Polytunnel stock housing

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Polytunnel stock housing
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judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 06 3:10 pm Post subject:
So effectively the tunnel wouldn't ever be used for growing veg? It might work then, although you might be better off building an arrangement on skids that you could drag along, rather than having to uproot the tunnel frame every time.

NeathChris

Joined: 09 Feb 2006
Posts: 1387
Location: Neath, South Wales

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 06 3:43 pm Post subject:
No veg, we buy it all off next doors farm. It would just form a roof to give the pigs a shed really. Do you get what i mean?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45460
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 06 3:44 pm Post subject:
I'm just trying to remember wher I heard of this, I think it was one of the industrial tunnel firms, If i remember I'll let you know

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 06 5:43 pm Post subject:
They use them for poultry & lambing. Pigs & tunnels together I'm not sure about.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45460
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 06 5:46 pm Post subject:

TAVASCAROW wrote:

They use them for poultry & lambing.

Yeah, it's the lambing thing I'm thinking of

NeathChris

Joined: 09 Feb 2006
Posts: 1387
Location: Neath, South Wales

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 06 6:06 pm Post subject:
I've seen it with lambs and cattle, and with pigs omewhere. If they cant het to bit, chew and break it they should be ok i was thinking? Imagine a perimeter of metal sheets inside, and out around the perimeter, see what im thinking?

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 06 6:16 pm Post subject:
You know your pigs and how they behave - so if you think it will work...go for it. The moving it around bit sounds tricky though.

Anna-marie

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 980
Location: West Wales

Posted: Sat Dec 16, 06 7:46 am Post subject:

I bought a 20' x 40' sheep-housing polytunnel last year, with the intention of providing winter shelter for my livestock (sheep, goats, cattle and horses).

I still haven't got around to sending off the "declaration form" to the council yet, though!

I don't have pigs, but thought that I may have similar problems with the horses, so had planned to make a "stable" for them in the centre area, away from the polytunnel walls.

Your idea should work, but I think that you may have problems moving the polytunnel, unless you are prepared to rebuild it every time that it is moved.

It may also be useful to contact the manufacturer, to make sure that the polytunnel fabric is OK for livestock, in terms of not over-heating, etc.

Good luck with your project!

Anna-marie

NeathChris

Joined: 09 Feb 2006
Posts: 1387
Location: Neath, South Wales

Posted: Sat Dec 16, 06 9:21 am Post subject:
How has it worked for your stock? Did you put a base underneath it or just straw down on the soil? Last edited by NeathChris on Sat Dec 16, 06 9:39 am; edited 1 time in total

Green Man

Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 5272
Location: Rural Scotland.

Posted: Sat Dec 16, 06 9:23 am Post subject:
Will you need planning permission now?

Anna-marie

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 980
Location: West Wales

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 06 11:26 am Post subject:

My polytunnel still isn't up yet

But, for a base, the topsoil will be scraped off, leaving much firmer ground underneath, then straw will be placed as bedding for the animals. Areas will be separated off with sheep hurdles, which can easily be moved around, and will still give the feeling of an open space.

I normally use a semi deep-litter type of bed, where I muck out the very dirty bits every couple of days or so, placing fresh bedding on top. Over time, the bed gets deeper but stays relatively fresh. One big muck-out, then, when the ammonia build-up gets too strong, starting again from scratch every month or so.

I find that this system saves time in not doing a full muck-out every day, but still leaves a fresh bed for the stock.

Full planning permission in itself should not be required, but a Declaration of Farm Building needs to be sent to the local council, stating my intentions, and reassuring them that the neighbours have no complaints. I have to give details of materials used for the base, the polytunnel itself, and show any "roadways" leading to it.

Roadways include those areas where the topsoil is being scraped away to provide a base firm enough to drive on.

I have also needed to have a letter of approval from the Local Highways Department, stating that the work will not undermine the adjacent highway, and that there are therefore no objections to the work being carried out.

This is not always necessary, but the land where I intend to place the polytunnel is on a slope next to the highway (only a local "B" road), and takes some of its weight.

All I need to do now is get the darned form off, so that the council can then decide whether or not full planning permission is required.

Apparently, if I do not have a response from them within 28 days, I can carry on with the work.

The Christmas and New Year period seems such an ideal time to send it off!!

Anna-marie

Lionheart

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 427
Location: Cheshire

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 06 4:32 pm Post subject:

Anna-marie wrote:

I bought a 20' x 40' sheep-housing polytunnel last year, with the intention of providing winter shelter for my livestock (sheep, goats, cattle......

May I ask you who the manufacturer was? I've been considering investing in something similar for lambing this coming Spring.

Thanks

Cris

Anna-marie

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 980
Location: West Wales

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 06 7:11 am Post subject:
Hi Chris, I think they are just called "Northern Polytunnels", but will check for you. Their service was really good, and the price compared very favourably against putting up a permanent building. (That I couldn't have afforded anyway ) Anna-marie

NeathChris

Joined: 09 Feb 2006
Posts: 1387
Location: Neath, South Wales

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 06 11:56 am Post subject:
Sorry to be rude but roughly how much are they, i seem to remember seeing some somewhere for £500 for 50x12 or 14?

Anna-marie

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 980
Location: West Wales

Posted: Mon Dec 25, 06 8:37 am Post subject:
Hi Chris, I paid much more than that Almost £2,000 for 20'x40' - but still a much cheaper option than the alternatives! Not sure if the ones that you saw were for animal housing or for horticultural use? Anna-marie

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