NY chicken lover!!!!

[cracrzy4chicks]

I have some questions for you Hoop Coop specialists.

#1 how long & wide are the hog panels you use ?
#2 how rigid are they ?


This is what I'd like to do. Please tell what you think
I have a chain link dog kennel.................. it's my chicken condo ! I know it's 12 ft wide and about 45 ft long. I was thinking about attaching the hog panels to the top rail of the chain link. It would have a gentle arch and I could cover it with tarps for the winter. And of course close up the sides somewhat to protect the girls.

Does this sound doable to those who have worked with the wire panels ?? It would total y solve my problem of not having enough winter housing

 

[horsekeeper]

I put up three sides of the chain link kennel and mounted the other panel on the top. Planted three 8-foot posts across the front and wired it in with a real door. Laid 2x2s from the front over the top of the panel and covered it all with yard wire. Then attached the tarp with bungee cords. Right now it is divided with plastic chicken wire and housing 12 roosters that are going in the freezer and 10 turkeys. I planted an additional post (landscape tie) in the middle to help support the top panel and then attached 2x4s for roosts. The bottom is going to be surrounded with bales of mulch hay which is a work in progress as I only get 6 bales at a time. Everything is pretty much put together with zip ties so it can be disassembled next year when I have the time and good weather to build a more permanent shelter. Will try to get some pictures in the next few days so you get a better idea. Everything will be reusable for other projects when it comes apart.

 

[Lapeerian]

 I have some questions for you Hoop Coop specialists.

 #1 how long & wide are the hog panels you use ?
 #2  how rigid are they ?


 This is what I'd like to do. Please tell what you think
  I have a chain link dog kennel.................. it's my chicken condo !   I know it's 12 ft wide and about 45 ft long. I was thinking about  attaching  the hog panels to the top rail of the chain link. It would have a gentle arch  and I could cover it with tarps for the winter. And of course close up the sides somewhat to protect the girls.

 Does this sound doable to those who have worked with the wire panels ??  It would total y solve my problem of not having enough winter housing

They are 4' x 16'
It depends. Are you going to have any additional bracing? If it is rounded over, it will roll side to side in the wind without something to stabilize it. Snow load would make it sag and your upward curve would be downward. It could also be bent to create a peak, but takes lots (& lots) of muscle for that. It won't roll in the wind and may be better for snow to slide off. My brother used a board to create the straight edge during the bending.
If you have the means of getting a panel home, just get one to play with. As long as you don't bend or damage it, you can return if it doesn't work the way you hoped.

 

[Gramma Chick]

fox came and snatched my Sussex. I was home and came out just after it happened. Followed feathers into the woods. It dropped her and took off. She's recouping inside and I hope she'll be okay. I wasn't sure what happened but saw the fox running across a neighbors yard.

I don't let them out unless it's for a short period while I'm there.

Nice Save ! ITS Super Rancher ! Saving the Day ! I wish the hen ? Well

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: I buried Mine !

 

[armorfirelady]

 I have some questions for you Hoop Coop specialists.

 #1 how long & wide are the hog panels you use ?
 #2  how rigid are they ?


 This is what I'd like to do. Please tell what you think
  I have a chain link dog kennel.................. it's my chicken condo !   I know it's 12 ft wide and about 45 ft long. I was thinking about  attaching  the hog panels to the top rail of the chain link. It would have a gentle arch  and I could cover it with tarps for the winter. And of course close up the sides somewhat to protect the girls.

 Does this sound doable to those who have worked with the wire panels ??  It would total y solve my problem of not having enough winter housing

Rigid enough that they can get snowed in and not collapse. But you can bend them to make your hoop
Mine is 16ft long and about 50 inches wide. I used 2 to make my hoop coop. More than enough room for my 8 hens. I can stand up in the middle, but I am short, but someone up to 5'10 should be fine.
I used 4-8 ft 2x4s to make the base to hold the cattle panels.

I have a link to my coop under my name. I put in step by step with pictures. I am a visual person

I would think your plan might just work but you would def need some wood to keep those cattle panels in an arch for the roof. They are not stiff enough to stay up themselves with the weight of snow on them

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

How are you doing? Holding up with 3 little girls?

Hanging in there. Both older girls have colds and my throat feels like its getting a little scratchy. I hope the baby doesn't catch it.
My girls love their new baby sister.

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

I put up three sides of the chain link kennel and mounted the other panel on the top. Planted three 8-foot posts across the front and wired it in with a real door. Laid 2x2s from the front over the top of the panel and covered it all with yard wire. Then attached the tarp with bungee cords. Right now it is divided with plastic chicken wire and housing 12 roosters that are going in the freezer and 10 turkeys. I planted an additional post (landscape tie) in the middle to help support the top panel and then attached 2x4s for roosts. The bottom is going to be surrounded with bales of mulch hay which is a work in progress as I only get 6 bales at a time. Everything is pretty much put together with zip ties so it can be disassembled next year when I have the time and good weather to build a more permanent shelter. Will try to get some pictures in the next few days so you get a better idea. Everything will be reusable for other projects when it comes apart.

WOW !! That's sounds like a great idea without much $$$ invested. Please do post pictures. What is the size of your pen ? I have 13 Australorps & 7 BLRW. Many will be going to freezer camp also, but not till after Dec., they're only 4 months old now.

 

[horsekeeper]

The pen is 10x10x6. Here are some pictures showing how it is put together. Living on a hillside is always a challenge.

 

[Sally8]

The pen is 10x10x6. Here are some pictures showing how it is put together. Living on a hillside is always a challenge.

Hi! I'd like to comment on this particular pen. We have 1 also very similar. Three different ties it has buckled under the weight of snow (twice) and rain (once) It bend the metal frame on one side so badly that we couldn't reuse it. Maybe you have enough support under the top, I'm not sure exactly where in NY that you live but here in the Fingerlakes we can get a lot of snow. We still use the three remaining sides but have the tarp coming off the top of our coop at an angle. I'll run out and take pic. It's our first winter this way. sue