When it came time to create our new “hay wagon” chicken coop for the farm – we wanted a coop that could not only protect our little hens from predators and the elements – but also one that could be mobile and allow our chickens to free range all over the farm.
To do that without breaking the bank – we spent this summer turning an old hay wagon into our version of the perfect little chicken coop. And was it ever fun to do!
If there is one thing that has been missing from our new farm, it’s chickens! Not only do we miss having friendly chickens roaming about and all of those delicious farm fresh eggs, we also miss all of the manure that they give us for our gardens, flowerbeds and compost pile.
Of course, in addition to all of those benefits, chickens are also great for keeping ticks and other insect populations under control. Which is exactly why we couldn’t wait to build a home for a small flock at the farm!
I would have to say now that it is complete – we are so happy that it is all of those things and more. And today, we will take a look at how it all came together. We have also included a video of the coop and the build at the end of the article.
How To Create The Perfect Little Mobile Chicken Coop – From An Old Hay Wagon!
In addition to being mobile, our goal for the coop was to make it as low maintenance to use as possible. That meant making it easy to access the eggs on a daily basis. Even more, it had to be easy to fill up food and water supplies for the chickens. And last but not least – it had to be easy to clean and move.
Finding An Old Hay Wagon
Right from the beginning, we settled on a hay wagon frame to make it mobile. Hay wagon frames really make the perfect rolling stock for a chicken coop. The height is perfect for adding nesting boxes that are easily accessible from the outside. Even more, they can hook up and roll and carry the weight of a coop with ease.
Luckily, we were able to find and purchase a couple of old hay wagons in the spring – one for the coop project, and the other for a future hay wagon ride project for the farm. You can actually find hay wagon frames and wagons for a good price online – and they really do last for years and years.
For starters, we stripped down the old wagon to its frame. Next, we power washed and sanded down all of the metal and painted the frame black. For stability, we created the frame for the coop using treated 2×6’s.
The overall coop dimensions are 10′ long x 5′ wide. We used a double stack of 2x6s for the two main rails and then bolted them to the frame. To add a little flair, we then cut out notches for a “pergola” style cross frame and attached them to the two main rails.
Building The Coop – How To Create The Perfect Little Mobile Chicken Coop
Once the foundation was on the frame, we then added 3/4″ treated plywood. We also made cutouts in the main floor and laid in hardware cloth. This allows the coop to drain from the bottom and adds airflow as well. The chickens actually like walking on it – and it’s predator proof! Affiliate Link: Hardware Cloth
Then, we simply built our 10′ x 5′ coop with 2×4 studs right on top. Now it came time to add all of the neat little features that make this coop both low maintenance – and extremely safe for the chickens!
For the interior walls, we clad them in galvanized v-groove metal. It’s easy to clean, doesn’t rust – and keeps the interior bright as well. We then added two roosting bars and a nesting box with three separate laying box sections.
We built in plenty of windows for light and air. All of the windows are covered in 1/2″ hardware cloth. It’s plenty strong to hold out any predator. For the main side, we installed a large 3×4′ removable screen window/door.
It can be opened with wing nuts and makes cleaning the coop from outside a breeze. With a small rake, all of the straw can be emptied and cleaned when needed – all without ever having to go in the coop!
The Automatic Door, Exterior Egg Boxes & Feed Tubes – How To Create The Perfect Little Mobile Chicken Coop
What really makes the coop and chickens easy to maintain are 3 unique exterior features. The first is an automatic door that opens after dawn and closes at dusk. It is predator proof strong and allows the chickens total safety overnight. Affiliate Product Link: RUN-CHICKEN Door Automatic Chicken Coop Door
As for feeding the chickens and retrieving eggs, that can be done from the outside as well. The egg boxes can be opened from the outside. All from about a 3′ high level, making it very simple and easy to do. Not only is it great for us, it also is great for the chickens.
For feeding, we used 4″ PVC pipe with a “U” that drops down the feed automatically using gravity. That can be filled from the outside by unscrewing a cap at the top of the pvc pipe that we curved to be outside.
Check Out The New Hay Wagon Chicken Coop Below
Last but not least, we will also use a rolling dog kennel behind the coop that keeps the chickens safe during the day. We live in an area with plenty of bobcats, fox and coyote – and keeping them safe from them is a big priority.
Our plan is to move the coop every week to a new location for fresh grass for the chickens. We still have a few details to finish up, including painting the coop to match the farm’s colors. But before long – we will hopefully have chickens roaming about safely for many years to come! Happy Gardening, Jim & Mary.
Old World Garden Farms
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.
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