hoop houses

[sjcummings]

I have seen where they use cattle panels to make hoop houses. can these be used all year if plastic is used or will it be to cold. I didn't know if I could use them with my muscovies or sebs.

 

[mrsengeseth]

I had wondered the same thing, because i saw a hoop house green house i thought would be ideal for chickens.

But with so little experience, I wouldn't know. I bet someone else here does though.

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

I've seen some used year round. I would think you would have to be carefull not to close it up too tight to allow for ventilation.
I have one that I use for a summer time run with just a tarp over it to keep rain out. It stood up to last winters snow load quite nicely.

 

[Beekissed]

Joel Salatin uses hoop houses for his pigs and chickens, as well as rabbits suspended over the whole thing in cages. Maybe its warmer with all those animals in one space, who knows?

He then plants tomatoes in the hoop house come spring, right in the turned up soil! Good ideas, that man has!

 

[patandchickens]

In general an unheated greenhouse won't stay any warmer at night than the outdoors (tho it may be that cold for slightly less time each night). WHether that's 'too cold' depends on where you live and what you're trying to do in there.

Greenhouses, esp. ones on the ground rather than a poured slab type thing, tend to get quite humid. So lotsa ventilation would be a big priority. You'll also need it to keep it from getting to *hot* in there during the day.

With good, uv-resistant thick plastic and the end of the hoop house left open it could make a nice out-of-the-weather winter *run* at least.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[sjcummings]

I am in PA and was mostly concerned about my sebs because of their curly feathers I didn't think they would be able to take the cold as much as other geese.