Chicken coop plans for boat trailer conversion

[gtaus]

Still thinking about this potential boat trailer conversion. I could build a coop up to 6X12 on this frame. Last night, however, I was thinking that for 8 birds, maybe I would be better off building the coop 6X6 and then building an additional 6X6 chicken run on the frame - half coop and half wire run. That way, the birds would still have access to fresh air and sunshine in the small run even after the trailer is moved up to the garage for the winter months. I say this as we just had a mid April blizzard which make this past winter going into 6 months (Nov 2018 - Apr 2019). If I built a 6X6 run on this trailer bed frame, I could also cover it in plastic in the dead of winter, and maybe extend outside time for the birds. If I built a 6X6 wired chicken run on the trailer along with the 6X6 coop, I would just extend the roof over the entire 12 foot structure.

For anyone still following this thread, do you think I would better off doing the half/half option or just building a larger coop (with no run access for months)? I can see advantages and disadvantages either way.

 

[aart]

For anyone still following this thread, do you think I would better off doing the half/half option or just building a larger coop (with no run access for months)? I can see advantages and disadvantages either way.

I'd build a stationary winter run, well weather proofed or at least solid roof, and use the whole trailer for enclosed coop.

 

[Alaskan]

I'd build a stationary winter run, well weather proofed or at least solid roof, and use the whole trailer for enclosed coop.

That would be nice

 

[gtaus]

I'd build a stationary winter run, well weather proofed or at least solid roof, and use the whole trailer for enclosed coop.

Thanks for the feedback.

I agree that your suggestion would be the best. The problem I am running into is that I have no room for a stationary winter run, next to the house and garage, where I want to move the trailer coop for the winter. At first I was just considering making the coop as large as possible for the long winter, but then yesterday after looking at some books, the idea came to me that 8 birds did not need a 6X12 coop and maybe the half 6X6 coop/half 6X6 run on the 6X12 trailer bed would be an option to consider.

I do have one possibility, not as close to the garage, for a small permanent winter run, but it is under the shadow of pine trees all the time. It would be close enough to run an extension cord for electricity and not be too much further distance to tote fresh water. I guess I'll measure that out in a few days after the snow melts - we just got a 14" snow dump on us yesterday.

Well, I didn't know if anyone would be keen on the idea of a half coop/half run built on the trailer. At least I thought if it did not work out I could always just remove the wire and put in walls, extending the coop to the full 6X12. I still have a week or two before I will have access to my utility trailer (covered in snow) and be able to haul some lumber for the project. My goal is to have the coop built by mid-June. So I may be back with more questions. Ultimately, I only want to build the coop once and hope the compromises I have to make will be easy enough to live with for some time. Again, thanks for the responses.

 

[Alaskan]

I would make the entire thing a coop. In nasty weather they might not want to go outside anyway.... so more cool space is better.

For fresh air and sunshine use a window and have great ventilation.

And I think a run under the pines is great... a bit tricky to roof, but a nice place out of the weather and lots of needles yo dog through.

 

[gtaus]

I would make the entire thing a coop. In nasty weather they might not want to go outside anyway.... so more [coop] space is better.

Yes, I agree. From what I understand, the chickens do not want to go outside in the snow anyway. For a permanent winter run, I was thinking of building a cattle pen/greenhouse structure about 8X12 which I could cover with 4 mil plastic. The pine tree branches are trimmed high enough so that it would not touch the top of the dome. I think the chickens would go out into the greenhouse/chicken run if it was fully covered and protected from the wind. If not, a bigger 6X12 coop would certainly give them more room to move about.

And I think a run under the pines is great... a bit tricky to roof, but a nice place out of the weather and lots of needles yo dog through.

Ha ha. I don't have a dog, but the chickens might enjoy digging through the needles.

Thanks for the comments. Much appreciated.

 

[Alaskan]

Mine love the greenhouse in the winter.

And yeah... typos!

 

[gtaus]

I would make the entire thing a coop. In nasty weather they might not want to go outside anyway.... so more cool space is better.....

...I would go with the bigger size and make the entire thing into a coop in case your girls don't want to go outside during howling bitter cold snow storms.....

Be very careful with the build... coops can get heavy fast.

I'd build a stationary winter run, well weather proofed or at least solid roof, and use the whole trailer for enclosed coop.

UPDATE: I am just a few days away from finishing my mobile coop on a boat trailer. I took the advice offered by many of you and made the entire 6X12 frame into the coop. I also decided to go with a gambrel roof shed style coop. Lots of room for my 10 chicks. The high gambrel roof adds lots of space that I hope will be advantageous for both cooling in the summer and reducing humidity in the winter.

My main concern, at this point, is that the coop did get pretty heavy. And maybe top heavy. So moving it might be more of a challenge than I had expected. I only have to move if from the front yard to the back yard, yet I don't want the coop to tip over on the move.

I am also working on a moveable chicken run with bird netting cover. I am thinking a 12X12 run attached to/alongside the 6X12 coop. With luck, I'll be able to pull that with my lawn tractor if I put the chicken run on some skids.