A few weeks ago I saw an ad for a place that builds chicken coops. I went on their website just for the heck of it and saw they offered a skid option for their coops that are made from metal. I emailed them and asked if they sold the runners by themselves and they said yes. I got a price quote for the skids and shipping and decided to buy them. They cost me $175 shipped and the website is www.ezfitsheds.com
These skids mount to 4x4's which my coop did not have so I also had to install these. I used a connector from Lowe's that are made for mounting 4x4's. Here is a link to the connector I used. http://www.lowes.com/pd_61342-72913...__0__s?Ntt=deck+post+tie+connector&facetInfo=
I then used 2 1/2" long 3/8" size carraige bolts to secure the brackets through the coop floor as well as screws to mount the bracket to the 4x4's. I then mounted the skids to the 4x4's using screws. I used HDG screws since the brackets are galvanized and is what is recommended.
To get the coop off of the 2" plastic pipe that it was sitting on, I used a big floor jack and a little one and jack stands. I put jack stands on all four corners and then used the floor jacks to hold the 4x4's in place up against the bottom of the coop so I could drill the holes for the mounting brackets. My fiance's 9 year old son helped me do this part. After I drilled the holes, he put the bolts through and hammered them flush to the floor.
To install the skids, I had to use one of the plastic pipes as a lever with one end sitting on the floor jack and the other on the ground and pushing up against the 4x4 so I could jack the coop up high enough to put the skids under the 4x4's. I took me about 2 1/2 hrs to do the entire install and that included one trip to the hardware store.
Here are some pictures. The first one is of the coop before the skids were installed.
Here it is after the install.
Here is a side view of the brackets used to install the 4x4's to the bottom of the coop.
I'm happy with the results. It gets the coop off of the ground more than it was before as well as makes it easier to move when I decide to move it. The skids look to be made from the same type of material that the dog kennel frames that I'm using for the pen. I believe the company told me they are galvanized or maybe I read it on their website. I left the wood under the four corners of the skids for now to cut down on the chance of the skids rusting but I may put some flat rocks or concrete bricks instead. My skids are the 8' long ones since my coop is 8x4 but they have some 6' and 4' ones for shorter coops. Anyway, its another option for those who want their coops a little more mobile.
Wayne
These skids mount to 4x4's which my coop did not have so I also had to install these. I used a connector from Lowe's that are made for mounting 4x4's. Here is a link to the connector I used. http://www.lowes.com/pd_61342-72913...__0__s?Ntt=deck+post+tie+connector&facetInfo=
I then used 2 1/2" long 3/8" size carraige bolts to secure the brackets through the coop floor as well as screws to mount the bracket to the 4x4's. I then mounted the skids to the 4x4's using screws. I used HDG screws since the brackets are galvanized and is what is recommended.
To get the coop off of the 2" plastic pipe that it was sitting on, I used a big floor jack and a little one and jack stands. I put jack stands on all four corners and then used the floor jacks to hold the 4x4's in place up against the bottom of the coop so I could drill the holes for the mounting brackets. My fiance's 9 year old son helped me do this part. After I drilled the holes, he put the bolts through and hammered them flush to the floor.
To install the skids, I had to use one of the plastic pipes as a lever with one end sitting on the floor jack and the other on the ground and pushing up against the 4x4 so I could jack the coop up high enough to put the skids under the 4x4's. I took me about 2 1/2 hrs to do the entire install and that included one trip to the hardware store.
Here are some pictures. The first one is of the coop before the skids were installed.
Here it is after the install.
Here is a side view of the brackets used to install the 4x4's to the bottom of the coop.
I'm happy with the results. It gets the coop off of the ground more than it was before as well as makes it easier to move when I decide to move it. The skids look to be made from the same type of material that the dog kennel frames that I'm using for the pen. I believe the company told me they are galvanized or maybe I read it on their website. I left the wood under the four corners of the skids for now to cut down on the chance of the skids rusting but I may put some flat rocks or concrete bricks instead. My skids are the 8' long ones since my coop is 8x4 but they have some 6' and 4' ones for shorter coops. Anyway, its another option for those who want their coops a little more mobile.
Wayne
