How to Build Mobile Chicken Houses

Mobile chicken coops are called chicken arks or chicken tractors. They hold from four to six chickens comfortably. One good thing about a chicken tractor is it can be moved around so you can put it in areas where you want to fertilize or destroy insects. If you place the chicken tractor near your garden, the chickens will keep garden pests under control. Your chickens are more vulnerable to predators when they are in the chicken tractor, but the chickens love to be allowed to roam about in grassy areas. Just make sure you check on them regularly.

Things You'll Need

  • Triangle-shaped pieces of wood, with 3 sides 3 foot wide by 1 inch thick (2) 2 inch by 4 inch by 8 foot piece of wood 2 inch by 4 inch by 7 foot pieces of wood (2) Hammer Nails 25-foot roll of 4 foot wide chicken wire Saw U-shaped nails 5 foot by 7 foot tarp
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the two triangles of wood on a flat surface. Write the letter “A” on one corner, and label the other two corners “B” and “C.” Repeat this procedure on the second board.

    • 2

      Measure 2 inches on each side of angle “A” and place a mark on each side. Draw a line connecting the two marks.

    • 3

      Cut the wood on the line.

    • 4

      Lean one of the triangle-shaped pieces of wood against something to hold it straight up. Make sure the corner with the removed tip is on top. Place one of the 2 inch by 4 inch by 7 foot pieces against angle “B.” The 4-inch side of the wood should be flat against the 1-inch side of the triangle. Hammer the 2 inch by 4 inch by 7 foot board into place. Repeat this procedure on side “C” with the other 2 inch by 4 inch by 7 foot board. Attach the second triangle-shaped board on the other side of the 2 inch by 4 inch by 7 foot board. You will need to prop it up while hammering it into place.

    • 5

      Place the 2 inch by 4 inch by 8 foot board on top of the flat part of corner “A.” Nail it into place. Make sure 6 inches of excess wood hang over each side of the coop. The excess wood will be your handholds to move the chicken coop from place to place.

    • 6

      Fold 1 inch of the chicken wire backwards so that you have a 1-inch flap. Lay it up against the left side of the triangular pieces and line the wire edge up against the outer edge of the wood. Hammer the wire into place using U-shaped nails. It will hang over the top by about a foot. Fold the extra wire over the top of corner “A” and hammer it down on the right side of corner “A.” Nail the wire into place on the other triangular piece. Make sure you cut the wire 1 inch longer than the chicken coop and fold the excess wire back towards the inside of the coop before hammering it into place.

    • 7

      Repeat Step 6 on the right side of the triangular pieces so the sides are both covered in chicken wire. The excess wire on top will help protect the chickens from flying predators.

    • 8

      Place the 5 foot by 7 foot tarp on a flat surface and fold it in half. It should measure 2-1/2 feet by 7 feet in length. Lay it over one end of the chicken coop and line up the folded edge of the tarp with the outer edge of the coop. Make sure you keep it folded in half. Using the U-shaped nails, nail the edge of the tarp into place. Fold any excess length up then hammer it into the 2 inch by 4 inch by 7 foot boards on the bottom. Use small pieces of wire to connect the tarp to the chicken wire through the metal rings on the tarp. Cut off any excess wire. This will give the chickens a shaded place to rest and lay their eggs. Place some hay in this area when you move the coop.