Polytunnels for sheep

[FarmerK]

What are people’s thoughts on polytunnels for lambing? Could just do with a little extra space for next year as we’ve been tight this year but dont really want to fork out for a full shed.
Are many people still using them?
Good point/bad points?
Are they worth the money?
What firms/businesses have supplied you with one?
Thanks

 

[ollandroverman]

What are people’s thoughts on polytunnels for lambing? Could just do with a little extra space for next year as we’ve been tight this year but dont really want to fork out for a full shed.
Are many people still using them?
Good point/bad points?
Are they worth the money?
What firms/businesses have supplied you with one?
Thanks

They are brilliant for sheep. Rain off their backs, but still bright and airy.
I recommend having a darker green cover. Mine is where as my parents was conventional semi-translucent white. The drop in internal light levels isn't big, but when the sun comes out the interior doesn't cook like the white cover equipped ones do.

 

[spin cycle]

meh .....ok for sheep......not very telehandler friendly

 

[Buford T. Justice]

Have one with a good few years for the lambing ewes, simple and quick tho put up but don't put it near trees, cattle or machinery. The plastic on mine is up 2 years now and it's already got holes in it from I'm assuming birds so I'll only get a few years more out of it.

I need a new calf house so I'll be taking it down in a few years time, assuming it's still covered then and putting up a steel calf and sheep house where it's standing, hopefully.

 

[Loftyrules]

Used to play rugby with a lad who is a partner at https://www.premierpolytunnels.co.uk/ they seemed to get good reviews

 

[shearerlad]

I’ve just put up one of these. Very well built and designed for housing stock. https://www.ellipsefabrications.com/agri-tunnel
The cover should do 5 years but will do 10plus if you look after it. 100x30ft tunnel is roughly £600 for new plastic. Biggest issue I have is pheasants coming in but I have mesh netting doors to put on to stop the beggars.

 

[neilo]

meh .....ok for sheep......not very telehandler friendly

Quite, you do need to have a competent operator on it.

Poly tunnels with ‘shoulders’, rather than half circles, are a lot better for working space inside.

 

[neilo]

They are brilliant for sheep. Rain off their backs, but still bright and airy.
I recommend having a darker green cover. Mine is where as my parents was conventional semi-translucent white. The drop in internal light levels isn't big, but when the sun comes out the interior doesn't cook like the white cover equipped ones do.

The white covers do get hot when the weather starts to warm up. However, the uv light coming through is what effectively sterilises the soil inside when you’ve cleaned it out, or grows crops for those that want to grow some veg inside over the summer.

 

[Glomulinman]

What are people’s thoughts on polytunnels for lambing? Could just do with a little extra space for next year as we’ve been tight this year but dont really want to fork out for a full shed.
Are many people still using them?
Good point/bad points?
Are they worth the money?
What firms/businesses have supplied you with one?
Thanks

I have a massive frame for little money for sale

 

[Mc115reed]

Put a good base down, I used lamb in one that just sat on a field and when it rained the bedding went like a bog... but otherwise really good too lamb in, we had mesh sides with bales stacked down the edge of it a couple ft away too allow air flow but stop drafts ....