Need ideas for weather proofing hoop house.

[HenPecked_bychildren]

We built this hoop house for our chickens back in March.

It's been working really well, except recently something tore the tarp off. Twice. It's ripped to shreds now and we can't keep replacing it all the time. Rainy season is upon us here in SW Florida and we need a solution quick. Something more permanent.

Any ideas?

 

[laughaha]

chloroplast sheeting? it would be a bit stronger but a determined animal could probably still get through it a positive is that it would bend with the wire. You could put it on the inside of the wire....

A really large doghouse with a roost in it (for inclement weather) and normal roost for nicer weather?

 

[elmo]

Plastic corrugated panels..but be aware it will get hot under there in the sun.

 

[ChooksChick]

I have use 6 mil plastic sheeting- it stretches rather than tearing and it's not all that expensive to re-sheet if it gets damaged.

You ought to look for a motion-sensitive LED solar spotlight to put up to discourage night visits. It helped out around here, and it was only $40 at Costco.

 

[CrazyBirdLady]

What about some type of heavy canvas material? I don't know where you'd find it in bulk, but it's the most flexible and HD material I could think of. Though it would probably soak through eventually... I guess I'm not much help... Unless you put the tarp under the canvas?

 

[Dingleberry]

I would line the inside of the coop with a tarp.

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

Quote:
The solid ones have no solar gain which is what we used. They are flexible and easy to fasten. They are made of some sort of polycarbonate and seem like they won't get brittle in the sun like the old fiberglass ones did. So far we're pleased.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[HenPecked_bychildren]

Thanks everyone!


We are trying a tarp again and over the tarp we strapped down 1in chicken wire. So hopefully that will deter the culprit from being able to get his little paws on the tarp to tear it off. We will see! Canvas definitely won't work here with our heavy summer rains. The plastic sheeting is a good idea too..

It it get's ripped off again we will have to try the plastic panels. But the ones the previous poster posted a link to aren't available at any of the stores near me. I wonder if you can order it and have it shipped to the store near here? Hmm..

I'm hopeful that this will work now. Plus we were able to find a brown tarp which looks SO much nicer than the old blue one. lol.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

What about roofing tin? It will bend over the frame. You can attach it with wire and a piece of old hose (to keep the wire from tearing more and more of the wire)