Polytunnel for calves

[J 1177]

Just thinking out loud but with the prospect of again mucking out my byres with a gripe to contend with today. I was wondering if a poly tunnel would provide a decent cheap alternative to keep calves in.
Or if anyone had any experience of them.
Iv seen the ones from northern polytunnel that have a panel at the bottom then mesh then the sheet. Are these any good?
Just looking at ideas now as funds may be lacking in the coming year (the way crops or lack of them are looking)

 

[pine_guy]

When it comes up for discussion in lambing threads, always seems to split people like marmite. Love it or hate it. Heat on sunny days is what concerns me about the idea.

 

[Cowcalf]

would you get in your byre with a skidsteer

 

[J 1177]

would you get in your byre with a skidsteer

Possibly its just the stalls are still in and the passage.

 

[sticky]

My father has a couple of polytunnels which are fine for sheep but not sure I would rear baby calves in them.

If you make it draft free the air would not circulate enough with the relatively low roof, there would also be some condensation dripping on the calves, also they are like saunas in the summer.

You still have to fork out down the sides because of the risk of damage to the structure. It's not what you asked but a small 360 with a grapple on it would work(seen it done).
IMO a steel structure with just a roof on and then bales around the outside would be a good starting point. There have been one or two threads on here with people documenting there progress on calf rearing sheds but not seen one for a while.

 

[som farmer]

I have bought calves, reared in polytunnels, but would not recommend it. The problem being environmental, big changes in temp, and ventilation has to be spot on, which with varying wind directions, is difficult, although it works well with sheep, Calves from them, haven't quite got the 'go' as others have.1 farm, reared to the same feeding regime as us, as, I worked out the ration ! I put the growth problems down to lingering sub clinical pneumonia. A lot of old byres have tiled roofs, which are ideal for air to pass through, and calves do well in them.

 

[KennyO]

Mini digger down muck passage scraping dung out the scrape down dung passage?

Suppose it depends how small your byre is.

I worked at a place where they had modified the rafters to get a matbro tr200 down the middle. All byre walls had been removed and replaced with removable steel and ply walls between pens.

 

[J 1177]

Thanks chaps. I shall forget that idea. the last thing I want to do is compromise the calves health. They do well in these motley crew of small byres and boxes. I could spend money and be worse off. I think I may be better adapting what I have to make cleaning them out easier. Thanks again, this forum at its best.