Questions about designing a portable coop/useage questions

[NoSkiveez]

We have been looking over photos of portable chicken coops. We have about an acre and have a big coop next to the house, but would like to be able to take the chickens out in to the yard without fear that a coyote or dogs/cats, etc will kill our birds. Im thinking that we would most likely go with an A Frame style out of ease of construction and hope that its something that we can make and put into use in a weekend.

Do you put all of your birds in a portable coop or do you pick a few each day and alternate them?

Im wondering, do people use these tractor style coops as a home for their birds or a safe housing structure during the day and then move their flack back to the coop in the evening?

Im also curious if there is any bottom to the coops. Ive only seem one photo that had a bottom wiring and I was wondering how to keep the birds from escaping or having anything else dig under the coop and get in there with the birds.

Is it safe for the birds to walk on the wire?

What would be a recommended type and gauge of wire to use for a bottom (floor)?

Im trying to think of safety for our birds mainly because of the animal problem out here.

 

[catdaddy66]

I am building a tractor to become the MAIN house for my birds, and it has a plywood floor that I will use the deep litter method on. My mother was kind of incredulous as she has never seen a coop w/ a floor in it!

This is my choice due to the fact I want my birds foraging in a closed run daily, so in order to prevent all of the grass being eaten quickly they will get a new spot every 2-3 days. Some people do use hardware cloth as a floor to let waste fall thru to the ground. The cloth is actually welded wire and is safe for the birds feet once they get a few weeks old(er). I would not want very young birds on it to prevent bumblefoot or injuries.