Ark for 50 hens????

[chick4chix]

Do any of you have an ark or movable tractor/mobile henhouse that can house up to 50 or more hens?? I'd love to see it!!! I want to build something similar to this and wondered if there were any fellow BYCr's that have it or something like it and how they like it??

Forsham Cottage arks www.forshamcottagearks.com make some fine chicken housing and one of their newest models is the "Orchard" and "Half Orchard". It has removable poop trays and nest boxes.

Post your photos if you have a mobile chicken house for that many girls -and what you think of it - how you built it and how it works etc - thanks!!

Here are some photos from their website:

 

[chick4chix]

bump

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

You could buy a trailer (yes one designed to be pulled by a car) and install a chicken coop on it. I saw a pic of one here on BYC not too long ago. Then you could pull it around with your car or tractor (or maybe lawnmower????? I don't know).

I will look around to see if I can find it....

 

[chick4chix]

Thanks Chickensaresweet- that's a really interesting idea. I'll look for it too. Ofcourse, I'm interested in it also being asthetically appealing like this one from Forsham is- I want to enjoy seeing it regardless of where it is on the property - thanks!

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Get some running gear for a farm wagon and build whatever you want on it. They are adjustable for different lengths.

 

[MamaChic21]

Very nice, but they don't have the dimentions, do they cause I couldn't see it.

http://www.forshamcottagearks.com/poultry-housing/Orchard-chicken-house.htm

 

[patandchickens]

You realize all you can have, for that many hens, is a mobile roosting-and-laying house, yes? And they will have to free range during daylight hours, you won't be able to have a run?

That being the case, yes, building something on a trailer or wagon chassis is your best bet. Check out the book by Judy Pangman (?) about designs for chicken coops (google should find you its info, and interlibrary loan can probably get you the book) because it contains several designs of that type and size. Note that in general I dislike that book except as vague inspiration for people, because despite what the title claims it does NOT have real "plans" for the coops inside, but in this particular instance I think you will find it helpful.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[MamaChic21]

Quote:
Where can I get one of that and bigger, muchhhh bigger ?

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
Where can I get one of that and bigger, muchhhh bigger ?

Try your local Craigslist "Farm and Garden" section, used implement dealers in your area, or you can get them new from your local ag supply / implement dealer.

The actual deck can be built wider than the tires, but they don't come too much wider as they have to fit a road lane. You can get them in a lot longer lengths though...

 

[Mac in Wisco]

A photo I found while searching around. This isn't too fancy, but you'll get the idea.