What do you think?


Suggestions?


@3KillerBs @Molpet @Krugerrand @TJAnonymous @aart @Blooie@LTAY1946

I secured my tarps on my hoop house using long narrow strips of wood on both sides. Drilling holes in the wood first makes them easy to secure to the hardware cloth. (using wire,screws,bolts or tie ties) A tight fitting tarp that doesn't shift lasts longer (don't use the grommets on the sides)

 

[McChooky]

Don't rely on the grommets ot tie downs.
On this side the tarp is wrapped around a piece of wood and the wood is screwed to the wood of the frame.
On the other side the tarp is screwed to the base board.
It gets pretty windy where the chickens live.
View attachment 3605467View attachment 3605478View attachment 3605479

I secured my tarp using wood the same way and its already lasted 4 years !

 

[fuzzi]

I’ve got some questions about a hoop coop. If I do make one I want to give it a metal roof and and make it heavy duty. I basically just want to make it a house for the chickens to go in a night and they’ll have a run to go in during the day. Anyway, do these coop do well in winter? Will they keep frostbite away? And how about summer? We’re I live in the summer it can get up to 100-102 with the humidity at 43-50. Our winter can get well below freezing and can have up to 5in of snow. And we get quite a bit of freezing rain. Will a hoop house work for my bantams? Thanks!

This one has metal sides/roof:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-biddie-bordello-a-hoop-coop-run-combo.72189/

 

[fuzzi]

I’ve got some questions about a hoop coop. If I do make one I want to give it a metal roof and and make it heavy duty. I basically just want to make it a house for the chickens to go in a night and they’ll have a run to go in during the day. Anyway, do these coop do well in winter? Will they keep frostbite away? And how about summer? We’re I live in the summer it can get up to 100-102 with the humidity at 43-50. Our winter can get well below freezing and can have up to 5in of snow. And we get quite a bit of freezing rain. Will a hoop house work for my bantams? Thanks!

Ooh! Look what I found!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/top-10-hoop-coop-ideas.76490/

 

[fuzzi]

Below is a list of hoop coop builds I found with a search...have fun!

Pros and Cons
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hoop-coop-pros-and-cons.1154750/

Top Ten
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/top-10-hoop-coop-ideas.76490/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hoop-coop-pros-and-cons.1154750/post-18106632 (Blooie)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cattle-panel-hoop-coop.74636/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/200-chicken-coop-tractor.1154855/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hooyah-cheep-sea.75648/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/basic-hoop-chicken-coop-run-arizona.1586990/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-tractor-hoop-house.73374/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mos-cattle-panel-hoop-coops.73385/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/our-hoopy-coop-build.75775/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-hoop-coop-chicken-tractor.72211/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-biddie-bordello-a-hoop-coop-run-combo.72189/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/ms-biddys-cattle-panel-hoop-coop.73755/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/low-hoop-coop-chicken-tractor-pvc.76361/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-cattle-panel-hoop-coop.72110/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-tractor.69336/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/kugler-cluck-house-hoop-coop.68037/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/compost-included-deep-litter-hoop-coop.66883/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-hoop-coop.65569/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pyxis-hoop-coop.66037/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/3-bs-chicken-shack-1-2.67067/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/turkey-hoop-house.65094/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/dutch-hollow-hoop-coop.65223/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/armorfireladys-fire-chickens-hoop-coop.65158/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/our-hoop-coops.63335/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-shaped-hoop-coop.63890/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-house.63764/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-hoop-coop.50256/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-coop.57593/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/sashurlows-chicken-coop.48550/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/ki4gots-small-coop.48680/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-cluck-o-stoga-chicken-tractor.67802/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cargos-chicken-coop-tractor.48254/
(roofing)

And a video tour:

 

[Egg Snatcher]

Ooh! Look what I found!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/top-10-hoop-coop-ideas.76490/

I think I looked at that thread, it has some good ideas! Thanks!

 

[fuzzi]

I guess I need to expedite the coop updates, including the ground anchors:

There's an increased chance of hurricanes in the forecast!

 

[fuzzi]

I think I will go with my original thought of covering and securing the current tarps under the extra shade cloth.

To Do This Weekend

1. Lay second shade cloth over coop (with helpers!)
2. Adjust to cover current tarps
3. Fit it to coop
4. Attach with zip-ties/bungees (temporarily)
5. Measure for wood strips
6. Purchase wood (1x2x8)
7. Roll shade cloth around wood strips
8. Drill holes through rolled ends
9. Attach to hoop coop (nuts & bolts)

Then

1. Install ground anchors

No, I'm not panicking, just feeling a little pressure that time is running out to get this done.

Then roll it, maybe twice. Drill a few holes through all of it and use bolts with washers to secure it to the run. I'd want to be sure that the bolts are just below the cattle panel cross bar rather than just relying on the hardware cloth - especially on the side of predominate wind.

Something like this:
View attachment 3605029

To remove, just unbolt it.

Don't rely on the grommets ot tie downs.
On this side the tarp is wrapped around a piece of wood and the wood is screwed to the wood of the frame.
On the other side the tarp is screwed to the base board.
It gets pretty windy where the chickens live.

 

[Krugerrand]

I think I will go with my original thought of covering and securing the current tarps under the extra shade cloth.

To Do This Weekend

1. Lay second shade cloth over coop (with helpers!)
2. Adjust to cover current tarps
3. Fit it to coop
4. Attach with zip-ties/bungees (temporarily)
5. Measure for wood strips
6. Purchase wood (1x2x8)
7. Roll shade cloth around wood strips
8. Drill holes through rolled ends
9. Attach to hoop coop (nuts & bolts)

Then

1. Install ground anchors

No, I'm not panicking, just feeling a little pressure that time is running out to get this done.

 

[fuzzi]

Started the process...

New cloth laid on top, covering the tarps:
(right/woods side)

It's not square, was probably woven or cut on a bias (diagonal)


Back view... what do I do with all the extra?

I don't want to cut it and regret it.

I pulled the cloth towards the front, making an overlap with the other shade cloth.

Then I started clipping it to the frame:

There's about 4" of cloth below the tarp edge, to wrap around the wood/lumber on the north side.

But nothing to wrap on the south (woods) side, it's even with the tarp edge:

Options I'm considering:

1. Position the shade cloth so each side gets about 2" to wrap around the lumber (will it be enough?)
2. Wrap the north side around the lumber, but just bolt the lumber over the edge of the tarp and fabric on the south (woods) side
3. Wrap the north side as planned, but wrap and attach the south side above the tarp edge

Thoughts? Suggestions? What would you do?

And what am I going to do about the extra fabric on the end?