During the past decade, rearing chickens organically have spiraled upward. This is not just the case with full-time farmers but also hobbyists who are on the lookout for healthier methods for breeding poultry for personal consumption as well as for commercial purposes. Raising healthy and organic poultry that will also lay healthy and organic eggs has a long list of advantages. Sadly, this is at the cost of free-range chickens needing much more space for healthy development. This is where the chicken coop on wheels comes to mind. This invention provides farmers a way always to have their chickens on greener pastures.
A mobile chicken coop is a simple home for your chickens that you can move from one place to another and can return to safety should any signs of threat develops. Chicken coop building is fairly easy and doesn’t require any blueprints. It will only take a bit of planning if you want to build a good poultry house adequately. It allows the little feathery raptors to roam freely in search of food while they stay protected from predators. This method of rearing chickens is an effective means of fertilizing your entire pasture while getting rid of unwanted pests. A portable chicken coop, along with the use of chicken wire, allows you to move your hens around. The open areas let them freely scratch, dig and root to get rid of unwanted insects and excess weeds while keeping them safe.
However, finding a good design for your coop plays a pivotal role in the success of your journey. There is a list of considerations to have at the back of your mind.
Predator Proof
For “poultry folk,” the bane of rearing chickens lies in attacks from predators which can maim or kill their birds. This is especially when they are left alone in the fresh air to scratch for bugs, fresh grass, and other food sources. Though it is much better for the chickens to live freely on pastures, it puts them at risk from an attack from foxes, cats, rodents, and other predators. This is where the need for a basic portable coop arises. The coop will provide both predator protection and a nice defense from stormy weather for your chicks.
One of the key factors to consider is predator protection from every angle. The portable coop, also known as the mobile chicken tractor, should be able to protect your fowl from air-borne predators. These predators include hawks as well as land animals like dogs, raccoons, and rodents. For farmers whose birds lay eggs, it is essential to fix wheels on your chicken coop in such a way that it will prevent egg-stealing animals—especially rodents—from gaining easy access into the coop.
Protection from Extreme Weather Conditions
The type of material used in constructing a movable chicken coop is also significant. Contrary to the belief that these birds are affected by cold, they can withstand wintry conditions and snow quite well. The primary weather condition that leads to loss of poultry, however, is heavy rainfall and stormy weather. This is why it’s crucial to use sturdy materials, as to prevent the chickens from drowning. These materials should be light enough to allow the tires on the wheels to be movable and carry their weight without caving in.
Topography
Before you construct a chicken coop on wheels, it is advisable to study the terrain. This way you will get to know how to facilitate the movement. Your field might be a hilly region with bumps or a flat terrain with grass. If a farmer’s property is in a mountainous area, you should construct the mobile chicken coop on wheels in such a way that will enable the coop to be movable over mounds. The tires of such wheels should have biting edges. That can help the coop establish some form of friction with the ground and stone ejecting tread.
Flatland is much easier to navigate because there are fewer obstacles to be encountered—so almost any wheel will do just fine. For these functions, among others, a retractable wheel comes highly recommended. Retractable wheels enable the chickens to claw up the coop when it is in stationary and allows them to move freely when it is in motion.
Chicken Coop on Wheels:
Chicken farmers have multiple ways of moving their chicken coops from one location to another. Some farmers place dollies underneath one end of their coops while they raise the other end with their handles. This seems quite cumbersome, not just because it can be quite difficult to move, but because it requires more than one person to achieve the feat. This might discourage backyard home farmers who work alone. Therefore, in the bid to alleviate this difficulty, it is important to create chicken coops that you can move on your own. This is where the need for a chicken coop on wheels comes in.
Chicken Coop on Two Wheels
Some models come with two wheels on both sides. These wheels are attached to the coop by using plywood or even cheap pallet. In most cases, one is required to move the plywood closer to the ground. This will enable the coop to go higher off the terrain. Subsequently, the plywood stays locked in place to allow continuous movement in such a manner without having to apply the initial force. While it is true that this design can come in handy for a one-person farmer, it somewhat hampers the building feasibility. Also, it is not ideal for those just starting out along the path to free-range chickens. Therefore, amateur farmers who are not well versed in the area of construction will encounter difficulties in building one.
Chicken Coop on Four Wheels
The easiest route to go is to construct a mobile chicken coop that has four wheels on both sides. This is especially true for farmers who happen to find themselves on flat terrain—four tires do not tip when they turn around on flatland. This number of wheels can also elevate the coop from the ground without much stress, either. It should be made with a retractable siding that demarcates the bottom of the hen house from the dirt. The main aim of this siding is to stop predators from penetrating the base of the small spacing provided by the tires. The coop will connect to the tires utilizing an axle system. The only thing required is to change the axle occasionally because they might lose their shape after constant movement.
Farmers who live in hilly terrain should consider using tires that do not only grip the ground but also have high puncture resistance.
Building a chicken coop is fairly easy, though whether or not you fix wheels, it is a personal choice. The good news is that it will help ease the burden associated in moving your poultry coop from one place to another and raising chickens yourself is a rewarding experience.