Free range coop

[wwarren8200]

I'm looking to build a free range coop that at a max will hold about 500 birds. (Even if your coop is too small please share pics as I will just expand the size) thanks

 

[iwiw60]

Do you have chickens at the present time, or are you new to chickens and are "diving right in" with commercial growing?

 

[JackE]

Here's a coop to build. A 100 yr old proven design. In the book from the link below, shows how you could build a coop to hold 500 birds. It would be a bigger version of the coop pictured below.

http://archive.org/stream/openairpoultryho00wood#page/8/mode/2up

 

[wwarren8200]

Do you have chickens at the present time, or are you new to chickens and are "diving right in" with commercial growing?

I have 2 roosters 4 hens 10 pullets and 6 cockerels.

 

[wwarren8200]

Here's a coop to build. A 100 yr old proven design. In the book from the link below, shows how you could build a coop to hold 500 birds. It would be a bigger version of the coop pictured below. http://archive.org/stream/openairpoultryho00wood#page/8/mode/2up

Thank you I will look into that.

 

[wwarren8200]

JackE could you share some more pics of that coop? Do you have plans?

 

[JackE]

Below is a link to a thread on the coop I posted a few years ago. On pg-4 you can see interior pics. The other link is to Amazon, where I got the book with the plans to build the coop. This book goes into much greater detail than the on-line book. If you really want to build one, get that book.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/445004/woods-style-house-in-the-winter

http://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Air-Pou...20506&sr=8-1&keywords=open+air+poultry+houses

 

[centrarchid]

I like JackE's design as well. Two modifications of interest are mobility and the possibility of getting it up high enough so dogs can get under to go after predators that retreat their when cornered.

 

[wwarren8200]

We have a 20 acre plot of land. Will the birds free range everywhere or will I need to move the coop?

 

[centrarchid]

We have a 20 acre plot of land. Will the birds free range everywhere or will I need to move the coop?

I have an 18.48 acre plot and 150 birds did not range more than about 1/2 of that a couple years ago. Problem was birds did not do all their ranging only on my land. You got to figure out what they want to hang around all day and make certain that is near middle of your property.