I got the fever to have chickens once again and began researching my coop options a few years ago. I wanted a chicken tractor but it took me a long time (way too long = over analyzing) to finally settle on Rick Hathaway's unique design of the Chicken Mobile Stagecoach. I preferred something that was unique looking, durable, easy to move around and predator proof and I feel like it's pretty much turned out to be just that. I ordered the plans and DVD from his site and studied them thoroughly and began to gather the materials. It takes a lot of fabrication to build this coop but that's something I really enjoy doing in my spare time. I made a few changes from Rick's original plan to suit my own tastes and desires. I enlarged the roost area from two feet to three feet; I used corrugated metal roofing instead of galvanized sheet; I built my own version of a feeders; and I made my nest box detachable for easier cleaning. There's a lot you can do with this design to make it your own and incorporate any ideas of your own to make it uniquely yours. Here's a few pics I took along the way.
This is the finished product as it sits in my yard today. I added the long piece of corrugated tin just to give the gals a little relief from the rain in the run area; I actually have this piece attached with a couple of bungees just to see how it works out, but I like it so well I'll be permanently attaching it soon.
2" x 6" treated pine frame cut, drilled for pipe supports and assembled.
Center partition with door and ventilation for roost area cut, fabricated and screwed in place.
Rear wall with nest box and lower access door cutouts fabricated and screwed in place.
Front wall with access door fabricated and screwed in place.
Top and side rails installed.
Paint job complete, pipe supports and feeders installed.
A better view of the feeder.
Looking into nest box. Removable plastic trays from Wally World.
Nest box showing handle to pull up roost floor making it totally predator proof at night time.
View of roost area with floor in up position (before installing roof).
Roost area with floor and ramp lowered (before installing roof).
Another view of roost area with floor and ramp lowered (before installing roof).
Hardware cloth installed, my watering bucket with the nipples on the bottom and some Buff Orpingtons.
An overview of the finished product. The gals love their new Chicken Mobile Stagecoach! I pop off the nest box, then with the roost floor lowered I wash the roost/floor/ramp down with the water hose and move it to a new location about once a week. Easy to clean and pretty easy to move on level to semi-level ground. Everyone who sees it loves it and the wife and I love sitting on the porch in the evenings watching the antics of our little flock.
This is the finished product as it sits in my yard today. I added the long piece of corrugated tin just to give the gals a little relief from the rain in the run area; I actually have this piece attached with a couple of bungees just to see how it works out, but I like it so well I'll be permanently attaching it soon.
2" x 6" treated pine frame cut, drilled for pipe supports and assembled.
Center partition with door and ventilation for roost area cut, fabricated and screwed in place.
Rear wall with nest box and lower access door cutouts fabricated and screwed in place.
Front wall with access door fabricated and screwed in place.
Top and side rails installed.
Paint job complete, pipe supports and feeders installed.
A better view of the feeder.
Looking into nest box. Removable plastic trays from Wally World.
Nest box showing handle to pull up roost floor making it totally predator proof at night time.
View of roost area with floor in up position (before installing roof).
Roost area with floor and ramp lowered (before installing roof).
Another view of roost area with floor and ramp lowered (before installing roof).
Hardware cloth installed, my watering bucket with the nipples on the bottom and some Buff Orpingtons.
An overview of the finished product. The gals love their new Chicken Mobile Stagecoach! I pop off the nest box, then with the roost floor lowered I wash the roost/floor/ramp down with the water hose and move it to a new location about once a week. Easy to clean and pretty easy to move on level to semi-level ground. Everyone who sees it loves it and the wife and I love sitting on the porch in the evenings watching the antics of our little flock.
