chicken coop vs. horse trailer?

[chick'n'weave]

Broke? Yes. Maybe crazy? Yes....maybe not! Chicken coops are so costly that I had an idea about transforming a horse trailer into a chicken coop. Has anybody out there ever done this? My horse trailer is 16 feet long, solid wood flooring, 4 ft. metal siding , metal rails about 3 ft. above the siding. Roof is not solid but has rounded metal piping that is shaped like a rounded roof.

I'm not talented enough to construct it myself, but if I had some ideas, perhaps I could give them to a reliable welder who could create access for nesting boxes, etc. Involving a professional welder might also be cost-prohibitive.

Any suggestions will be welcome. Thanks.

 

[sunflour]

If you google search, a lot of folks have done the same. Here's a link to a youtube video on converting horse trailer to a coop:

Welders are expensive, but the cost of metal for welding is quite high.

I think you would be better off with wood interior improvements.

If you can get a solid roof on it, then you could add plywood inside walls for insulation and to hang roosts.

Consider posting a photo of in and outsides of the trailer for more ideas?

 

[DallasCriftins]

I have a single horse box
I use it regularly as a quarantine coop for new birds

I fit a temporary weld mesh panel at the top of open end so that when the ramp is up it is secure and ventilated
I have unobtrusive brackets to support three perches placed equally along the trailer.

It works very well as long as it is not too cold then there is a bit too much condensation inside to be used all year round

it also converts back to being a horse box in seconds.

 

[chick'n'weave]

thanks for the information about too much condensation in the trailer. I hadn't thought about that. I guess I'll just stick with the regular coop idea.