Trailer Coop Build (Pic heavy)

[ColoradoPip]

My trailer coop project has begun in earnest. I will try to update this first post as I build the coop so all pics and descriptions are here. I have taken a huge number of ideas, plans, etc. from this forum and am happy to document everything, start, progress, end, along with as much cost information as possible.

If anyone has questions, or suggestions as I go, please post them!!


It started with a dream and a vision, I'm building an orchestra to conduct. This is the percussion section, carrying the rhythm and heartbeat of the farm


The only tools needed for many hours:

~20 pallets found for free. Not your everyday pallets, these were my best free score of 2019:

It takes me about 1 hour to break apart 1 pallet. I've spent >8 hours breaking apart pallets. It's a lot of work and takes occasional precision to ensure the wood is reusable. I've learned that un-weathered wood works best, it needs to be a bit warm (frozen wood is brittle), and most of all requires patience. I can generally reuse the entire pallet (saving the nails to possibly melt later).

Each of these pallets provides:
1, 4x8, 3/4" thick sheet plywood
4, 2x4, 8ft long
4, 2x4, 4ft long

Most people see a piece of junk not worth a penny. I'm a dreamer with a vision, and I see potential. It took me many months of patience, looking for the right trailer, and it finally popped up. A former camper trailer for $100:

Careful demolition is never fast, easy, or clean. I think they left the commode in!

Almost stripped:

Took me most of the day but in the end I had a solid foundation to begin with:

I spent another day re-framing the trailer (no pic because it looks like the "Almost Stripped" pic above). Then it took me another day to get the floor completed. I'll lay down linoleum or vinyl floor later:

Total floor dimensions are 13'x8', there will be a 10" lip on each side and the rear which is where food and water will go (on the outside)

To be continued....next up, building the walls.

 

[scrone]

What a fun project. I built one on a bass boat trailer. Very nice for moving around the property.
in the summer I keep it in the shade, and the winter it gets moved to the garden.

 

[ColoradoPip]

Why did you want a coop on wheels? Looking good so far!

There are more reasons than I can think. Based on experience, research, and thinking it through for over a year, things like...I'd like to move the girls around so they can work up and fertilize different areas as needed. Give the girls fresh ground and replenishing natural bug forage often. It is the easiest way to have a lot of birds but not have a dirt/mudpit for a run. When the weather is bad I can move them close to another building easily. These girls will have more jobs than just laying eggs, they'll have a rough life of eating, pooping, scratching, and chickening it up all over my place! Guess it boils down to two words...simpler management. Remember they are only part of the orchestra.

Is that a boat trailer or just regular cargo trailer frame?

I believe it is an old, pull behind style, camper trailer frame. Based on the demolition and my findings, it had a sink and/or toilet at one point in time.

 

[Ted Brown]

BJ57 looks great but I hesitate painting the inside of the coop with anything, let alone something with quartz among other toxins. Maybe I overthink it as usual

FWIW I used BJ57 on my coop floor and 12" up the walls, two coats, dries quickly (<24hours) in the right temperatures. Hard flat black finish.

I use deep bedding in the coop (~6") the chickens are far more interested in the water, feed and treats they get than pecking away at the BJ57 finish (even on the walls where it sticks up above the bedding).

Widely used by folks here on BYC @blackdog043 has some good posts on it's use. I have not read anyone speaking of problems with it.

ALSO I painted the inside of my coop (walls, ceilings) with powdered lime mixed with water. Very inexpensive and a good non toxic coating.

 

[ColoradoPip]

I've been able to again spend some time on this...finally.

Pulled the trailer outside and began building the larger wall

Once built, I pulled out the front and back doors which I previously built. Working alone meant standing the walls up then bracing them with 2x4s.

I spent a lot of time getting the ridge beam braced and the right height. In this pic I had added the top plate connecting the walls, the ridge board and supports, and the first rafter. I later replaced the single metal plate on the beam support with two. It's not coming down!

Added all of the rafters. Did you know there are 10 nails holding the rafter the the wall?!?! Then another 3-4 holding the rafter to the ridge beam? My arms are tired!!!

Removed the temporary screws from the metal plate holding the ridge beam support on and replaced it with two, on each side, nailed in. Put the supports in for the end rafters, added 8ft of plywood each top side, and called it for that day. They are building a new bank close by and gave away the shipping containers made of plywood sheathing, free plywood for the roof!

Starting to look like something! It's not close to perfect but the chickens won't care!

Best part is, every bit of wood used has been free. Lots of glue, previous holes, dirt, and twisted 2x4s, but it all works! Let's not discuss hours put in though

 

[Ted Brown]

When it is painted you will be blown away at your own magnificence.

 

[Ted Brown]

You have been doing your research.

(PS I found an ex-house trailer axle with leaf springs that I can probably get under $100. It is 8' 4" wide so can do an 8' by 12' coop with only minor indents for the wheels. Has weather checked tires so with inner tubes will last longer than me. Will have to build the foundation frame a bit stronger than otherwise but..., My mind is spinning with possibilities.]

 

[rosemarythyme]

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out, should be an awesome build. You obviously don't mind putting in the work to get the best use out of recycled materials!

Are some of the images broken or is it me?

I can see them all.

 

[ColoradoPip]

Front doors put on. I am cutting the trim from pieces of leftover plywood. I am also not very good at cutting straight lines, even with a pencil or chalk line. I was also never very good at coloring inside of the lines. I don't think it looks as nice and finished perfectly, however, it 1000000000% looks like I made it

Anyway, here's a pic of the front doors. I did a double door in order to easily clear the trailer jack.

The nest box frame which I previously built, and was unhappy with, would not fit. It was just a bit too wide. So apart it came and I rebuilt a new and much better one, in every way. Except it didn't get done today because I also worked on the wheel wells. Those took a lot of time and are ready to be nailed together. More pics as I complete more.

Sooo much staining to do still, really glad I stained 6 sheets ahead of time during the cold weekends. Finish the nest boxes and wheel wells then. Install windows. Do lots of trim. Then roost bars. The flooring. I still need to work on the food and water too. Probably 20 other details I'm not thinking of. Suffice to say, lots to do!

 

[Ted Brown]

You are so lucky! You get to dry (sorry I could not help) run all the mistakes you made and fix 'em before they bite your a**.