Quick and easy cattle panel hoola-hoop house

[soarwitheagles]

Hi everyone!

We have been having large "atmospheric river" storms, aka, the pineapple express. This has caused significant flooding at our ranch.

My greatest concern is creating a dry housing area for our pregnant ewes that are ready to drop their lambs any moment. Our last five lambs born were all born in the rain, during large storms, without shelter. After reading more articles, I would like to avoid having the ewes give birth in the rain, especially cold rain.

I usually like to take my time and do a good job on projects like this, but this week we are scheduled to have another "atmospheric river" storm, aka, the pineapple express. The storm is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

I need something quick and effective, somewhat temporary. Lean to's would need to be too large [over 20 sheep], so I settled on a cattle panel hoop house. I see no other option for right now and we are in a bind to have a working solution before Wednesday.

I used 6x6 and 4x6 for the ground perimeter boards siply because we had a large number of them laying around and the cost was super low. They are installed level and square. I routered a 3/8" wide, 3/4" deep slot for the cattle panel to rest in. I would like to stay away from using fence staples because this shelter is temporary and fence staples can be a bear to extract/remove. I am using thick plumber's tape screwed in to hold the cattle panel to the ground perimeter boards.

Everything appears to be going well so far until I tried to secure the cattle panels up top.

I am curious if I could use my wire welder to "tack" the cattle panels together. I am not satisfied with rebar wire securing the cattle panels together because it does not do a good job [way too much sliding and movement]. Tried zip ties and they were a joke.

I will install a "H-frame" on each end of the hoop house, then run a joist lengthwise under the top of the cattle panel to help secure the it.

I have some questions:

Has anyone here every welded cattle panel? Is it even possible?
Any ideas on how to attach the tarp?
Anyone have any other suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[babsbag]

I have never welded...don't know how.

However, are you trying to attach the panels end to end? If so I would use the rebar wire and go diagonally. Or another idea... if your groove in the bottom is wide enough could you overlap the panels by one square and then use rebar wire?

 

[soarwitheagles]

Thanks for your reply babs!

I tried the rebar wire diagonally, horizontally, and even double diagonal...all with the same results...once we tighten the rebar wire by twisting, the panels are no longer butted end to end...but are thrown out of whack...sure wish I could simply put a "tack" weld every foot or so...I would like the panels flush and tight so we do not rip the tarp...

A number of sites recommend using the foam for PVC pipe, then taping it at each joint, but that is much more work and significantly more cost too.

I am attaching a pic of the foam/tape version.

 

[babsbag]

I have gates that are stock panel welded to galvanized pipe that a friend made for me so I am betting that the panels would weld.

But another idea...
How about hog rings? You would have to buy the rings and the pliers but once you make that investment it is amazing how much you will appreciate them. Or 'J' clips like you use for building cages but I don't know how big they make 'J' clips.

 

[greybeard]

I 2nd the hog rings suggestion.
You will use the pliers again later..guaranteed.

But yes, you can tack weld the panels together, but why would you want to if this is a temporary shelter?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Years ago, in another life, with a different husband - we welded cattle panels. The end of the panel didn't coincide with a fence post so he welded the panel together. That was probably 25 years ago and they are still together.

 

[babsbag]

Someone needs to teach me to weld. I have the welder but no one here is proficient at it so not learning from them. Need to check the college for classes.

 

[Bossroo]

Hi everyone!

We have been having large "atmospheric river" storms, aka, the pineapple express. This has caused significant flooding at our ranch.

My greatest concern is creating a dry housing area for our pregnant ewes that are ready to drop their lambs any moment. Our last five lambs born were all born in the rain, during large storms, without shelter. After reading more articles, I would like to avoid having the ewes give birth in the rain, especially cold rain.

I usually like to take my time and do a good job on projects like this, but this week we are scheduled to have another "atmospheric river" storm, aka, the pineapple express. The storm is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

I need something quick and effective, somewhat temporary. Lean to's would need to be too large [over 20 sheep], so I settled on a cattle panel hoop house. I see no other option for right now and we are in a bind to have a working solution before Wednesday.

I used 6x6 and 4x6 for the ground perimeter boards siply because we had a large number of them laying around and the cost was super low. They are installed level and square. I routered a 3/8" wide, 3/4" deep slot for the cattle panel to rest in. I would like to stay away from using fence staples because this shelter is temporary and fence staples can be a bear to extract/remove. I am using thick plumber's tape screwed in to hold the cattle panel to the ground perimeter boards.

Everything appears to be going well so far until I tried to secure the cattle panels up top.

I am curious if I could use my wire welder to "tack" the cattle panels together. I am not satisfied with rebar wire securing the cattle panels together because it does not do a good job [way too much sliding and movement]. Tried zip ties and they were a joke.

I will install a "H-frame" on each end of the hoop house, then run a joist lengthwise under the top of the cattle panel to help secure the it.

I have some questions:

Has anyone here every welded cattle panel? Is it even possible?
Any ideas on how to attach the tarp?
Anyone have any other suggestions?

Thank you!

View attachment 26567 View attachment 26568

That groove that you routed is a perfect environment for dry rot as well as black mold to form in due to rain and moisture from fog and morning dew. You could seal the timbers with water seal to minimize these issues. On others , I would't rout a groove. As for fastening the cattle panels to the base, you could use small pipe fastener clamps, the ones that look like a question mark and has a hole for a screw on one side.

 

[Bruce]

Good point @Bossroo. And though I don't know what "thick plumber's tape" is, I think I would also want something more structural holding the panel down if the wind picks up.

I don't think there is even a question as to whether or not you can weld cattle panels, they are created by welding right????

And I 3rd the hog rings. You can get those pretty tight and put them on a diagonal so they keep the panel from moving much either up and down or side to side.

How long/wide is the tarp and how long/wide is the hoop shelter? I ASSUME the tarp has grommets so you could use screws and fender washers to hold the sides down, especially if the tarp is 16' wide/long

 

[babsbag]

I have friends that drive t-posts in the ground and put the panels inside of those. For a temp. structure they don't even use wood on the ground, just the t-post.