Being able to move your flock of chickens around your land not only allows you to take advantage of them foraging for weeds and bugs and enrich the soil with manure, but it also means that they can free range safely without the risk of predators attacking them.
All chicken owners know that keeping your hens happy is the key to getting a load of farm fresh eggs, so a moveable chicken coop will let them enjoy new and exciting scenery, as well as being able to while the day away scratching around for juicy worms and other insects.
Building a moveable chicken coop doesn’t have to be complicated, and you also don’t have to be a DIY genius to make your own. But, if you prefer to buy one ready made to save time and effort, you can follow the links included in each design description below.
Important Tips to Remember When Choosing a Moveable Chicken Coop
Before you decide which chicken coop to go with, there are a few basics that you need to take into account that need to be featured in the design to make it a safe and convenient mobile home for your flock. Firstly, it goes without saying that the structure needs to be robust enough to withstand predators and bad weather.
Ideally, the actual coop should be elevated, and you should be able to lock them in at night and then let them down into the run to free range during the day. Easy cleaning is also important, as you don’t want your birds getting sick due to unsanitary living conditions.
It is also worth taking into consideration that many of the better moveable chicken coops don´t come with wheels included, but don´t worry, you can easily get hold of some here. Alternatively, you should try to find a mobile chicken coop that is relatively lightweight so that you can pick it up and move it around whenever you like.
Here are some of our favorite moveable chicken coop designs to inspire your creativity and help you get started planning your very own chicken tractor!
Predator Proof Palace
If you live in an area where predators are rife, then safety is going to be your priority when it comes to investing in a moveable chicken coop. Depending on the size of your flock, you can easily tailor the design to include more or fewer nesting boxes and a bigger run so they can graze and wander throughout the day.
Robust metal mesh wire is going to be your best bet to keep all predators large and small away, which is why we especially like this particular design. If you are a newbie chicken owner, then you can buy a premade easy to move predator-proof coop here. If you want to accommodate a larger flock and you are confident in your DIY skills, just upscale the dimensions to suit your needs.
Being able to clean your chicken coop easily and regularly will stop them from getting illnesses and, of course, no one wants to have to deal with a smelly back yard-especially if you only have a small homestead!
A removable tray such as the one featured in this coop means that you can easily gather the chicken poop up each day and add it to your compost heap to create some supercharged fertilizer for your veggies.
Cute Ark Shaped Chicken Run
If you want a mobile chicken coop that looks stylish but is still totally robust and predator proof, then this one would be a great choice for you. It has all of the essential features you need to keep your hens happy like a removable litter box made out of galvanized steel and treated timber. All this means it will be weatherproof and last for many years to come.
What is especially appealing about this particular design is that you can open it from pretty much any angle making it easier for you to collect eggs or reach in to give your chickens a stroke or some treats. Unless you are pretty good at woodworking, intricately designed chicken coops are often better purchased ready-made. The cost of materials combined with the time you will spend creating each piece before assembling the coop would probably work out to be much more expensive.
Traditional Large Chicken Coop Design
Sometimes simplicity is key when raising chickens, and this traditional style chicken coop is perfect for any sized flock. The nesting box and sheltered area are elevated off the floor keeping your chickens safe from rodents and weasels, and it comes complete with an asphalt roof, which will come in very useful during the winter months as it will provide extra insulation while keeping them dry.
Reinforced galvanized wire mesh means that even the meanest of coyotes won’t be able to get to your beloved birds and the treated timber is completely animal-friendly. This large chicken coop is great if you plan on moving your chickens around the immediately visible parts of your homestead as its elegant design will blend in with pretty much any environment.
Another particularly good feature of this large chicken coop is that it comes flat-packed with crystal clear assembly instructions, meaning you can relax and have some fun watching your creation come together.
Final Thoughts
Many owners of smaller flocks have gotten to know their chickens’ individual personalities and have most likely given their favorite birds names. Coming down in the morning to find that a fox has viciously destroyed your entire flock is something that no one wants to have to go through, so putting preventative measures in place like a moveable and durable chicken coop is key to raising happy and healthy chickens. Chickens can provide you with so many benefits like fresh eggs every day, hours of entertainment, and also fantastic manure, so it is always worth investing in their wellbeing.