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Post by mnjrutherford on Jan 4, 2010 11:21:20 GMT -5
We are going to have chickens this spring, but we need a shelter for them because of hawks, dogs, snakes, and other potential predators. I would like them to be mobile so that they can be moved around the property with relative ease and contribute pecking and pooping power. I'm thinking in terms of a "Joel Salatin" model.
What I really REALLY need is some building plans. I've found all kinds of photos, but we need plans and I haven't come up with those. Any body got some thoughts and ideas along these lines?
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Post by lavandulagirl on Jan 4, 2010 12:42:43 GMT -5
Check out this site... www.backyardchickens.com/coopdesigns.htmlYou may find some good stuff. Also, I scored an excellent deal on a Barnco shed at a home and garden show. They were selling existing inventory super cheap. If I had built the coop I have, it would have cost me way more than what they charged me, just for materials. The guy even installed a window I supplied, for free.
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Post by bunkie on Jan 4, 2010 13:50:46 GMT -5
great site lav!
jo, don't forget the chicken 'tractors'....they're on that site too.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Jan 4, 2010 15:35:36 GMT -5
A tractor is really what we are after. The one on the 3rd row, 3rd from the left is my ideal. But there aren't any plans and the photos don't show sufficient detail. I haven't yet figured out how to contact the builder for more data but I'm working on it.
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Post by Alan on Jan 4, 2010 16:40:37 GMT -5
Do a quick google search for cattle panel coops, I've seen these here locally a few times and they seem easy to build, maintain, and even move.
My main coop is actually a greenhouse which is 20 x 12 and is unmovable but it works really, really, well. I switched out greenhouse plastic for a reflective two sided heavy duty hay tarp which keeps it warm in winter and cool in summer.
I actually thought about buying one of the EZ-UP cold frame kits from Growers Supply and building that on top of an old hay trailer for a movable coop, using the hay tarp as a cover again, I thought that would work fairly well, there are a lot of options though.
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