JohnGalway
Member
- Location
- Connemara, Ireland
A little work done on the sheep tunnel today
- Thread starter JohnGalway
- Start date
- Location
- Near Beeston Castle
Will you ever get a day when it's calm enough to sheet it?
That looks hard ground.
That looks hard ground.
Recoil
Member
- Location
- South East Wales
What size is that and who did you have it from? How many pens will you fit in it? It's supposed to be best to fit the cover on a hot day if you can because it will stretch easier.
JohnGalway
Member
- Location
- Connemara, Ireland
Lots of great hot calm weather to sheet it have passed by unfortunately, I had no help with it then.
To be honest I will likely have to pick a cooler calm day and put a space heater inside. Man I bought it off said when I can walk around "inside" in a tshirt then it's warm enough to stretch it.
The tunnel is 42 feet by 23. I haven't decided yet how I'll work the internals, all Winter to figure that yet.
I bought it off John Manning. He has vids on YouTube, very nice man, very helpful.
To be honest I will likely have to pick a cooler calm day and put a space heater inside. Man I bought it off said when I can walk around "inside" in a tshirt then it's warm enough to stretch it.
The tunnel is 42 feet by 23. I haven't decided yet how I'll work the internals, all Winter to figure that yet.
I bought it off John Manning. He has vids on YouTube, very nice man, very helpful.
- Location
- Near Beeston Castle
I have sheeted bigger tunnels than that on my own John.
Doing it on your own makes you so hot you would be happy to walk around in your undies never mind a t-shirt!
There's still a chance of some heat yet, good luck.
Doing it on your own makes you so hot you would be happy to walk around in your undies never mind a t-shirt!
There's still a chance of some heat yet, good luck.
JohnGalway
Member
- Location
- Connemara, Ireland
I have sheeted bigger tunnels than that on my own John.
Doing it on your own makes you so hot you would be happy to walk around in your undies never mind a t-shirt!
There's still a chance of some heat yet, good luck.
Fair play to you, how did you manage that?
If a person has enough scaffolding type equipment I could see yesterday how one person could put up the frame alone alright. Have yet to tackle a sheet on a tunnel
- Location
- Near Beeston Castle
I have a tripod stepladder to get up to the top, no scaffolding or anything else.
Unroll the sheet and get it up on top above the bar that runs down the centre. You can hold it in place with a rope thrown over it. Then just unfold one end, secure it and work your way down unfolding as you go.
I get them tight as I can along the length before starting to fasten the sides down.
Years of practice, on some that were about an acre in size. The roll of polythene for those weighed over a ton! You drag them out with a very long rope and a tractor.
The tunnel I have for my garden is 60 foot long. I have sheeted that twice on my own because I thought it too small to ask for help. Just did it on a warm summer evening after work.
The key is experience. You haven't done it before so I wouldn't expect you to do it on your own. Two assistants would be good in your circumstances I'd say.
Unroll the sheet and get it up on top above the bar that runs down the centre. You can hold it in place with a rope thrown over it. Then just unfold one end, secure it and work your way down unfolding as you go.
I get them tight as I can along the length before starting to fasten the sides down.
Years of practice, on some that were about an acre in size. The roll of polythene for those weighed over a ton! You drag them out with a very long rope and a tractor.
The tunnel I have for my garden is 60 foot long. I have sheeted that twice on my own because I thought it too small to ask for help.
Just did it on a warm summer evening after work.The key is experience. You haven't done it before so I wouldn't expect you to do it on your own. Two assistants would be good in your circumstances I'd say.
JohnGalway
Member
- Location
- Connemara, Ireland
@Kidds Practice makes perfect as they say Step ladder is what my brother in law had also. I am finding it an enjoyable expierence seeing it progress as I've not even been inside one before - those at shows excepted.
@Henarar Budget, to put it simply, shed was the preferred option but the money wasn't there for it.
Step ladder is what my brother in law had also. I am finding it an enjoyable expierence seeing it progress as I've not even been inside one before - those at shows excepted.@Henarar Budget, to put it simply, shed was the preferred option but the money wasn't there for it.
JohnGalway
Member
- Location
- Connemara, Ireland
Details are hazy as I've bought it back in March. It was in the region of €2,200, can't quite remember exact figure. I think it's 11 or 12 feet high. The cover is slightly opaque, not black or green as I have seen. I know another sheep farmer, who I think is on here, has a 19 foot wide one off the same man and had no problems.
JohnGalway
Member
- Location
- Connemara, Ireland
Something tells me the guarantee is for five years, but I hear lots of farmers tell their covers lasted a lot longer. Something like €300 - 400 to resheet so no huge deal there.
I'm right on the coast as well. I picked the site in the most sheltered part of the farm just for that reason. I'm confident about it's ability, once we do our part right and get the plastic tight. John actually has a short video of his own tunnels during the storms we had early in the year, quite an eye opener but they stood.
I'm right on the coast as well. I picked the site in the most sheltered part of the farm just for that reason. I'm confident about it's ability, once we do our part right and get the plastic tight. John actually has a short video of his own tunnels during the storms we had early in the year, quite an eye opener but they stood.
JohnGalway
Member
- Location
- Connemara, Ireland
Will raddle them to know lambing week, so will bring groups in a few days before they're expected to lamb, then out again ASAP. Time spent in will depend on weather. Probably loose house them with the makings of a few pens on stand by. Will be handier than current system catching up each newborn for various jobs outdoors. Two years ago I had significant losses in twins to my friend the fox. No fox issue this year at all. Greycrows, weather, and natural hazards like open drains will be other hazards avoided in the first short while of life. It'll be more expensive than outdoors but gives me advantages of peace of mind, bit of comfort, and hopefully increased live lamb crop.
- Location
- Huntingdon
How many are you lambing in total? ?
JohnGalway
Member
- Location
- Connemara, Ireland
JohnGalway
Member
- Location
- Connemara, Ireland
There are limitations to what I can do for sure. I try to improve it a little each year.
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
I bought a tunnel at an agricultural show and got a 50% discount for taking it down and removing it. Then got a 50% grant! The next year, I did the same. I asked the company how they got the sheet on. They told me there is usually a windless period around 4am - 5am. Yes, it is possible to put it on single handed. I think I laid the sheet on the ground next to the tunnel, tied a rope to one corner, then pulled it over. Polythene is quite slippery. When I sold the sheep, I sold the tunnel to some market gardeners. I forget the numbers but I am pretty sure I made a decent profit! A fantastic difference to lambing outside and it almost made lambing a pleasure. Almost!