Looking for input on hoop coop cover

[jamband]

A.T. Hagan :

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

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_...7apes/MKII_chickentractor_03_January_2009.jpg

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.

thanks A T do you cover it more fully in winter? Also just fyi the billboard tarps are 3 times as thick, uv resistant and suppossed to last 4 years, they are less than the heavy duty poly tarps.​

 

[cbohn80]

man, how many hens do you have in that thing?

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Quote:
The more northern states might want fuller coverage but for here in North Florida what you see is what they are in the year around. The roosts are high enough to be above the bottom of the tarp so they are out of the wind and the nest boxes are protected. So long as they are dry and have plenty of feed chickens are pretty cold hardy.

I presume you're having to trim the billboard tarps to fit? If they have that much UV resistance it would be worth the bother of trimming and installing grommets.
Quote:
Ten to fifteen depending on how well they tolerate confinement. More if they are young and not yet laying. I try to provide at least five square feet per mature bird. It works because the tractors are moved every day so the boredom factor is lessened.

 

[ailurophile23]

I'm in the southwestern mountains of VA so it is likely similar to where you are and the biggest issue I have had is with ventillation over the winter. They don't seem to mind the cold as long as there is plenty of ventillation and a place to get out of the wind. I haven't found insulation to be necessary but some extra plywood for the back during the coldest/windiest part of the year might be beneficial.

 

[jamband]

^^^^ thanks for the info. After talking to someone else am actually considering an open front wall with a roof overhang.....if not i was thinking plywood front and back with the tops left open. I imagine your winters are slightly more wintery than mine..I am in wnc mountains closer to asheville. I know areas like boone get worse cold/snow than we do but I am sure you we are pretty close in weather. Wind is the one thing I am nervous about with the open front but I can possibly work around that with proper location I think.

 

[jamband]

A.T. Hagan :

I presume you're having to trim the billboard tarps to fit? If they have that much UV resistance it would be worth the bother of trimming and installing grommets. .

no.... you can buy them already cut in multiple sizes or they will make them for you to custom size and its not really much more........I can post a link for you if thats ok on here if not message me and I'll send it to you​

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
no.... you can buy them already cut in multiple sizes or they will make them for you to custom size and its not really much more........I can post a link for you if thats ok on here if not message me and I'll send it to you

I post links all the time to other commercial websites. They just don't want you linking to other forums is my understanding.

 

[jamband]

ok here it is. i think there are others as well but these folks were really helpful.

http://www.billboardtarps.com/collections/tarps

I asked about a custom size i wanted and it was cheaper than buying a heavy duty poly one at TSC. My buddy used one for a pond liner and he said the things are super tough even compared to contractor grade tarps they sell at building supply stores. I believe these are the same tarps you see semi drivers using over huge loads.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Quote:
Thanks for the tip. I'm going to check into them.

 

[TheDownyChick]

Do the billboard tarps add a lot of extra weight? I want to keep mine portable.