Starting on StageCoach Chicken Tractor. Please tear apart my planned modifications

[SherrieT]

And of course the first thing I want to do is modify the plans. I've been doing a lot of web searching on these and ordered the plans. Received them a couple of hours later. Great service so far !!

http://www.chickenmobilestagecoach.com/index.html

We are doing the 4 x 10. I'm going to extend the coop area to 4 ft. And also lower the coop floor. We get a lot of snow here and I'm not going to be dropping the floor of the roost area (losing the bedding) to let them out all the time. But will make sure they have enough room to use under the coop area for shelter from rain and snow.

So, no drop down floor. Will lower the floor and make the door on the middle panel lower and wider to also use to clean out roosting are when necessary. Want to make sure I have enough room for deep litter. That means adding another H Bar to attach floor too. I'll go ahead and leave the original where it is also for added structural strength.

Will also drop the nest boxes to bottom of new floor level. Want to make sure they use them for nesting and not sleeping. Will complete back area before putting in brace for wheels so we can figure out new center of balance. Also wiring the bottom to keep diggers out.

Also, based on another forum members mods I'm thinking that, instead of just using the roof flashing for the coop roof, using 1/4" plywood, then foam board for insulation and then the flashing.

Please tell me if there is anything on this that you think won't work. My daughter has more woodworking skills than I do but we are sure we can make this.

Planning on raising up to 8 (but probably closer to 6) laying hens in this. We have enough land that they will always have fresh field to graze on and also doing FF

Thanks,
Sherrie

 

[doctorchicken]

I like your ideas and am in a very similar position- I ordered the plans a little while ago, but have been thinking about modifications and will be starting construction soon. I'm very happy to have seen this thread!

I've been planning something very similar to your enlarged coop area without the drop down floor; lengthening, dropping, and using the second piece of H bar for the lower floor.

Part of the reason I want the extra coop space is so that I have the vertical height on the middle wall so that I can add an automatic chicken door there. Likely the Ador, but I'm not sure. My schedule will frequently prevent me from opening/closing the coop at the appropriate times, so I really like the idea of the like activated automatic doors that are available. This way I'll be able to use it both as a self contained tractor and a free range pen if I leave the main access door open (and hopefully won't have to worry about diggers, since the girls will be locked up at night even when I'm not around to close it up).

I also really want to be able to access the coop in such a way that I can have a slide out floor for cleaning. At this point I think I'll be making the nest box part on the back in such a way that the whole thing can swing out from the coop, allowing access to a slide out floor. Have to see, it's all a work in progress!

Great thinking on the wheel positioning; I've been fretting about how my changes will change the wheel balance location. Duh- I'll just wait til it's complete before checking for the new center of gravity and adding the wheels last. Thanks!