Open Coop / Meatshaw for broilers

[GriswoldFamilyFarms]

Hello,

I am wondering if anybody has information, success/failure stories, or any advice for a open shelter / meatshaw build for broilers.

For reference, I am basing my build off of Justin Rhodes' videos that I watched. Example picture below.

The design is for broilers/meat birds and not intended for over-winter housing. It is a shelter specifically for broilers during their 4-8 weeks outside. The structure is 8'x8'. The meatshaw can be moved every few days to provide fresh grass as needed. We surround the area with electric netting at all times so they have plenty of fresh grass to range on. They are able to hang out under the structure for shade or to hide from any aerial predators and then the electric netting is intended to protect against any ground predators at night. I've only ever seen deer in our yard at night...not to say other predators don't exist.

I searched around quite a bit and really haven't found any concrete and practical information. I really hate the idea of chicken tractors and want to make this work.

 

[aart]

Looks like it would work OK.
As long as netting stays hot and hawks don't find them

 

[Doug in NY]

That looks great, that portable electric fence can hold a good charge and will keep stuff out and chickens in.

 

[GriswoldFamilyFarms]

Looks like it would work OK.
As long as netting stays hot and hawks don't find them

I bought Premier One supplies and very happy with the energizer and fence so far.

We haven't left the broilers outside through the night yet...still a bit hesitant. But we've had them out for around 12-14 hours each the past two days. They hang out under the shelter most of the day and seem very happy during the day. At night they seem a bit uneasy and seemed to huddle together out in the open near the corner of the fence, which is mainly why I'm still a but nervous to leave them overnight.

They are five weeks old at this point and are plump fellas, our nighttime temperatures are 45-50 right now.

That looks great, that portable electric fence can hold a good charge and will keep stuff out and chickens in.

Yeah the charger is great, the chickens learned pretty quick to not touch it.