New Joe Salatin Style Mobile Coop for Meat Birds....

[WagarFamilyFarm]

Group,

It took 11 hours and one other friend to build it, but it's done.. What is it? Our first Joe Salatin style mobile meat bird chicken tractor. Here are some pics:

We currently have 50 White Rocks in there, we're planning to allow them to go to 12 weeks....then it's into the freezer.


WagarFamilyFarm

 

[lux_interior]

 

[saddina]

Is it a 10X10 or? Either way looks good.

 

[WagarFamilyFarm]

Quote:
10x12 I believe that's what Joe suggests in his Pastured Poultry book. It should hold up to 100 birds, although we only have 50 right now.

 

[al6517]

Very nice job, you should get many yrs of service from that one.

AL

 

[CARS]

It looks great!!! One question, I see the roof hinges but does the wire half also hinge?

I just went through processing today and those little buggers can be hard to catch.

 

[skeeter]

seems like it would get awful hot under that tin

 

[Justin]

Looks good! How tall are the sides? Looks to be about 2'? It must be all green treat 2x4?

 

[Buster52]

Nice! I did a modified Salatin pen. 8X8X2, using 2X2s. It's plenty heavy enough for me, since I don't use the hand cart the way he does. I think Salatin uses 1X4s, doesn't he? Either way, I reckon yours is going to last forever.

I do find it gets hot under there, at least in this Oklahoma sun. I have my turkeys in my big one (I have a smaller one 6X4X2 that I will use for rabbits in the fall) and let them out to free range on the really hot days. Our weather here is much hotter than where Salatin is. I used tin for the tops this year, but next year will change it to vinyl siding. Maybe put some of those insulation panels under the top.

I also note you have all of the sides open so the breeze can come through. That's not a bad idea. Think I'll do that next year. I'll be using poultry netting for my turkeys next year, so all they will need is shelter from the sun and rain.

In any case, very nice work. And much more professionally done than my little amateur attempt.

 

[colleensstuff]

To give our birds shade we put one of those easy-up tents that people use at craft fairs over the pen. We have it just high enough to give them shade and it also keeps the rain off. It's easy to pull up the stakes and move it along with the tractor.