portable coop ideas

[eggzelent]

Hi everyone... i just got my first chickens a couple weeks ago, they're still inside in a brooder but before i know it, it'll be coop time! I'd love your opinions on portable coops to let the chickens free range... design ideas, websites, personal experiences... thanks so much!

 

[Moselle]

I sure wish we had the space to move a tractor around! Our property is just too hilly! BUT if we did have the space, I would likely go with the triangle shaped tractor - I think they call them chicken arks. On the Coop page (under small coops), Monica has a nice design. Also you can do a google search for chicken arks - greenerpasturesfarm.com and forshamcottagearks.com have some nice photos of their designs which look fairly portable with simple designs.

 

[Dawn419]

Definately check out the Coop Design pages.

There are also some great ideas here...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=37373


Hope this helps!

Dawn

 

[eggzelent]

thanks for the tips! i have one more dilema that may seem like a dumb thing to ask but i want my chickies to be free range for the benefit of their health & mine but i want them to be safe and stay in my yard... how do i strike a compromise? is the best way to build a permanant structure and a tractor? any suggestions?

 

[Moselle]

Do you have a fenced-in yard? If you have a high fence - 5'-6' high, that will be adequate to keep them in and generally safe during the day. Always best to have them safe inside a coop at night though.

If you can't fence in your yard, you can make a portable run out of a lot of different materials. I've seen some made out of PVC and hardware cloth, and one made from an old trampoline w/wire wrapped around the bottom. If you have a permanent coop, you'd have to decide how you'd get your chickens from the coop to the run, but I think it's do-able. A PVC run would be really lightweight and easy to move; just remember to anchor it down with "U" stakes or something, and give the chickens plenty of fresh water.

 

[eggzelent]

we don't have a fence, unfortunately... when you open up the coop in the morning, are they anxious to get out? i could put a tractor up to the coop door and let them run in that all day (providing water in there of course)... or do they need access to their coop throughout the day?