Here's my tractor/coop design - suggestions wanted!

[k2panman]

I don't want a coop that will get blown away by strong winds - we do get hurricanes here - most people forget that, but there have been some close calls. Not that I'm designing for cat 5 hurricanes - but whatever I build I want it to stand up to small hurricanes with a little preparation. As far as predator resistance, I do want something that I know rats and feral cats can't get into easily. Also want it mongoose proof, in case we get some babies or hatch some someday.

I do want to stay mobile for sure. And I want to make it so that I can disassemble it easily so that when we move I can take it with us. I want to be able to move it around - yes, aart, the ground is not flat here, but I still can move it around I think. I just thought about crooked floor nest boxes - I guess enough nest material will compensate for crooked nest boxes. Hope the girls don't mind nest box walls that are crooked!

I've done some sketching, and I'll post my sketches when I get them done.

Here's a description of what I thinking - if you want to try to follow this. The base of the whole coop will be a 8'x8' square of 2x4s. I'll frame in the ends with 2x2s - make a 3'x6' door or thereabouts. Then make some hoops out of wood strips.

I'll probably rip some 1x2s in half (to get two 5/16" thick x 1.5" wide boards), then make a three ply hoop - glue three layers of strips together into hoops. (I have a shop full of clamps, and a good table saw - and I'll make a jig to make the hoops the same size). I think if I make a hoop for each end and one for the middle, then tie them together with 4 or 6 horizontal 1x2s - that will keep it light.

I'll build a 3 nest box unit that is 45" wide that will stick outside of the hoops.

I'll cover most of it with 1/2" hardware cloth - the ends and one side of the hoops. On the top and down the other side to the nest boxes, I'll put corrugated PVC roofing. This should give a lot of rigidity to the coop.

Any thoughts on all this? I'll sketch and post, unless of course I get steered another direction...

 

[aart]

I want to be able to move it around - yes, aart, the ground is not flat here, but I still can move it around I think. I just thought about crooked floor nest boxes - I guess enough nest material will compensate for crooked nest boxes. Hope the girls don't mind nest box walls that are crooked!

The biggest problem with tractors on uneven ground is the gap around the base and keeping predators out of that gap.

I don't want a coop that will get blown away by strong winds

I imagine you have lots of strong winds even without hurricane status...which is another issue with light weight(easy to move), high profile(able to walk into) tractors. Hoop shape should help there if placed well.

I'll probably rip some 1x2s in half (to get two 5/16" thick x 1.5" wide boards), then make a three ply hoop - glue three layers of strips together into hoops.

Will you rip 16' lumber(about what a 8' wide x 6' tall hoop would need)?
...or have multiple joints?
I look forward to seeing your building process.
Would love to play with bent wood, only managed to make a small one once.
Yes, lots of clamps!!

 

[k2panman]

Aart, that is a heck of a clamp job! I'm thinking of using strips which would be half of a "one by" - that is, a 3/4" board ripped in half. With about 1/8" saw blade, that leaves 2 boards about 5/16" wide. Three of these glued together with the joints staggered (could even add a fourth layer over the joints if they seem to be weak) would make the hoops. I was figuring I'll need 20+ feet to make the hoops - probably about 22' or more - need to lay out a jig to make these - I'll just lay two sheets of plywood on the ground and screw some blocks in to form the three hoops the same. I'll build one at a time - let the glue set. Not sure what glue to use, probably just a good yellow wood glue like Titebond. Any suggestions on a good glue? I can get it at Home Depot or order on Amazon.

 

[jthornton]

What! No scarf joints? Just Kidding lol.

Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue Waterproof Exterior/Interior.

JT

 

[aart]

Will you soak or steam strips before bending?

 

[lcwmt]

Do you have access to irrigation pipe?
We used that for our hoop tractor - inexpensive, easy to work with, more durable than pvc pipe.

 

[k2panman]

We have a lot of irrigation pipe around, but what we have is not very structurally strong either - 3/4" stuff.

I thought about steaming or soaking the strips, but then they have to dry, and how to steam 8' or 10' pieces - so, got to keep reminding myself, Keep It Simple!

Laminating the hoops is going to be enough work. Hope that doesn't turn into more of a job than expected, like most of my projects!

 

[aart]

I thought about steaming or soaking the strips, but then they have to dry, and how to steam 8' or 10' pieces - so, got to keep reminding myself, Keep It Simple!

Well, they might not bend (without breaking) unless at least soaked.
Could dig a trench and line it with plastic to soak.
I used pvc pipe with caps to soak mine.

 

[k2panman]

Good idea, just dig a trench and line with plastic - that would be easy enough, if I need to. But I'm hoping the 5/16" strips will bend enough without soaking.

 

[lcwmt]

"

We have a lot of irrigation pipe around, but what we have is not very structurally strong either - 3/4" stuff. "

3/4" wouldn't be big enough for the hoop coop. I think we used something around 1.5 - 2" and it's good. No need to make this more complicated!

"I thought about steaming or soaking the strips, but then they have to dry, and how to steam 8' or 10' pieces - so, got to keep reminding myself, Keep It Simple!

Laminating the hoops is going to be enough work. Hope that doesn't turn into more of a job than expected, like most of my projects!

"

Indeed. Somebody here overthinks things... KISS is a good policy <G>.