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Mobile chicken coops are often used by poultry farmers who do not have a large area. Such structures can be easily moved from place to place. Thanks to this, birds can always be provided with green food in the summer. A portable chicken coop can be purchased ready-made or made independently.
Mobile chicken coop design
Simple portable poultry houses are designed quite simply, as can be seen in the photo. Such structures have several tiers:
- the top one is made of wood;
- the lower tiers are covered with mesh.
Poultry houses are also divided into two zones. In one of them the hens hatch eggs, and in the other the birds rest. Poultry houses with a roof are often created that can be installed on the lawn. Thanks to this, the bird gets the opportunity to be in natural conditions.
Types of poultry houses
Portable structures can be divided into several categories according to the following criteria:
- transfer method;
- size;
- type of construction.
According to the method of transfer, they are divided into structures on wheels and poultry houses that can be moved by hand. In the presented photos you can see such products.
The fence allows you not to monitor the birds while walking.Thanks to this, there is no need to further equip the area in which the chicken coop is located.
By size, the described structures can be divided into poultry houses, which are used for several birds, and into products designed for more than 20 birds. The first option is more convenient, but is not suitable for everyone.
Advantages and disadvantages of portable chicken coops
Before purchasing or creating a portable chicken coop made of wood with your own hands, you need to consider all the pros and cons of such structures. It is also important to look at photographs of structures to understand which one can be installed on your site. Such products have the following advantages:
- A mobile chicken coop can be moved to another location at any time. If birds are allowed to roam on fresh grass, they will be healthier. Moving should be done about once a week. This is enough to eliminate bacteria that begin to accumulate in the location of the poultry house. Also, in a new place, birds can find additional food in the form of beetles and other insects.
- When creating a poultry house of an original design, you can decorate the area, making it part of the landscape.
- Portable products are much easier to clean than stationary structures. If there is a source of water on the site, you can move the chicken coop closer to it.
- Mobile chicken coops can be designed for both summer and winter use.
- Portable chicken coops can be easily made with your own hands. And if you decide to purchase such a design, you will not have to spend a lot of money.
But the products described also have disadvantages. The main disadvantage is that they cannot accommodate as many chickens as is necessary for a large farm.
Chicken coop technology
Before you create a mobile chicken coop with your own hands, you need to draw up a drawing that will show the dimensions of each structural element. The construction of a small poultry house is carried out as follows:
- First, the frame is formed. To do this, two triangular frames are created from timber with a cross-section of 2x4 cm. They are connected by hewn boards that have handles for moving the structure.
- After this, the side walls are created. They need to be made from slats with a cross section of 1.3x3 cm. A mesh with small cells is stretched between the walls. Plywood can serve as a floor between tiers. It is necessary to make a hole in it for the chickens, to which a ladder will lead. One of the side walls must be removable. The entrance to the poultry house will be located in it. The second wall should be created from lining.
- At the next stage, it is necessary to divide the second tier into parts. About a third of the total space should be separated. This is where the perches should be placed. The remaining area is intended for birds to rest.
- Then the roof is made. It can be made from plywood sheets. When the air temperature is high, the roof can be raised. It is worth remembering that one of the parts of the roof of a portable chicken coop must be removable. This is necessary so that, if necessary, the structure can be cleaned.
- At the last stage, the outer part of the poultry house is treated with varnish. Such compositions can protect the tree from moisture and insects.
After this, the procedure for creating a poultry house can be completed. At this stage, you need to think about ventilation.
Lighting and ventilation in the chicken coop
The portable chicken coop is equipped with ventilation so that the birds do not feel hot or cold.If a ventilation system is not created, the chickens may get sick. This is also necessary to get rid of the unpleasant odor in the chicken coop. It is important to remember that chickens need sunlight. Its absence can negatively affect the health of the bird.
When creating a design, the climate in a particular region should be taken into account. Rain and strong winds can damage the structure. For example, if parts of a chicken coop are poorly secured, they may become detached in strong winds, leading to destruction.
If you live in such an area, there are several features to consider:
- To prevent drafts, it is necessary to make a structure in which there are no gaps. At the same time, do not forget about the need to open the house for ventilation.
- When installed on a hill, moisture will not accumulate in the chicken coop. If installed in a low area, even after a light rain the chickens may end up in water.
- To protect the bird, it is worth placing a mosquito net on the windows.
A standard portable poultry house allows you to keep about 10 chickens. When they grow up, half must be removed from the coop. In winter, you can keep chickens on the second tier. To protect against the cold, the mesh is covered with thermal insulation materials. In winter, you can move the chicken coop to a barn or garage.
Chicken coops on wheels
Building a chicken coop on wheels is quite simple. All work occurs in almost the same way as when creating a small triangular structure:
- First, a schema is created. It should contain information about the sizes of all elements. Without a drawing, it will not be possible to correctly create a solid structure, since it is impossible to keep in mind the location of all the parts and their sizes.It should be noted that some experienced builders can carry out work without a drawing if the structure is small in size.
- At the second stage, you create the frame of a mobile chicken coop from wood with your own hands. It has a rectangular shape and can reach a height of 2 meters. You should determine in advance where the closed part of the chicken coop will be located. It is on this side that the wheels will be secured. This is due to the fact that when moving the structure you have to lift one side of it. If you install wheels under the mesh part of the coop, it will be difficult to move due to the greater weight of the closed part. Chicken coop frame on wheels should be created from bars with a cross-section of 7x5 cm.
- Then it is necessary to secure additional structural elements that are necessary to create walls and partitions. According to the drawing, it is necessary to arrange them in such a way that the chicken coop is divided into two main parts - an open space fenced with a mesh and a closed structure with a window.
- Regardless of size, it is necessary to create several compartments in the closed part of the chicken coop. In the smaller section there will be perches, and in the more spacious section the birds will rest. Also at this stage, the walls of the structure are created and insulated if you plan to use the chicken coop in winter. In the wall that will separate the open section of the chicken coop from the closed one, you need to create a small entrance. A bird ladder needs to be connected to it.
- The next step is to make the roof of the chicken coop. It should open so that you can clean the structure from the inside if necessary. It is best to place the roof parts on hinges.When carrying out such work, do not forget that the structure must be reliable and have no weak points.
- After this, the open part of the chicken coop is lined with bars. It is important to choose a grille with small cells. Products with a cell width and height of 2 cm are often used.
- When creating such a chicken coop, the nets are fixed on top and on the sides. Thanks to this, birds are able to walk on the grass.
- After this, you should take care of creating handles for transporting the chicken coop. They must be securely fastened to the sides of the structure. Also at this stage the wheels are attached. They should not have a small diameter, as they can simply sink into the ground under the influence of the weight of the chicken coop. But you should not install too large wheels, as this will lead to the fact that transportation of the structure will take place with great effort.
Finishing the chicken coop
So that the chicken coop can become part of the landscape and not spoil the impression, you can paint it. It is important to take care of protecting wooden structural elements with special compounds that protect against moisture and pests.
Some site owners decorate chicken coops with plants, which are located in niches created near the roof of the structure (as in the photo). You can also stylize the design as a fairy-tale hut. But in most cases, only paint is used to decorate the chicken coop.
