Seeking comments on 4' x 8' coop design (was: ....ultimate chicken tractor/mobile coop...)

[aart]

I slipped them under each corner of the coop and rolled it around the concrete like it was a feather. I was tickled with myself.

No Doubt!!

 

[leslielbk]

Ok, here goes. I use clay and the bedding to absorb moisture. It's not as dirty as it looks lol

 

[Henry&Friends]

I have a 6x5x5.5 shed as my coop, which has housed up to 19 birds at once, though they only go on to lay eggs and sleep. I have three nest boxes, one made out of a plastic bin and two I made out of kitchen drawers. the bottom one was too deep and I couldn’t reach the eggs, so I stuck a hunk of cinderbrick in the back and now the hens lay where I can reach them. The floor is hardwire cloth over a door and a pallet (not recommenced but I’m broke, always keeping an eye out for plywood or another door tho) and the perches are the sturdiest sticks I can find, and one shower curtain rod. I can add, remove and move around the perches as I need. The shed cost me about $300, and I’m looking to buy a bigger one for $500.

 

[leslielbk]

This is one of those dollies I used under the old coop to move it

 

[ColoradoPip]

They are called furniture dollies and can be found at harbor freight for ~$10, if you catch them on sale they are ~$5 plus harbor freight always has 10%-25% off coupons.

https://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-x-12-in-1000-lb-capacity-hardwood-dolly-63098.html
They are great for moving things around by yourself. I use them constantly.

 

[aart]

I have a 6x5x5.5 shed as my coop, which has housed up to 19 birds at once, though they only go on to lay eggs and sleep.

@Henry&Friends .....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[Granny23]

Thanks for your replies.



My significant other said, "What's that, a chicken doll house?"
The model is 1/16 scale -- 34" = 1'.

The one problem I'm not trying to solve is more floor space for a human visitor -- I'm not expecting to be strolling around in there. From that central open spot, I should be able to reach everything, although, as aart mentioned, I'd have to squat or kneel to reach under the platforms.

My thought was that this would be portable on wheels (maybe with the wheels on a removable dolly). That woulld tend to make things like protruding external nest boxes a disadvantage.

The problems I'm mostly concerned about are, a way for the chickens to get up on the platforms, and the right amout of roost space and number of nesting boxes for however many chickens could reasonablly fit. On the number of birds -- I'm planning to gradualy increase my flock by adding maybe 3 new pullets each year, not sure how many I will stop at. (Not planning on going into the egg business, do want some extras to give away.)



I'm flexible about the dimensions. Was originaly thinking of 5'x7', then someone suggested going with the same size as a sheet of plywood. Height of nesting boxes and of the poop boards and roosts are important questions! I've seen conflicting advice aout having roosts at the same height or different -- some say the hens like to be all together, elsewhere it says it's good for the lower-dominance birds to have a place to retreat to.

I like the idea of separate spaces for baby chicks, sick birds, etc., but plan to use my existing tractors for that.

Another idea I'm toying with is a second movable greenhouse with chickens wintering in it. The problem there is getting a chicken house into the greenhouse for winter and out again for spring.

I wish I had gone bigger from day one. At the time 4 x 8 feet sounded pretty big, and I only had 4 hens. 4 years later I wish I had made it WAAAY bigger. I just added 4 hens last summer and for being in a residential neighborhood I think they do ok and have enough room but they can't free-range like they used to so I supplement their diet.