How to Build a Salatin Style Range Broiler Coop

Joel Salatin, owner of Polyface Farms in Virginia, uses his livestock's natural foraging tendencies to raise healthy and what he calls "beyond organic" cows, chickens, turkeys, pigs and rabbits. Salatin lets his chickens clean the pasture after his cows have grazed for a day the same way a flock of birds in the wild clean the land after a herd of buffalo come through. The bottomless design of his 10-by-12-by-2-foot broiler pens allow the young birds to forage safely without the fear of predators. The frame is made from 1-by-3-inch wood boards that are covered in chicken wire and topped with a float aluminum roof.

Things You'll Need

  • Eight 24-by-1-by-3-inch boards
  • Four 120-by-1-by-3-inch boards
  • Five 144-by-1-by 3-inch boards
  • Four 60-by-1-by 3-inch boards
  • Six 72-by-1-by-3-inch boards
  • 1 1/2-inch wood screws
  • Electric screwdriver
  • Tape measure
  • Pencil
  • 10-by-2-feet aluminum roofing
  • 6-by-2-feet aluminum roofing
  • 10-by-6-feet aluminum roofing
  • 5-by-6 feet aluminum roofing
  • 1-inch button-head screws
  • Poultry netting
  • Wire cutters
  • Staple gun
  • Construction staples
  • Two 72-by-1-inch-by-1-inch strips
  • Two 60-by-1-by1-inch strips
  • 3 hinges
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay two 10-foot boards on the ground parallel to each other about 2 feet apart so the 3-inch side facing up.

    • 2

      Lay one 2-foot board across both 10-foot boards at the left end. Adjust the edges until the top edge of the 2-foot board lines up flush with the top edge of the top 10-foot board. Do the same for the other side. The two boards will be perpendicular to each other, creating a right angle. Attach the 2-foot board to the 10-foot board with two wood screws using an electric screwdriver. Space the screws diagonally from each other.

    • 3

      Line the bottom edge of the 2-foot board flush with the bottom edge of the bottom 10-foot board, as well as the left edges of both boards. Attach the 2-foot board to the 10-foot board with two wood screws using an electric screwdriver. Space the screws diagonally from each other.

    • 4

      Attach a second 2-foot board at the right end of the two 10-foot boards in the same manner as the left side, lining up edges and using two screws at the top and bottom.

    • 5

      Add a third 2-foot board to the middle for more support. Measure and mark both 10-foot boards at 5 feet from one end. Center the 2-foot board on the mark. Line the top and bottom edges flush with the edges of the 10-foot boards and attach with two screws at the top and at the bottom. Place the screws diagonally from each other. You now have a 2-by-10-foot rectangle with an extra center support.

    • 6

      Attach the cross bracing. Lay one 5-foot board diagonally from the left corner of the bottom 10-foot board to the middle of the top 10-foot board, lining up next to the 2-foot boards. Attach with two wood screws at each end. Repeat on the right side, using one 5-foot board angled from the middle down to the right.

    • 7

      Repeat Steps 1 through 6 to make a second, matching 10-foot frame.

    • 8

      Lay two 12-foot boards on the ground parallel to each other about 2 feet apart and with the 3-inch side facing up. Measure and mark each board at 6 feet from one end. Center one 2-foot board on the marks, lining up the top and bottom edges flush with the top and bottom edges of the 12-foot boards. Attach with two wood screws in the top and bottom, placed diagonally to each other.

    • 9

      Attach the cross bracing. Lay one 6-foot board diagonally from the left corner of the bottom 12-foot board to the middle of the top 12-foot board, lining up next to the 2-foot board. Attach with two wood screws at each end. Repeat on the right side, using one 6-foot board angled from the middle down to the right.

    • 10

      Repeat Steps 8 and 9 to create a second 12-foot wall frame.

    • 11

      Stand up one 10-foot wall frame so it stands 2-feet-tall. Attach one 12-foot wall frame perpendicular to one end of the 10-foot frame with two wood screws at the top and two more at the bottom. Attach the other 12-foot wall to the opposite side of the 10-foot wall in the same manner. Attach the last wall frame to the ends of the two 12-foot wall frames, creating a 10-by-12-by-2-foot frame.

    • 12

      Attach the last 12-foot board at the center of the 10-foot walls with wood screws, creating support down the center of the coop. Attach cross bracing by attaching 6-foot boards at the middle of this center support with wood screws and angling the 6-foot boards down to the base of the 10-foot walls. Attach with wood screws.

    • 13

      Attach the 10-by-2-foot aluminum roofing to one 10-foot wall frame with button-head screws spaced 6-8 inches apart. Attach the 6-by-2-foot aluminum roofing to an adjacent 12-foot side with button-head screws spaced about 6-8 inches apart. Attach the 10-by-6-foot aluminum roofing to the top of the tractor frame adjacent to the covered sides with button-head screws spaced about 6-8 inches apart. Attach this roof section to the center support as well. Cover half of the remaining roof space with the final roof panel, leaving a 6-by-5-foot opening. Attach with button-head screws spaced about 6-8 inches apart.

    • 14

      Cover the remaining areas of the wall frames with poultry netting. Cut the netting to size and staple into place. Do not cover the remaining roof space.

    • 15

      Build a door for the final section of the roof. Create a 6-by-5-foot rectangular frame using wood screws in the corners. Cover the frame with poultry netting using staples. Attach the door to the center support of the tractor with hinges.