Portable Chicken Coop A.K.A. Chicken Tractor, www.FredsFineFowl.com

[spielberg01]

What I really liked baout your video most of all was the fact that you genuinely cared for the chickens. We ll done on a excellent video and outlook on life.

[HTCSWEOD]

@spielberg01 Thank you for posting... what a nice observation... :)

[HTCSWEOD]

Please don't forget to buy the DVD Regarding Chickens, or get it from your local library... know what you are doing with chickens ("> thanks for watching!!!!

[winpwong]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for such an informative video. I am SO NEW to this and your video answered A LOT of my questions (chicken coop vs chicken tractor, nesting boxes, protection, etc.)

Appreciate your help!!

[HTCSWEOD]

@winpwong YOU are so welcome... I am happy you found it helpful! I wish you the best with your chickens (">

[HTCSWEOD]

You can find Fred's Fine Fowl on Facebook! Join us won't you?

[mopbrothers]

Very nice coop.

[HTCSWEOD]

@mopbrothers Thank you!

[spiritartman]

Excellent!! it's my favorite Coop to date although I would go just a tiny bit bigger. Do you have plans? Great video!!! 

[HTCSWEOD]

@spiritartman Yes, plans are available through the main Fred's Fine Fowl website for a pittance... you can alter the dimensions to suit your individual purpose/need... this is built so it can roll easily into a shed or garage for winter in Pennsylvania. Thanks for your comment!

[beastwitinn]

i want chickens brother.... i gotta be older.. need my own damn house somewhere where there aint that many neighbors i don't want these cowards to call the cops on me.. hell ill even give them free chicken eggs....if they can keep there mouth shut LOL

[adecheine]

"Hello #UN#, good stuff here! Happy New Year! April

[HTCSWEOD]

@adecheine Happy 2011 to you also and I'm glad you got something out of the video (">

[gekizai]

For a second, I thought your predator light was a card-key access module, haha.

[HTCSWEOD]

@gekizai With all the technology available today, I wouldn't be surprised if someone didn't do just that. I know people who spend thousands on their coops, complete with solar panels, automatic door openers and running water inside. The sky is the limit anymore as Martha Stewart made garden hen houses posh. My next design is a light house... I know I know... eccentric but cool right?!

[tomsmith100]

A fox would take about 5 minutes to dig into the ground around the open floor and kill the entire flock.

[HTCSWEOD]

@tomsmith100 Than in your area you would need more secure accommodations, the red and gray fox in our area have not accomplished that "yet"... but we also have guineas and a large dog. Each person must consider the threats in their geographical area.

[45has2]

@tomsmith100 Unless you have American Bulldogs, they love little fox snacks.

[Prekbeek345]

how much did this cost?

[HTCSWEOD]

@Prekbeek345 $ 152.75 U.S.

[marsqualls]

OMG GUINEAS!!!

[morningbirdfeeder]

very nice chicken tractor

[jellofast]

if the chickens poop in the nesting area, can i use a hose to spray it towards the bottom level of the coop or would i have to add some water resistant things ?

[HTCSWEOD]

Hi, I would not use a hose to spray things out... with plenty of litter (pine shavings here) the chicken droppings dry out quickly and you may use the droppings/shavings mixture as a mulch on your garden. Keeping things dry is key to reducing ammonia and bad bacteria from developing. If you can't keep up, there are too many birds in the coop.

[jellofast]

@HTCSWEOD

thanks i'll keep this in mind

[NewDaysOldWays1]

@jellofast We installed hinges on the floor area so that when the chickens are out of the nesting area, we could just open it up....everything would drop to the ground. We then use a wire brush (long handled BBQ) if anything (poop) is sticking to the floor area we just use the brush. I then rake up the dropping and throw in to one of the composting areas.

[goldnchocolate]

What type of ventilation do the chickens have once they are in for the night? I have been enjoying your videos....keep them coming!

[HTCSWEOD]

There are air openings at the top of the roosting box facing the interior of the penned area. Depending on the climate in which they are kept, more ventilation holes can be put in. Always remember to use hardware cloth to prevent the entry of rodents and other undesirables... thanks for your comment!!

[nlightened2]

How many square feet do you need per chicken?

[HTCSWEOD]

If you will be keeping chickens inside for extended periods, then the general rule is 4 square feet of floor space per large standard bird... 3 square feet per bantam.... the coop shown here is not intended as a year round structure in northern climates, but rather for spring, summer and autumn ranging...

[DaughterofStFrancis]

wonderful ideas . I grew up in the country but am living in a small town and dearly am trying to be self sufficient.

[n1les]

Are chicken coops safe from cats and rats? plus does one chicken smell, if you clean it everyday?

[HTCSWEOD]

Chickens kept under good conditions don't smell. This enclosure will keep them safe from cats. Rats (if you have them) should be dealt with by removing all their nesting areas. A rat certainly could get under this coop. Deal with the rats first.

[bebopadula]

What do you do in the winter?

[xxXgunshowXxx]

crazy

[rbhrft]

This was great information and demonstration. Could you tell me where you got your predator guard lights? I have never seen those before.

[teenmod12]

how much room do free range bantams need in a chicken coop. how much room do road island reds need in a chicken coop. the coop is just a place for them to sleep at night, then there out in the morning btw. thnx

[HTCSWEOD]

As a general rule when constructing a stationary chicken coop... 4 sq ft per large standard bird and 3 sq. ft. per bantam chicken...

So, 8 x 8 ft coop could house 16 large standard chickens without too much population density.

[bonnyjishop]

Hi! Great video and great design! However i notice you didn't say anything in the video about something fitted to the bottom of the chicken coop to stop foxes! We live on the Northwest of Ireland and we have had quite a few of our hens carried off by a fox! Have you seen the other "A"shaped chicken coop on here? its good also, but a trash video! you could do it and explain it better!

[HTCSWEOD]

Hi and thank you for your comment. There is nothing beneath the coop to allow free access to till and turf. We also have an abundance of Red and Gray Fox here and they have not been able to take a hen from this portable system. The hens of course are locked up in the roost at night. The A-Frame design is not one that I'm a big fan of, as it is very small at the top/roost and combs often rub the slanted chicken wire sides. The design was to keep goats from hopping on top. We have no goats..

[cockatielluver]

very clever design

[HTCSWEOD]

Thanks!

[rstidyman]

Excellent ideas of which I will incorporate many on the next tractor.

[HTCSWEOD]

Thanks, I'm glad you found it helpful! Happy Building!!

[GreenLearning]

The single best improvement for these is to use a chicken nipple waterer. It take chicken about 10 min to learn to use them. Then there's no more changing nasty water; just fill external reservoir.

[HTCSWEOD]

That's true.. Green...

You may hang a rabbit drinker on the side with the wire yolk that comes with them. Another reason why cage wire works better than chicken wire, it can support drinker with no problem... thanks for posting your comment!

[HTCSWEOD]

I did put out drawings/plans for those who are interested, just go to the Fred's Fine Fowl website it's on the page marked coop plans.

[WhistlingCedars]

Good video! I sure wish I had watched it prior to building my chicken coop. It took my ATV in 4 wheel low to move mine from the building site to the actual area I wanted it. I do live in severe bear and mountain lion country so using chain link fencing and 2" x 6" x 8" wood also added a lot of weight. You have some VERY good tip that people need to think about before tackling this type of task. I know first hand!

[HTCSWEOD]

Thanks for taking time to make such a thorough comment! Much appreciated. We have black bear and coyotes here... I figure, what a bear wants, a bear gets, but the flashing lights have deterred all night predators "so far". Best of luck to you!

[splinkton]

The most aesthically pleasing design I've seen out of hundreds of others on You Tube. Thanks, I'm off to build this one.

[HTCSWEOD]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoy the design. Unfortunately, I just built it by the seat of my pants, so have no plans on it "yet".. we're in the process of posting plans on my site by summer (winter for you down there)... please let me know how it works out for you.

[jwsaunders5]

you are so handsome

[brokenmoon65]

How do you get the blueprint on this chicken coop?

[HTCSWEOD]

Thanks for your question.. the blueprints are being produced right now and I will have them up and available through my website soon. Thank you for your patience... they will be in PDF format so they will be easy to send out.

[trucklover9]

how r the eggs collected each day, i didnt see any small doors that went to the nest box.

[HTCSWEOD]

There is a little nest box inside that isn't shown in this video.. you just reach in and collect them. I don't use roll out nests or anything like that and often the nest box is outside on the ground with the opening facing the shaded side. Thanks for your coment.

[exiledinkiwiland]

How many chickens do you house in a coop that size?

[HTCSWEOD]

This is a relatively small unit. Roosting space is pretty limited, so, I would recommend it for bantam chickens only and then no more than five... some birds are more active than others. The advantage is in being able to move them to fresh ground every few days, this keeps things fresh and interesting for them. I use this sometimes to start hens with chicks, it offers some protection until they can actually join the flock.

[sagesw]

Nice looking coop! What is the thickness of the plywood on the bottom and sides? Does having plenum area mean that the roof has 2 layers with an air space, or is there a vent between the window and the roof?

Also, are the plans on the DVD "Regarding Chickens"?

Thanks.

[HTCSWEOD]

Hi, thanks for your comments. First, there are no plans on the DVD, it's to serve as a rough example of what can be done. The sides and bottom of the roosting box is made of 3/16 luan, stiffened by 2x4 material. The vents are at the top, fore and aft (yes, above the window), no double roof, just horizontal pieces of wood which stiffen the structure, but are 1/2 inch from the actual wall at the top. The floor of the box is stiffened with 2x2 material and all joints are dado type. Glued.

[sunnydt]

just wondering how they get ventilation in the nest box. I live in Oklahoma, would this be ok for them in the winter? Or should I move them to another location?

[HTCSWEOD]

There is ventilation at the top, there is a plenum area. In an area where there is heavy winter snow, this would not be a good year round set up. I use it only during summer. In the south, it could be used year round. Thanks for your questions.

[rvrh]

i live in georgia, and love to buy your chicken cook from you. i also need heating system in the coop for winter. please send me some info also.

[HTCSWEOD]

Hi, thank you for your kind offer to buy... however, I don't sell them. I'm just an educator. This one would not be good in an area that gets heavy winter weather. Georgia may be ok.

[herbsherbsflowers]

Hi,

Do you have plans for this coop that I could buy? Or is there somewhere that I could get the plans?

Thanks,

Carol

[HTCSWEOD]

You can learn every aspect of Incubation, Brooding, Feeding and Housing your own chickens! Get your copy of the DVD REGARDING CHICKENS and take the guess work out of it.

[suziq1972]

Thank you for the great info! Now, can you come build that one for me? lol! Love it!

[HTCSWEOD]

As long as you have a cappuccino machine suziq, I'm there! :} Thanks for your comment!