The hoop coop build

[mikeyv0295]

Not sure where you're physically located (you really should add it to your profile - mouse hover over Account top right and a drop down will appear. Click on Personal Details and scan down. You'll see the spot for Location. Then go to the bottom and save changes). It appears it's a place with winter. I use tarps on my hoop shelter for my goats. I use the brown "heavy duty" ones from Home Depot.

They don't last.

I would strongly recommend that you consider covering the entire coop exterior with corrugated roofing. That's my plan with mine. I'm using the polycarbonate stuff, not the steel. Lighter and see through. More expensive, yes, but I can tell you, it's no fun replacing tarps every 3-4 months. The sun bleaches them right out (yah, they supposedly have UV protection ). You can get translucent panels that will let some light in but keep the UV and heat down.

I’m in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina. We get some snow but rarely. Yea I like those roofing pvc corrugated panels. I’ll prob start with the tarp and upgrade later. Heck if have to replace the tarp every 1.5 yrs or so that’s not too bad.

 

[mikeyv0295]

Don't risk it, we had a possum break into my coop of 21 6 month old chicks a couple of weeks ago. It literally pulled the top of the coop. 1 chicken survived. The possum tore them up and left them all just laying there.

How did he break in? Was it through chicken wire or did he dig under?

 

[Latestarter]

I hope the tarp lasts that long for you... Don't count on it though. Post some pics when you're done in the coop thread

 

[K813ZRA]

I am planning on building a hoop coop as a tractor and another as a grow out pen. I sure do love what you did with yours! Great work!

PS: I use tarps for temporary turkey shelters and the simple blue tarps normally hold up for 2 seasons in NW PA, for whatever that is worth.

 

[kwhites634]

Not sure where you're physically located (you really should add it to your profile - mouse hover over Account top right and a drop down will appear. Click on Personal Details and scan down. You'll see the spot for Location. Then go to the bottom and save changes). It appears it's a place with winter. I use tarps on my hoop shelter for my goats. I use the brown "heavy duty" ones from Home Depot.

They don't last.

I would strongly recommend that you consider covering the entire coop exterior with corrugated roofing. That's my plan with mine. I'm using the polycarbonate stuff, not the steel. Lighter and see through. More expensive, yes, but I can tell you, it's no fun replacing tarps every 3-4 months. The sun bleaches them right out (yah, they supposedly have UV protection ). You can get translucent panels that will let some light in but keep the UV and heat down.

I've had a HD tarp over one of my runs for several years w/o a single problem. I think what's made it last so long is that it's partially shaded & is silver on the outside.
That said, I'm about to build a hoop coop that will never see a chicken; going to be a greenhouse. I'll use cattle panels with Lowes' opaque white corrugated poly panels wired (more likely zip tied ) to them.

 

[kwhites634]

View attachment 1280483 View attachment 1280473 Beautiful build! Ours used no framing of any kind....we just pounded steel fence posts into the ground and wired the CPs to them in an arch. Although it flies in the face of conventional wisdom - as does everything I do that’s chicken related - we found that stiffening the structure meant that it fights the wind while having no fram8ng allowed it to flex beautifully. Winds here have hit 90 mph and it didn’t budge. Snow loads? No problem at all as you can see. We never had to do a thing to it except put clear, reinforced greenhouse type plastic on most of it in winter and we used landscape fabric for shade in winter. Cheap, easy to replace if it ripped....which never happened...and since it came in rolls we that were narrower than the panels we put it on in sections just the size it was. We could roll each section up or down like window shades. I loved it then, and I’ll continue to use it just as it as a greenhouse now that I have rehomed my flock. You won’t regret the choice of a hoop coop!

Hey, Lady!
Good to see you again. Hope you're doing well. Stop by the Education Incubation thread once in a while and see some old friends.

 

[mikeyv0295]

I am planning on building a hoop coop as a tractor and another as a grow out pen. I sure do love what you did with yours! Great work!

PS: I use tarps for temporary turkey shelters and the simple blue tarps normally hold up for 2 seasons in NW PA, for whatever that is worth.

Thanks a lot! I’m pretty happy with it so far, excited to finish it. Yea if I can get 2 seasons out of it I’ll be happy.

 

[Eilsel]

If you haven't bought your tarps yet and you're looking to go cheap, you could consider billboard wraps. I went to a local billboard/sign company and bought a 10' x 18' and 12' x 24' for $10 each! Super heavy duty and for that price who cares how long they last! The same size at the hardware store is way more expensive. The only issue I have with the two I got are they are black on the "back" side so my chickens may have a coop with a Keystone Light roof, or I have to figure out how to paint the tarp- I am also afraid black will be too hot in the summer underneath.

 

[squadleader]

If you'd like a permanent solution for roofing, use 60 mil PVC or TPO plastic roof sheeting, it's about an eighth of an inch thick. If given a choice, go with PVC over TPO, PVC is slightly more durable. Either has a 30 year life.

I had some left over from a job and used that on my tractor. I draped it over the tractor, and screwed a 2x4 along it at the bottom, along both sides of the tractor, also screwed it to the wood battens under it, just at each end of the tractor, to keep the wind from getting a foothold on the edge, and trying to lift the sheet off.

These roof sheets come in big rolls of varying widths, and are heat or chemically welded at the joints of laps.

This is the roofing material used on large commercial flat roofs, like shopping centers and office buildings.
The 60 mil PVC is also used as pond linings.

I priced a 16x20 sheet and it was about $200 awhile back.

If you're interested in this, call a few commercial roofers, they could easily make whatever size you want, and it rolls up easily for transport. Do not attempt to weld any joints, they're experts, you're not, let them create the size you want, with them doing any joint welds.

It would be a piddling job for them, but be nice and they might do it for you. It would only take one of there guys a few minutes in their shop, to get you what you want. Shoot, they may have a remnant laying around that you could cut to your size, it's thick but shears or a utility knife will do the job

I can't stress enough how important the color is. I installed mine, it happened to be black, and it was so hot in the sun, I couldn't touch it, painted it white, and it was cool to the touch, no roasted chicken please.

If go tarp, as light a color as possible.

One last thing, get white if possible, if you get a deal on black PVC, OK, but paint it white. Please know PVC is famous for things not adhering to it, a good attribute, unless you want to paint it.

Call Sherwin Williams and tell them you're painting a PVC roof sheet, get a gallon of what the rep says will adhere to PVC, they'll know, and will have what you need.

I was in a hurry and used off the shelf latex from Home Depot, and it's peeling like a son of gun after six months. Should've called them, now I've got to paint it again.

If you want a large eave, you can zip tie battens on the hoop, and with a 8 batten at least, cantilever it three feet over the edge. If you make such a large eave, take five quarter deck boards and rip them for the battens (hard strong wood) on 12 inch centers.

This is a 28 inch eave, wish I'd gone 36 inches.

This may be of no interest, just some thoughts.

 

[Blooie]

Hey, Lady!
Good to see you again. Hope you're doing well. Stop by the Education Incubation thread once in a while and see some old friends.

Howdy! Shoot, like I'd be able to keep up with you folks over there!! Hugs back!