Looking for mobile coop designs

[kinglerch]

I am looking to build a coop for about 4 chickens, some place with a decent amount of room for living and a run. There are some amazing designs on here but few of them talk about how heavy or mobile they are. It doesn't need to be a chicken tractor necessarily, but one that could reasonably be moved 2x a year, even if some parts need to be taken apart, the run removed for example.

What coop designs can you recommend that are roomy enough for 4 but also movable when needed? Thank you!

 

[DobieLover]

I am looking to build a coop for about 4 chickens, some place with a decent amount of room for living and a run. There are some amazing designs on here but few of them talk about how heavy or mobile they are. It doesn't need to be a chicken tractor necessarily, but one that could reasonably be moved 2x a year, even if some parts need to be taken apart, the run removed for example.

What coop designs can you recommend that are roomy enough for 4 but also movable when needed? Thank you!

I personally think that the tractor that @aart designed is the best I've seen for size, security and mobility.

 

[paintedChix]

If you were looking for a tractor that isn't necessarily walk-in, I've been building some A-frames that are 5x8 ft, made from CP, that are lite enough w/o wheels that our 8 & 9 yr old grand daughters can move together and I, 50+ overweight and now not in good shape as I was when riding actively, can move by myself. I have no idea what actual weight they are - I can't pick it up all the way off the ground by myself or even with the grand children. That requires two adults. Not sure how easily it could actually be moved that way either - it's bulky. We are going to attach wheels - haven't yet. Because they are an "open air" design with tarps for roofs, they haven't developed flying ability. It will become a bit heavier when we add the nest box and actual feeders (currently feed them on the ground). Would be a lot heavier if you use other roofing options than tarps. Ours would be lighter if we changed the ends so only one has a CP/wire gate rather than both. Currently all of ours only have 2x4" wire, HC would be recommended depending on your situation and that will add some weight as well. Ours do not have an enclosed coop area - the roost is under the tarped area, the nest boxes started out on the ground but are being changed so that they don't have to be removed to move the tractor (will be braced up above the 2x4" base).

I don't recommend it though, if you are only going to move it only once or twice a year. IF you are doing that, I totally recommend Aarts (aart's hoop coop/chicken tractor) or any of the other CP hooped coop designs on this site. I have found that when I've built tractors, many are very heavy - but weight is relative. It also depends on what type of terrain your pulling your tractor across, wheels at all & even types of wheels (small, narrow wheels - think reuse lawn mower type - don't work well in mud or sand)... if you have massively uneven terrain or groups of grasses that are mounds, a tractor is significantly harder to move. When you ask about weight - are you moving by yourself, with a lawnmower, a truck or a tractor?

Not sure what type you could take apart to move - most are built so that predators can't rip them apart. I'm thinking that making them both sturdy enough to keep predators from accessing them and being able to take them apart (while being able to put them back together w/o lots of repair) would make them substantially heavier to move at all. The engineers on this site may be able to come up with some ideas.

Hmmm, a CP hooped coop like @Blooie's (motel chix), can be individually covered with wire, could have an enclosed coop or nesting area set up in, and can be disassembled to move. Its not attached to a wood base but is set between metal T-posts, which in some applications can be moved easily (I've had some that weren't - even using a tractor to pull them out).

Where are you located? What weather type do you have? Do you get snow, ice or signifigant amounts of rain? You can put that in your Avatar listing and your signature block. This will help in determining what will work for you.

 

[aart]

I personally think that the tractor that @aart designed is the best I've seen for size, security and mobility.

Thanks but...it's really only meant for raising meat birds, turkeys and chickens.
Not for housing layers year round....might work for 4 in a mild climate.

There are some amazing designs on here but few of them talk about how heavy or mobile they are. It doesn't need to be a chicken tractor necessarily, but one that could reasonably be moved 2x a year, even if some parts need to be taken apart, the run removed for example.

Curious, why do you want to move it 2x/year?
Do you have a tractor or lawn mower or ATV/UTV to help move it?

Oh, and...... Welcome to BYC! @kinglerch
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[kinglerch]

Thanks for the info, I am in Ohio and updated my location data.

I didn't want to have a stationary coop in case the ground got mucky in rains, or a certain part of the field is warmer in the winter, or too warm in the summer, etc. I thought I could give the chickens more variety to walk around...but it's not like many of the tractor designs where they are moved every other day.

I decided to buy a small utility trailer and build it on top, that way I can move it when needed, but is also plenty strong to hold the weight.