Sheep Housing (Polypen)

Polypen sheep housing has been used by sheep farmers over many years to improve animal welfare and help increase profitability.

A stable protective environment reduces stress in the animals, particularly when they are heavily in lamb and housed sheep are cheaper to feed than stock wintered outside. 

Flock management becomes easier with increased comfort for both sheep and shepherd. Lamb survival rate can increase by up to 30% through reduced mortality from exposure and predators.

Polytunnel structures can be built on hillsides so long as the fall line is lengthways along the structure.

Usually Polypens are laid out with a 1m central feed passage and the size of structure required is calculated by the number of ewes based on 1.5 m2 per ewe and twins.

The gable end frames are large enough to allow a cabbed tractor to work inside for feeding and cleaning out.

Polytunnels are normally clad in white polythene, which offers the most comfortable environment. If environmental/planning issues are important, green polythene can be supplied to blend with the countryside.

Polypens have stock fencing fixed as a 1m ventilation fence around the base of the structure and up to 2m across the gable end frames .

Polypens are not only used for sheep, many other types of animals may be kept or sheltered in them, e.g. cows, goats, emus, ostriches . . . .

For more pictures of Polypens visit our Polypen gallery page