Market Farming

["Margaret L Wilson" <booldawgs AT cavenet.com>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "mtlivestock" <crublee AT libby.org>
To: <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: January 04, 2005 4:26 AM
Subject: [Market-farming] RE: Nitrogen Sources, pigs and chickens

> Margaret,
> What type of cover did you have on your stock panel hoophouses?  Did you
> have condensation problems?  Curious to know the particulars of keeping
> stock in these without having illness due to excess moisture building up on
> the cover.
> 
> Christina
>
It was just a plain gray tarp like you cover hay with.  One end was not 
covered and the other end was opened during the day.  It was far from air 
tight but it wasn't drafty either.  We added straw frequently to absorb the 
urine and there was never an ammonia odor.  I was the only short enough to 
stand up straight and I never saw any moisture condensing inside.  The 
temperature inside was very close to the outside temperature.  It was 
essentially just a wind and rain shelter.  It was secure enough to keep any 
predators out but not solid enough to keep new lambs from going through the 
bars.  We have switched to pig panels for the sheep because Shetland lambs 
are so tiny.  Stock panel hoop houses also work well for us for temporary 
housing for new calves and their mothers.  They are quick to set up,  
predator proof and reasonably affordable.  

This old place has a shortage of decent shelters.  Our bull has a temporary 
(2 years, LOL) shelter made from pipe corral panels, plywood and a tarp. The 
bull pasture has a pond in the middle.  We are going to "mob" pasture and 
feed everything in there over the next few months.  It will kill the weeds 
while spreading manure.  Everyplace we feed we scatter seeds.  The animals 
push them in and the spoiled hay covers them with mulch.  We will move the 
animals out, let it grow, disc the grass/clover in and have a new area for 
growing.  Our plan is to grow raspberries, strawberries and possibly 
blueberries there and irrigate from the pond.
I am really intrigued with the pig tiller idea too.
Margaret