Raising chickens can be one of the most rewarding experiences for homesteaders and backyard farmers. Chickens provide fresh eggs, natural pest control, and even fertilizer for your garden. However, raising them comes with its challenges.
One of the biggest hurdles we faced was keeping our chickens safe from predators while giving them enough freedom to roam. After losing our first flock to coyotes or raccoons, we decided to design a safer and more comfortable living space for our next batch.
Why Build a Mobile Chicken Coop?
Before diving into the details, it’s worth explaining why we decided to build a mobile chicken coop instead of a stationary one. Here are a few reasons:
- Safety from Predators: Having our chickens confined to a safe space ensured that we didn’t lose them to wildlife like coyotes, raccoons, or hawks.
- Better Pasture Management: By moving the coop around the pasture, we could provide the chickens with fresh dirt, grass, and insects to peck at, which is crucial for their health and happiness.
- Healthier Environment: A mobile coop helps prevent the smell from accumulating chicken poop, which tends to build up in confined spaces. This helps in maintaining a cleaner, more hygienic environment for both chickens and humans.
- Easy Maintenance: Instead of cleaning out one fixed space, we could simply move the coop to a new area, giving the previous location a chance to recover.
With these benefits in mind, we set out to design a coop that would be spacious enough for our 22 chickens while also being practical for daily use.
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
Building a mobile chicken coop requires a variety of materials. Here’s a list of the supplies we used for our project:
Materials:
- 4 solid 8-inch wheels (available at Harbor Freight)
- 4 5/8” x 6” carriage bolts (for axles)
- 4 1/2” x 6” carriage bolts (for swing-up axle arms)
- 8 5/8” washers
- 4 5/8” nuts
- 4 1/2” nuts
- 16 1/2” washers
- 2 16-foot 2×4 pressure-treated (PT) lumber
- 2 8-foot 2×4 PT lumber
- 1 16-foot 2×4
- 9 8-foot 2x4s
- 1 50-foot roll of chicken wire
- 1 box of 2-1/2” drywall screws
- Staples and stapler
- 2 6×8 blue tarps
This list may seem extensive, but it’s essential to ensure that the coop is both sturdy and functional. The wheels, in particular, were a critical component, as they allow the entire structure to be moved around the yard with ease.
Step 2: Build the Frame
The first step in constructing the coop was building the frame. We opted for a pressure-treated wood base to protect it from the elements and prevent rot. Here’s how we constructed it:
- The Base: Start by using pressure-treated lumber to form the base. We placed scrap 4×4 pieces at each corner for added support. Across the long sides of the base, we attached a 2×4 in the center for extra reinforcement.
- Ridge Rafter: For the roof, we used a standard 2x4x16 to form the ridge rafter at the peak of the coop. This is the central beam that will support the roof structure.
- Tent-Shaped Sections: To create the roof’s sloping shape, we cut three tent-shaped sections from the 2x4s and attached them to the ridge rafter. The peak of the coop stands about 6 feet tall, offering plenty of headspace for us to move around inside.
- Additional Support: To further strengthen the frame, we added 2x4s between each short section of the base and the ridge rafter. Scrap wood was used as braces between the boards to ensure the frame was solid and stable.
Step 3: Construct the Swing-Up Wheel Arms
The key to making our chicken coop mobile was adding retractable wheel arms. These arms allow us to lift the base of the coop and swing the wheels down, making it possible to roll the entire structure across the pasture.
Here’s how we built the swing-up wheel arms:
- Template Creation: We created a cardboard template to test the dimensions and fit before cutting the arms from pressure-treated 2×4 lumber. Each arm is about 8 inches long and needs to be sturdy enough to support the weight of the coop.
- Attaching the Arms: The arms are attached to the base frame about 3 feet from each corner using 1/2” carriage bolts and washers. We used extra washers between the arm and the frame to reduce friction, allowing the arms to move smoothly.
- Swing Mechanism: On the other end of the arm, we drilled a hole for a 5/8” carriage bolt, which acts as an axle for the wheels. When we swing the arm down, the wheels lower to the ground, allowing the coop to be easily rolled.
- Resting Against a Scrap Piece: A scrap piece of 2×4 was attached to the frame near the wheel arm so that when the arm is swung down, it rests at a 45-degree angle, providing extra stability.
Step 4: Add the Walls and Roof
Once the frame and wheel system were in place, it was time to build the walls and roof of the chicken coop:
- Chicken Wire: We stapled chicken wire to the frame to enclose the coop. This wire ensures that the chickens are safe from predators while still allowing them to enjoy the fresh air. To cover the peak, we bent the wire over the top since 6-foot rolls of wire do not completely cover the height of the structure.
- Tarps for Shade: We used blue tarps to cover the sides of the coop and provide shade for the chickens. The tarps also help protect the coop from rain and sun damage. They were secured with ropes and tied to the frame for stability.
- Entry Door: We added a simple door on one side of the coop using scrap wood, attached with hinges for easy access. This allows us to enter the coop to feed and water the chickens, as well as collect the eggs.
Step 5: Test the Coop
Once the coop was fully assembled, we gave it a test run. Lifting the base and swinging the wheels down one at a time was a smooth operation. We were able to roll the coop around the pasture easily, moving it to fresh grass for the chickens to enjoy.
Final Thoughts
Building a mobile chicken coop was a rewarding project that paid off in multiple ways. Not only does it give our chickens the freedom to roam and access fresh pasture, but it also keeps them safe from predators and helps us maintain a cleaner, healthier environment for both the chickens and our family.
If you’re looking to build a similar coop, we hope this guide has provided you with the inspiration and steps to get started. Remember to adjust the design based on your own needs and the size of your flock!
Project Via Instructables – Get the PDF Instructions here.
Joseph Hudson has been raising chickens for over 15 years. In 2018, he completed the Agriculture & Natural Resources program at Mt. San Antonio College. He currently raises over 1400 chickens on his 7.5-hectare farm. He keeps sharing his experience on raising healthy and happy chickens on Chicken Scratch The Foundry.
