chicken tent?

[Pork Pie]

Hi everyone,

Sadly i am about to leave my home where i keep chickens and roosters (no complaints from the neighbours which is great).

I will have to rent somewhere and even if they do allow me to keep chickens (tough ask) i do not want to make a permanent structure as a chicken coop.

With the assistance of a gin and tonic as a sun-downer

, i wondered if anyone has ever used a tent as a chicken coop? I was thinking of a basic cube-shape affair which would provide shelter and then have some structures made internally from metal tubing to support roosts, nest boxes and food stores. I would think some predator proof metal on the ground would be good also.

I live in Kenya so cold temperatures are never an issue (thank goodness) and rain is not too much of a problem.

Any thoughts? Alternatively, does anyone have alternative suggestions that would be economical and non-permanent?

Many thanks in advance


CT in Kenya

 

[Gremalkin]

Did you look at the Chicken Tractor section under Coops?

There are also Hoop style coops there and in the other sections. Not sure if you can get the feedlot panels there, but the hoop style works well for us as runs. Predators and weather here - require a sturdier/more protected coop. Here's one example with step-by-step pictures. And another.

Some have used pvc piping rather than metal or wood and seem to like it for weight (easier to move).

 

[Pork Pie]

Many thanks for the response - I have looked at the coop / chicken tractor but just wondered if anyone had used a tent as the basic structure. We don't have hardware stores here in kenya, so shopping around for pipes and other bits and bobs is a pain to say the least. And as for the ridiculously inflated costs of drills etc here - its madness!

The coops seem great and i will give further thought as to how i can incorporate aspects of these designs.

Thanks once again!

CT

 

[Gremalkin]

I would worry that predators could just rip the tent material. . .not sure what predators are there. Maybe reinforce sides as needed with something?

 

[Pork Pie]

i was thinking of using the thick tarpaulin material that is commonly used on marquees. The only real predators are snakes where i am right now (although monkeys are mongoose are around), but i agree that a shallow structure on the ground with fine chicken wire around the sides would be necessary. The door would also be something to consider in terms of predators.

 

[ygritte]

I love the out of box thinking! My first thought was predators too.
If you are confident that it's sufficient protection I don't see why it wouldn't work, as a sun block/wind block it'd be great... And I doubt the chickens care as long as they have that and plenty of ventilation
Good luck. Hopefully you'll post pictures!

 

[Pork Pie]

Many thanks - i will indeed keep you posted with photos!!

 

[Pork Pie]

Actually, i was looking at the "eglu" coops on the net yesterday and i was wondering if a large plastic rubbish (trash) bin could do a similar job. Im not sure, but it if i can find a way to make that work it might be another thought. Looking at the Eglu design i would have to make a frame on which to stand the bins (laid down horizontally) and insert some roosting bars (maybe a trellis design made of upvc pipes) and a nest area in each one, drill some holes for ventilation at both ends. Please let me know if this is a terrible idea or not

 

[ygritte]

I'm convinced that open air coops are the best way to go so hearing "drilling holes for ventilation" makes me cringe a bit.
But I'm also not quite able to picture what you are describing.

 

[Pork Pie]

I agree that ventilation is a key issue and i would maybe consider cutting the top areas out of the front and back and putting chicken wire over them. Here's the link to the Eglu guys. I assumed it was a US based company but i now see that it is a UK company so maybe they are relatively unknown over the pond.

https://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/chicken_keeping/eglu_classic/f/9e19249cfe8c09eb4094fb2fd9964e1a/

They seem to be popular, so i can only assume that they work quite well (they should - they cost an arm and a leg!).

The kind of bin i was thinking of would be something like this photo below. Now how to make it "Eglu-esque" is another matter!