Large Movable Coop? (12 birds)

[StrawberryMoon]

I am looking for suggestions for a large movable coop. Not quite like the tiny chicken tractors meant to be moved daily, I'm thinking of a coop on wheels that could be moved once every couple of weeks to cycle chickens around my 10 acre property. The run would be separate and quite large. Has anyone tried something similar to the "ChickShaw" design from Abundant Permaculture? I have some concerns about its durability and open concept, but the design and lightweight PVC panel siding seems interesting. I am planning for my first ever chicks, and would love some expert guidance here. I am in zone 6 Indiana.

 

[limited25]

I don't know how to post the link here but if you look under my profile (under my userid) at Tractor Coop with 2 Runs, and then a few pictures at the end of my personal album you will see the tractor coop we built. We have recently expanded it due to chicken math so it is twice the size it used to be. When you make yours, would not recommend less than 6' wide.

 

[StrawberryMoon]

Good looking coop!

 

[limited25]

Thanks. We move it about once a month and then park it from October to about March (as green grass is pretty much gone during those months).

 

[StrawberryMoon]

That makes sense. I had wondered if there would be any point in moving it during winter.

 

[Chipper Chicken]

I am looking for suggestions for a large movable coop. Not quite like the tiny chicken tractors meant to be moved daily, I'm thinking of a coop on wheels that could be moved once every couple of weeks to cycle chickens around my 10 acre property. The run would be separate and quite large. Has anyone tried something similar to the "Chickasaw" design from Abundant Permaculture? I have some concerns about its durability and open concept, but the design and lightweight PVC panel siding seems interesting. I am planning for my first ever chicks, and would love some expert guidance here. I am in zone 6 Indiana.

Not an expert by any means, but there are several examples of coops made on a utility trailer base (mine included), converted horse trailers, old RV's, even school buses here on BYC. if you haven't already, try going to the Coops section at the top of this page and look at the tractor coops. Also use the BYC search option with terms like coop on wheels or coop trailer, converted RV, etc. the fewer terms used the more examples show up.

I live near a creek which has some great grazing area adjacent but can flood so my coop will be pulled up to a (hopefully) high enough level to be safe in the winter or when I'm not home.

Chipper

 

[Howard E]

The Woods coop I built (link below) is portable or moveable. Hook on with a truck or tractor and off you go. It is on heavy skids and was patterned after portable hog houses we used as a kid. Portable colony houses of this type were common about 100 years ago.

You could do the 6' x 10' size for up to 12 birds. Mine is 8' x 12' and would hold about 25 birds if you took it to full capacity. I have 10 in there now and they have plenty of room. It is heavy, but secure.

 

[StrawberryMoon]

Thanks for all the great ideas! Unfortunately I do not have a tractor, and am looking for something that can be moved with human power. Could anyone comment on this specific design? http://abundantpermaculture.com/mobile-chicken-coop/

I suspect it is way too open for the size to be a winter dwelling, and that it is advertised for significantly more birds than it should be. However if it were modified to become more enclosed or used for three seasons only, could it work?

 

[0wen]

http://www.chickenmobilestagecoach.com/

 

[seanengler]

Thanks for all the great ideas! Unfortunately I do not have a tractor, and am looking for something that can be moved with human power. Could anyone comment on this specific design? http://abundantpermaculture.com/mobile-chicken-coop/

I suspect it is way too open for the size to be a winter dwelling, and that it is advertised for significantly more birds than it should be. However if it were modified to become more enclosed or used for three seasons only, could it work?

Hey! Just wanted to share my thoughts on the mobile coop idea. I built one based off the harbor freight trailer. I too, wanted to be able to move it by hand without equipment (mainly because I don't have an ATV or tractor yet). I like this trailer platform because it has the hitch for future towing being a tractor or ATV, but for now it's super easy to move by hand, or with a $50 trailer dolly. Here are some pics of the project:


This is the trailer platform I built the trailer off of, it comes in two sizes. 40"x48", as seen above. That is the size I bought, thinking it would be easier to move by hand.




Here is the inspiration for my coop. It is built off a harbor freight trailer, but the larger of the two sizes, 48"x96". This design is nice, but would be tough to move by hand.



Here is a progress pic from when i was building it. I put an expanded steel floor in it for the poop to drop through, and whatever doesn't drop through can just get hosed through.



Here is the finished product, minus some ventilation I have added since then. Even on the hill it is very doable to move with one person.


Anyway, just my coop/solution to the need to have a moveable coop. We move it all over our property throughout the year. Not sure how this would work with your use of a run. We use 164' electric netting to contain them.