Looking for input on hoop coop cover

[jamband]

Hey all,

I am building a portable hoop coop with cattle panel and was looking for opinions on covering it. I live in the Western NC mountains so avg low winter temps is mid-low 20's mid to upper 80's as average summer high.......My original plan was to cover the coop with foil bubble insulation and then and heavy duty tarp made from old billboards. I plan on over hanging the roof on both sides about 6 inches to make venting the walls easy by simply leaving the tops open and still keep dry......I got this idea from the folks at sugar mt farm in VT so obviously thy are much colder.

My question is do I, in my climate need the insulation? or will the super tarp be enough and some plywood for back wall maybe....

They wont be locked up inside with possible exception of short span of winter but hopefully not then either.

The insulation is expensive. it will add 120 dollars to the cost and being I only spent 75 so far and have everything but the tarp thats a big chunk.....but I simultaneously don't want to make it too hot or cold or moist on them either.


Thanks all

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

My FIL has a hoop barn that he had to go back and add insulation in because it was RAINING condensation. Now it doesn't.

I sure wish my coop was insulated...it's a metal shed. We get to the 10's and 20's (usually just 20's).

I have never had a hoop coop though...just my opinion.

 

[jamband]

yeah condensation was the main thing I was actually worried about..... was his ventilated? thank you

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
I don't think he has any windows or anything in it...it's just one of those standard metal hoop barns.

 

[jamband]

I am planning on leaving it vented so I wonder if the insulation is necessary.

 

[zookeeper15133]

I think with proper ventilation, condensation wouldn't be a problem. Be sure to use the white side out on your cover.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
I'd skip the insulation, personally -- it is extremely hard for me to believe that it will do any meaningful good. To the extent you're concerned about keeping them warm, I think the thing to do is to have a smaller structure inside the hoop-coop that they can trundle into to keep warm when they feel like it.

Bear in mind you will have to add additional bracing, preferably including (but not limited to) one or more central posts (can be temporary but must be held in place well enough they don't fall over), so that snow does not flatten your hoop, cuz otherwise Yes it will.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[blueskylen]

we don't have a hoop coop, just a wood building with a tin roof - no insulation, but a window in back and both a screen door and solid tin door on the front. i have thought about insulation, but haven't put it in for here in WV. i do run a heat light when it gets below 20 degrees in the winter - altho i don't think that they would really need it. have had these hens for about 5 years now, and no sicknesses . i think that they need the ventilations rather than a too tight coop.

 

[jamband]

Quote:
i think a coop fully wrapped(with vents) in it would def keep it warmer/cooler but not sure if its necessary. I am not really worried about there ability to keep themselves warm. Like I said the winters are not bad and temps in the teens are pretty rare


Quote:
yeah had not thought about that. the one I saw that i am basing it off had 2 ft of snow piled on top it but they had frame theirs with re-bar......i guess I could use rebar under the cattle panel for extra strength but the extra weigh is undesirable since i'll be moving it a lot. Ill have to add some temp posts come snow time, which is not very often.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I use a plain old woven poly tarp with my hoop coops.

Temperatures range from the occasional high-teens in the winter to the high nineties in the summer. Condensation is not a problem because my design allows plenty of air flow.

About twice a year I change the tarps as the sun rots them out. I could probably find UV stabilized tarps so I wouldn't have to do that, but they'd likely cost as much as two or more of the cheap tarps.