The ultimate portable coop... with the right help?

[pennyJo1960]

@Cryss your not hijacking but adding to knowledge jmho

 

[Cryss]

@Cryss your not hijacking but adding to knowledge jmho

WELL! OK!
I'm in NJ. Ice storms, wind, and deep snow nor'easters happen. Open pallets are not a good choice so I'll be enclosing mine. Now I'm thinking about attaching CPs as the roof to a single height pallet box rather than double height with a solid slant roof. Concerns are:
-Allowing ventilation up high without exposing the CP which would allow rain and snow inside.
-tarps as roof covering could leak or blow off.
-how to attach CPs to pallets.
-can the 16 foot long CP be cut easily?
-would a 16 foot CP have enough bend and strength if stretched over the top of the 12 foot length?
-I'm worried about the CP roof losing any warmth, not very insulating. No, I don't heat my coop.

I'm sure I'll have more questions.

 

[paintedChix]

I answered w/ my opinions in purple.

WELL! OK!
I'm in NJ. Ice storms, wind, and deep snow nor'easters happen. Open pallets are not a good choice so I'll be enclosing mine. Now I'm thinking about attaching CPs as the roof to a single height pallet box rather than double height with a solid slant roof. Concerns are:
-Allowing ventilation up high without exposing the CP which would allow rain and snow inside.
- If you go to Blooie's coop page, the description of how she built her run in WY would quite probably work for you. Not positive as I have a feeling your snow MAY be wetter/heavier than snow in WY.

-tarps as roof covering could leak or blow off.

- IF you invest in the heavier PVC tarps, then you should NOT have a problem with leaking. I think the only reason I've had as many issues with leaking as I do, w/ the "cheapy" tarps, is this -



At our previous property & at "temporary quarters" at friends' property, the cats were not on top of the tarped shelters/sheds/coops.

-how to attach CPs to pallets.

You can use farm fence staples. I don't have a close up pic, but if you search the coop section on hoop coops, you will find at least one and think several examples. There is also at least one example of a different attachment in (Aartt's?). You could also secure a board over/thru the panel with bolts. Or with the metal strips from hardware section that have holes in them (have no idea what they are called?).

-can the 16 foot long CP be cut easily?

- Yes, bolt cutters. If you don't want to purchase them, see if someone has one you can rent or borrow. Not inexpensive, but then if you have a lot of panels or livestock who can get legs or heads/necks thru and stuck - you invest in them. I've had two ponies get hung up in them - we had to cut them loose. I had a small arabian mare flip herself over backwards over one... this is that result... We were able to use a 55 gallon barrel full of water rolled over it to mostly flatten out the part we didn't cut. completely replaced that panel on the pony paddock, and used the somewhat straightened out one somewhere else. The mare that flipped backwards over the panel is up at the front of the paddock in the 2nd picture. Amazingly, she was not injured - silly horse.



-would a 16 foot CP have enough bend and strength if stretched over the top of the 12 foot length?

- that one, I do not know. I'm sorry. The one I'm planning on doing 12' wide - we haven't tried it yet. Might work here - might not with a snow load - possibly not enough arch. BUT you could use part of another panel and attach it. If using more than 1 panel for depth, do not put the attached section on same side, but alternate sides (if that makes sense).

-I'm worried about the CP roof losing any warmth, not very insulating. No, I don't heat my coop.

- again - check out Blooie's page(s). There are others who have also done hooped coops in the NE or in Canada? I remember snow, a screen/storm door, cutting the tarp to put vents in it and pics in the snow... And another article again in a NE state with straw & hay bales at the foot/base of the arches and a heavy duty white tarp used to cover - not a problem in the snow or cold. It wasn't posted on here but was in an on-line article. Maybe Rural Heritage? Or Chickens? Again, not sure....

Edited to add - 1 way to retain warmth would be to get a larger/heavier tarp and have it extend further down on all sides. Then like the other person described above (has a red fox in avatar i think), cut it to insert vents & use....ah...."stuff" (drawing a complete blank) to seal around the vents.

Army tents are heavy canvas type tarps. When I was on a training mission in Korea (1987), the tents weren't bad at all for warmth even w/o the stoves (when it got wet, too, us humans DID appreciate the stoves, LOL). Larry also did a lot of training and slept in them when he was in 82nd Airborne (1982-1986). He trained all over Germany and Alaska. Not the most comfortable, but do-able. Sure think the chickens can do fine, too.

I'm sure I'll have more questions.

Ask away!!

 

[Cryss]

I answered w/ my opinions in purple.



Ask away!!

Those were my questions. I'm not seeing any opinions in purple, nothing purple. Did I miss something somewhere?

 

[paintedChix]

I can open up the blue quote area and all my answers are there. BUT I am looking at this on a computer. I'll check to see if I can access it from my phone...

 

[paintedChix]

***See if this works.

WELL! OK!
I'm in NJ. Ice storms, wind, and deep snow nor'easters happen. Open pallets are not a good choice so I'll be enclosing mine. Now I'm thinking about attaching CPs as the roof to a single height pallet box rather than double height with a solid slant roof. Concerns are:
-Allowing ventilation up high without exposing the CP which would allow rain and snow inside.
- If you go to Blooie's coop page, the description of how she built her run in WY would quite probably work for you. Not positive as I have a feeling your snow MAY be wetter/heavier than snow in WY.

-tarps as roof covering could leak or blow off.

- IF you invest in the heavier PVC tarps, then you should NOT have a problem with leaking. I think the only reason I've had as many issues with leaking as I do, w/ the "cheapy" tarps, is this -



At our previous property & at "temporary quarters" at friends' property, the cats were not on top of the tarped shelters/sheds/coops.

-how to attach CPs to pallets.

You can use farm fence staples. I don't have a close up pic, but if you search the coop section on hoop coops, you will find at least one and think several examples. There is also at least one example of a different attachment in (Aartt's?). You could also secure a board over/thru the panel with bolts. Or with the metal strips from hardware section that have holes in them (have no idea what they are called?).

-can the 16 foot long CP be cut easily?

- Yes, bolt cutters. If you don't want to purchase them, see if someone has one you can rent or borrow. Not inexpensive, but then if you have a lot of panels or livestock who can get legs or heads/necks thru and stuck - you invest in them. I've had two ponies get hung up in them - we had to cut them loose. I had a small arabian mare flip herself over backwards over one... this is that result... We were able to use a 55 gallon barrel full of water rolled over it to mostly flatten out the part we didn't cut. completely replaced that panel on the pony paddock, and used the somewhat straightened out one somewhere else. The mare that flipped backwards over the panel is up at the front of the paddock in the 2nd picture. Amazingly, she was not injured - silly horse.



-would a 16 foot CP have enough bend and strength if stretched over the top of the 12 foot length?

- that one, I do not know. I'm sorry. The one I'm planning on doing 12' wide - we haven't tried it yet. Might work here - might not with a snow load - possibly not enough arch. BUT you could use part of another panel and attach it. If using more than 1 panel for depth, do not put the attached section on same side, but alternate sides (if that makes sense).

-I'm worried about the CP roof losing any warmth, not very insulating. No, I don't heat my coop.

- again - check out Blooie's page(s). There are others who have also done hooped coops in the NE or in Canada? I remember snow, a screen/storm door, cutting the tarp to put vents in it and pics in the snow... And another article again in a NE state with straw & hay bales at the foot/base of the arches and a heavy duty white tarp used to cover - not a problem in the snow or cold. It wasn't posted on here but was in an on-line article. Maybe Rural Heritage? Or Chickens? Again, not sure....

Edited to add - 1 way to retain warmth would be to get a larger/heavier tarp and have it extend further down on all sides. Then like the other person described above (has a red fox in avatar i think), cut it to insert vents & use....ah...."stuff" (drawing a complete blank) to seal around the vents.

Army tents are heavy canvas type tarps. When I was on a training mission in Korea (1987), the tents weren't bad at all for warmth even w/o the stoves (when it got wet, too, us humans DID appreciate the stoves, LOL). Larry also did a lot of training and slept in them when he was in 82nd Airborne (1982-1986). He trained all over Germany and Alaska. Not the most comfortable, but do-able. Sure think the chickens can do fine, too.

I'm sure I'll have more questions.

 

[Cryss]

Thank you! I can see it now. I don't have a computer , haven't since around 2012 or so. I use my cell.

ou could use part of another panel and attach it. If using more than 1 panel for depth, do not put the attached section on same side, but alternate sides (if that makes sense).

Not sure but I think you might mean to flip one "upsidedown "? I'm guessing by overlapping them a bit it might give more snow load strength?
I need to touch a CP so I understand its abilities!
Seriously, thank you. It gives me more options to consider.

 

[paintedChix]

Here are some other CP hooped coops - will take me a bit to list the ones that have pics. I just did a search and it came up with 10 pages of links to threads of CP hoop coop.

This one is permanent and VERY nice - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/

I would not be able to move this one, but super nice, heavy duty build and different roofing options. very different layout on interior, too. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-flying-fortress-chicken-tractor.1213066/#post-19331440

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/winter-in-my-crazy-run-build.1283384/#post-20723413

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...n-have-a-few-questions.1074479/#post-16412642

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/it-has-begun-chicken-math.1250244/page-2

A different type build - https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-half-hoop-coop-build.1180885/#post-18617753

Different ways to attach CP - https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...le-panel-to-door-frame.1016699/#post-15758354

Another build - https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hoop-house-coop.1097622/page-3

1 in IL - https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hi-from-northern-il.1075547/#post-16438162

A new link for tarps - https://billboardtarps.com/all-products/

Another one that I wouldn't be able to move (no actual tractor, deep sand) but great design & roof!! https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/ms-biddys-cattle-panel-hoop-coop.73755/

Shows the tarp all the way to the ground - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pyxis-hoop-coop.66037/

Dutch Hollow's portable coop - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/dutch-hollow-hoop-coop.65223/

Another permanent style w/ metal roofing - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-biddie-bordello-a-hoop-coop-run-combo.72189/

I am only on page 17 of 80 in the Medium Coops. Most of these are more permanent style, but they show some different roofing options and such. I haven't found the one I was referring to above in previous post with vent holes cut. The "stuff" used was a black sealant of some kind (looked like what was used with tar paper many years ago). I will do some more searching - headed to breakfast out w/ Larry and shopping at Lowe's ...

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Vinyl or metal sheds would give you the capability to disassemble and take with you when you move. I use two metal sheds for my coops. They work pretty well.

Another thing you could do if you decide to build with wood is to use torx head screws for everything. A bit more expensive than using nails, but easy to disassemble. Or you could build modular sections with nails, and then join them together with torx head screws (don't use phillips head screws)

 

[Cryss]

Here are some other CP hooped coops - will take me a bit to list the ones that have pics. I just did a search and it came up with 10 pages of links to threads of CP hoop coop.

This one is permanent and VERY nice - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/

I would not be able to move this one, but super nice, heavy duty build and different roofing options. very different layout on interior, too. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-flying-fortress-chicken-tractor.1213066/#post-19331440

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/winter-in-my-crazy-run-build.1283384/#post-20723413

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...n-have-a-few-questions.1074479/#post-16412642

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/it-has-begun-chicken-math.1250244/page-2

A different type build - https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-half-hoop-coop-build.1180885/#post-18617753

Different ways to attach CP - https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...le-panel-to-door-frame.1016699/#post-15758354

Another build - https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hoop-house-coop.1097622/page-3

1 in IL - https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hi-from-northern-il.1075547/#post-16438162

A new link for tarps - https://billboardtarps.com/all-products/

Another one that I wouldn't be able to move (no actual tractor, deep sand) but great design & roof!! https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/ms-biddys-cattle-panel-hoop-coop.73755/

Shows the tarp all the way to the ground - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pyxis-hoop-coop.66037/

Dutch Hollow's portable coop - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/dutch-hollow-hoop-coop.65223/

Another permanent style w/ metal roofing - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-biddie-bordello-a-hoop-coop-run-combo.72189/

I am only on page 17 of 80 in the Medium Coops. Most of these are more permanent style, but they show some different roofing options and such. I haven't found the one I was referring to above in previous post with vent holes cut. The "stuff" used was a black sealant of some kind (looked like what was used with tar paper many years ago). I will do some more searching - headed to breakfast out w/ Larry and shopping at Lowe's ...

WOW! You did all my research! I've found a couple of those already but I have lots to review now. You have been a huge help. Thank you so very much!