My chicken tractor coop build

[Iulik]

So, we have a 10 acre property, but it is not fenced in and i am sure there are quite a few different predators that would like to eat our chicks, and after long planning and searching i have decided to build a chicken coop that i can move with my tractor once every couple of weeks to fresh grass, we have about 500 feet of fairly flat ground and i am planning to just move it back and forth. An inspiration for me was the carolina coops black and blue modern vegas coop but with modifications to keep it mobile. I am a fairly lasy person and the idea of having a small coop and cleaning it often did not appeal to me, so this will be about 30 feet long.
Now i am in the construction business so i get a bunch of stuff for free and that allows me to build it fairly cheap. First thing i got 8x 16 foot 2x8 that i glued and nailed into 2 long skids and have a 2x6 plate at the bottom. theory is it should slide on the grass fairly easy but have not tested yet so we will see, i think the tractor will make short work of it though so i am not too worried.
The coop is raised about 2 feet from the ground and made it similar to a pole barn that are glued nailed and screwed with 2 lag bolts on a lap joint , they are pretty sturdy, even with just the roof and floor framing. This will have a metal roof which will have 2 foot overhangs all around.
The run will be the same idea, 4x4s and half of it will have a metal roof and half will just leave hardware cloth, just in case they want to get a tan
These are some pics of the progress so far, i have about 5 weeks till they will be ready to move in so i have to get it done by then.

 

[Iulik]

Please don't mind the mess, we are fortunate enough to still work so did not have a lot of time to cleanup between the job and building it, but i will get to it, eventually Also house exterior is work in progress current soffit is temporary
If anyone is interested in any details or close up pics let me know.
Floor is 2x6 beams on double 2x6 ends that are held with joist hangers, roof is just glued nailed and or screwed

 

[Iulik]

this is a rough sketch of what it should look like, front doors will be the coop opening, on the back i will have a water tank and feed container with pvc pipes feeders that i can refill as rare as possible and on left side should be egg hutches with a shelf above for random tools. Will see how it goes

 

[aart]

Pretty cool.
How many birds will you keep?
Can't wait to see it finished and 'on the move'(a video would be great!)

 

[Iulik]

Pretty cool.
How many birds will you keep?
Can't wait to see it finished and 'on the move'(a video would be great!)

We have 23 baby chicks right now, hope they all survive

 

[sealer39]

How do you plan to move it?

 

[aart]

How do you plan to move it?

chicken coop that i can move with my tractor

 

[Iulik]

How do you plan to move it?

You can see the red muscle in the back in the second photo

 

[aart]

You can see the red muscle in the back in the second photo

That's not a tractor, it's a lawnmower does it even have a hitch?

 

[Iulik]

That's not a tractor, it's a lawnmower does it even have a hitch?

no, not that one you can see it better in these pictures

Spent most of the day yesterday cutting and notching the poles, took way more time than i expected, it will rain today so maybe i can get them all standing tomorrow and finish the main frame, and try to move it after that, see if it will not fall apart