🥚$30,000/year of Organic Chicken Eggs in a 53ft Semi-Reefer coop. Cheap, Fast, & Easy.

[@thetielife]

Love this idea!!! My input is that air circulation is needed for a coop. I'd add a fan over the door - and another on the opposite end! Can't wait to see how this turns out for you. I sell eggs for $7/dozen here in BC Canada and am constantly selling out! Don't be afraid to ask as much as your grocery retailer. Thanks for the vid!

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Thanks. Yes, gotta make an air exchanger I think once I get more chickens in there. 👍

[@nataliemanor4458]

I lost all my chicks from my broody hen, big big snake, then mice, then aging out. The container is a marvelous idea. Count me in as I consider all this. Thanks. The tour was terrific. Chicken math is real

[@tinabogucky2662]

Great innovative project! As a seasoned chicken person my biggest tip is use wood chips or shavings for floor bedding! Keeps the humidity controlled compared to straw (much dryer coop), way easier to clean out, and makes beautiful compost! Well worth the bit of extra cost. If you are set on straw I would do wheat straw, way more absorbent then oat or barley. And also if you can get straw that came frome a rotary combine (chopped up finer) instead of a conventional it works better. Also if your doing laying hens for a business I would also recommend rollaway nesting boxes, yes pricey but we'll worth it as the eggs are much cleaner and in most cases require little effort to get a clean egg. I recommend crackalackin nexting boxes. Happy egg venture, Arkopia! From Alberta (Sask born😉)

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Good tips. Appreciate it

[@galeparker1067]

♥️ Tina!? Deep litter to create heat in the winter? Thanks for commenting! 👃✌️🇨🇦

[@NonexistentHomestead]

Looks great. With 150 chickens it is going to get messy fast. Take advantage in the winter and just add new straw on top of the mess. It will naturally composte and give off heat. Clean out when the temperatures are staying above freeze and then probably more often in summer

[@IHAVERIGHTS]

Hey me too. I'm a 53 year old Grandma, and I tried looking up some youtube videos to help me build mine out, but there were none. I just winged it, and it turned out great! My flocks love it.

[@raeleenrobinson5749]

A cover for the top of the feeder and water buckets, so the chickens stop roosting on it and pooping in the feed, it helps to keep them from getting sick from fouled feed or water . Other than that , I think it’s amazing what you are doing , very challenging environment you live in , I am in Australia so we have the heat to deal with (total flip side to what you deal with -cold) . Love seeing people overcome the challenges life throws at us as humans.

[@noc8076]

All scraps go to the chicken. Eggshells, shrimp, lobster, yogurt, bones, they will pick at and eat anything. Eggshells recirculate the calcium they need. Rabbits have always been quick meat in bad times, so a unit for those could work.

[@dhansonranch]

It is a good idea. However, humidity will be a problem for you i feel unless you have some plans. I live north of you so I have experienced this first hand. I would suggest that a vent or two be added to the roof (I use an old chimney 1 foot off the ground out the roof) to increase air flow and thereby help reduce humidity. I would also suggest that it be lifted so that it is a foot off the ground to prevent skunks and other critters. I have a south facing run on mine and in the summer it is hardly used unless there is some shade provided. Good job!

[@terrafirma75]

I came here to say something similar. Fantastic idea but also thought there needs to be some vents or a small fan to move air through

[@WhatdoUmeanbythat]

A little higher than 1 foot would be better. We've had raccoons, skunks & most recently, a fox under ours. It's a bit easier for the dog to get those if it is raised a bit more.

[@tclodfelter8789]

I want one to make a butcher shop... the processing/cutting in front and freezer in the back run from a Coolbot!

[@jdctact]

Great idea, my wife and I picked up a reefer trailer to build a "tiny" house, trailer and delivery was under 2 thousand ALL in there are so many possibilities with these things !

[@vashstampedo]

Great idea, yes, ventilation is vital. I would raise up those egg nests at least a foot higher than you have them, keep the eggs above all the mess that will happen with all those chickens.

[@bigshu5520]

Don’t forget that even in winter the coop needs ventilation. Other than that, great work!

[@jvin248]

+1 pretty strong ammonia otherwise.

[@Thewildmindofmike]

Awesome use of the container! I am impressed with how far you have progressed with the use of PV panels and solar systems. By the extension cord, I'm guessing the container is wired 120volt. With that, I'm guessing an inverter and small battery pack will be added. Inverter heat dump alone will practically heat the box during the day by the PV, and while the battery keeps the lights on the couple extra hours for egg production. Once again Dean, you have my mind spinning with ideas. Mike 🤠

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Thanks man. You’ve been giviner too. Ya, 24v system and little 500w 24v inverter going in shortly. Cheap little stuff. AGM batteries. Wired AC. 👍

[@Thewildmindofmike]

@ArkopiaKZbin Nice! Looking forward to your next ideas. And maybe one of these days, I can get my wild redneck ideas on a video before you so, Mrs. Wild doesn't think I am just copying you 😂. 🤠

[@dontask3121]

You can use insulated garage door panels for your window shutters

[@MMK86]

dude with all the stuff you've built and becoming more self reliant, when shit hits the fan you'll have nothing to worry about 👍

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

The shit hit the fan already. Will it get worse, yes. But it already hit.

[@publicdomain3378]

Raiders come for food and women. Group up stay strong, train well, God bless you, god bless Americans.

[@charlesurrea1451]

Eggs✔ meat✔ nitrates✔ what more could you want? That looks like one super comfy Coupe man. I wouldn't mind being a chicken.

[@koveebryant1526]

Bravo Really enjoy the whole series and your attention to details. Look forward to seeing what's next! Cheers

[@davidking3699]

Canada's unofficial minister for industry, productivity, agriculture and innovation... Always a new and interesting project... A bit of off-the shelf hardware and you have auto feeders, auto water and temp control and ventilation... could install a tank and hopper up high inside to hold the water and feed from freezing or vermin...

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Just unpaid. 🤪

[@joyceterra2265]

I did the same thing with a 26 ft artic pack travel trailer. Inside was toast, so I gutted it and built it up into a chicken coop. The bathroom area is my feed room. I kept some of the end cabinets to use for storage of chicken accessories. I only use water heaters and a chicken coop heater when it gets 40 below. The rest if the time their body heat keeps it warm inside. I left it on its wheels so if I want something else later on, I can move it out but for now is working great. It has been in for 3 years now.

[@543BeeBop]

You really have shared lots of great ideas on here, and I think you just might be right that this is one of the better ones.

[@alihussain-urfi]

Well use of reefer container. I guess its the perfect solution for hens in freezing temperature areas.

[@vinagerie427]

I have 3 of these semi-trailers & had planned on doing similar set-ups...one for the chicks, one for the mini-piggies, and one for butchering/processing. You just re-sparked the venture! Thanks!...Sure wouldn't mind the extra bucks these days, while putting out a good service to the Community as well. :D

[@allmedcom]

Thanks again, Dean, for another great project. I would suggest adding rabbits utilizing black painted PVC 6-8 inches tubing around the base with Ts every 1-2 meters. You also could hang black painted 1-2 inches water " mesh " on the wall opposite to the planned windows. That will serve multiple functions including hot/ warm water, heat battery, shelves for the chickens to have direct sunlight during the day and "beds " to sleep on at nights...etc. This water " mesh " can be connected to a small tank/ reservoir in the top broken corner and utilize the extra power from the solar panels for heating the water. Please keep up the good work.

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Great ideas. 👌💪

[@lindafitzwater2745]

Silver Wyandottes are great layers in winter, very broody, and great for meat, too. They tend to be gentle birds

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

We’ll look into them. Thanks. 😊

[@jrose353]

Agreed. We have Australorps and Wyandottes. The Wyandottes definitely lay more in winter and I don’t supplement light. And many a ‘spent hen’ recipes call for Wyandottes.

[@EP-qi8ed]

@@jrose353 I don't agree. I always hear people in my chicken group complaining about how long Wyandottes take to start laying.....and my 3 Australorps lay medium eggs and only like 5 days a week for 2/3 of the year. They went broody the ENTIRE summer and then molted, so they stopped laying for 4 months! I wouldn't use either breed if I were selling eggs.

[@vashstampedo]

We used to have great luck with Buffies. They are calm sweet birds and large enough to use for meat once their laying days are done.

[@purlingoaks]

You always have such great ideas. You didn’t talk about ventilation - too much moisture could lead to frostbite, but that seems easily amended. Looking forward to seeing more on this project as it matures

[@amiehorner5132]

Petroleum jelly on the combs and wattles will help .

[@flamingmoe1805]

He lives in a dry climate so it might be ok

[@PhoenixFarm]

Throw in a dehumidifier and use the collected water as a water source.

[@SamsLiberty]

I like it; could do a half hoop greenhouse along the south side to give em a protected run and add some thermal mass on that south wall.

[@happyhobbit8450]

That is fantastic!!! I always thought that semi-trailers could be repurposed and not just advertising on the side of the road. Yes that is a great idea -- thank you for sharing.

[@berniegiesbrecht5527]

Ive been wanting a big wooden barn for a long time. Now i think ill save some money and go with your fantastic idea!

[@MarkMonolithOfficial]

So awesome!

[@freemindcanada9319]

Great idea

[@flattenedgravy1]

Cool reefer concept! Hope to see more chicken videos in the future.

[@Gayle.M]

So jealous. I’ve found that using old construction fence panels for a chicken yard fence makes for a quick, strong, and easily removable, changed my mind, kind of fence. Might be overkill but I found chicken wire annoying to use and not strong enough.

[@teds8747]

Cool idea! Dont forget to take into account the heat each bird generates... you may not need additional heating at all, but better safe than sorry until you know for certain. Next summer you will be planting oats/wheat/corn to make your own chicken scratch!

[@jrose353]

Raw feed that puppy! lol We just lost my baby dog (10.5yr old German shepherd) in January. Thinking about getting another, but my stipulation is it will be raw fed. 👍

[@novampires223]

They are healthier on raw food, mine love fruit and veggies too.

[@JT-jg8le]

Just so you are aware, 100+ chickens in there, you'll want to clean it out way more than twice per year. Chicken poo is constantly pouring out of them. Get some good ventilation in there too.

[@mapquestHs]

Great idea!!!! Thank you for sharing this

[@paulkainer269]

By the way a cracked egg below tomato plants or pepper plants at time of transplant to the garden soil boosts production. Leave it in shell. Slight crack is all you need. Cover with a little dirt then place plant in hole and done. Through time soil microbes and worms feed and decompose it to level that plant can absorb.

[@johnblyth9787]

2 ideas from another chanel. For water 4 inch pvc pipe horisonal, cap each end and about 1 inch holes along top, every 6 inches or so, for water. Feed, virticle pvc, 45 degree angle at bottom, ( y shape ) cap bottom. Fill feed from top. Ventilation as mentioned. I do think monthly clean out would be needed. Could get bacteria, or other things and loose your birds. Overall good idea. I hope it works and you make some good $$$

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

All good ideas

[@franwatkins5934]

Ur doing a great job of being self sufficent love it. Way to go.

[@jessicatsao92]

Nice! One more thing, too: chickens love eating bugs. Flies, mealworm, pretty much anything. Make sure they get plenty of bugs, that strengthens their nutrition by a lot.

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

For sure. Where I live there are no outside bugs for 6 months of the year, so hard in winter. All summer they are outside. 👍

[@jackieow]

Plumber's pipe heating tape, or roof edge heat tape, can be adjustable to keep the eggs from freezing. And only turn on when the thermostat tells it to.

[@vashstampedo]

A couple skylights would give them some actual sunshine, if you can get some fresh greens in there, maybe from a grocery store that tosses old produce or a restaurant or something would give them some fresh food. Just a thought.

[@gardensandgracehomestead]

Very nice! Thanks for another great video.

[@Erik_MN]

Maybe try hanging feeders and waterers? Even easier for cleanouts.

[@louishesketh2482]

Woodchip static pile compost heater and run lines in the floors of these, then almost a foot of bedding.

[@daviddean4618]

Attach the roost to the wall with hinges on the high side - then you just have to lift up the low side and temporarily hang it up while you clean out under it.

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Good idea

[@dhyde9207]

Brilliant.

[@RoniCarbine]

Really cool.

[@PierreDuranleau-wx7fq]

Cool system. Kudos.

[@Jennifer-007]

BRILLIANT!!!

[@jbdjessa2]

Fabulous idea! Looks so great! Could you do a video discussing/showing your organic feed/mixture you make for the birds? This would be helpful for me. I just got into chickens! ❤

[@DustyKorpse]

Another cool project 👍🏻🐣🐓🥚🍳

[@belieftransformation]

It’s always fun to learn from you! Thanks!

[@mirkopg69]

Nice job special care for the lady 🐔 😊

[@tsclly2377]

Your electric solar should be tracking.. up higher and 40 foot of greenhouse on the sun side. Sand/rock tubes (12.5 gauge wire fence rounds with 1 or 2 inch with tarps for the tube walls, 6-8 inch internal pipes; air transfer tubes) for mass heat trapping and water tanks in the green house.

[@paulkainer269]

Awsome love it. Will look for same in my area. Will be safer from bears i think as well.

[@rumpleshiznit]

You got me at chicken coop semi reefer.

[@stevedoughty7885]

Sweet setup. Could you put the lay boxes and such on ceiling pulleys to lift them for cleaning? Maybe make a roost that folds up like attic stairs. Then, you can scrap out with no actual lifting?

[@boatingwithspencer]

That was really great thank you

[@jcrich-ho9ot]

This is an awesome idea!

[@Returntothesoil]

Get ya some Belefielder hens! They lay all year ,no supplemental lighting needed. My girls are laying every other day here in the states NKY

[@w5mav]

I like the way tou think. Awesome idea!

[@margaretburnham5683]

THIS IS A WONDERFUL IDEA! I AM GOING TO BE PURCHASING LAND IN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER I GET MOVED OUT TO THE MIDWEST IN THE U.S. HAVE YOU CONSIDERED BEES?🍯 IT'S VERY LITTLE WORK A GREAT RETURN 🐝🍯🐝🍯🐝

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Need to do a few hives in the orchard. Another thing on the list. 👍

[@nemobaranyi6810]

Smart ! Those trailers are well built coming from a trucker and you can do a lot with them just kick off the bogies , and pre wired 12v cheers

[@franwatkins5934]

Great job Dean but i read if u want them to lay in the winter, its took dark, i would put some more windows on the south side for more light as u have to mimic the summer for high performance egg laying. Just saying 💕

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Yup. The passive solar I’m cutting in today, and supplement light with solar PV. 👍

[@jacobbrizammito7187]

I think you want lots of daytime ventilation. Dont want amonia. Nice setup

[@gkambs]

Good stuff brother!

[@halocarita]

Your biggest challenge will be achieving good ventilation somehow. It will get way too moist inside without that and the chickens will end up with all sorts of serious health issues. I learned the hard way from making my barn too air tight. Another tip is after a good freeze that kills the creepy crawlers get some branches or small trees cut down and make a bunch of natural horizontal perches up high for them to keep their feet healthy. It looks fantastic for protection against predators and keeps them high where the heat sits naturally. Also look into sand litter if the base is strong enough to hold the weight. Much better all around. You scoop it with big rake type scoops like it’s cat litter. Could do the same with some kind of tractor rake attachment.

[@CrystalAbrahams]

It IS pretty cool, Dean! I like the phrase Chicken 🐓 Math. Question: Who do you sell all the 🥚 eggs to? Local grocery stores? Crystal in Edmonton 🇨🇦

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

I am near lots of averages and developments, can’t and don’t want chickens. It’s surprising how easy it is to sell direct in person

[@CrystalAbrahams]

@ArkopiaKZbin Excellent, I agree. It just feels like that's an awful lot of eggs! 🇨🇦

[@melonetankberry5211]

love it. nuff said.

[@jordanisekimoglou1283]

Yeah. That looks organic. Keep telling yourself.

[@novampires223]

I bought a 16 ft horse stock trailer to use as a chicken house, easy to move.

[@kermitfrog8340]

Since you have a state of the art greenhouse you could grow your own fodder to feed the chickens and other animals.

[@kyleallen6653]

It would be a nice set up for a brooder for young chicks as well

[@a_t_f2869]

So smart!!!

[@chrisgibson9629]

Way cool

[@brandondeakins564]

Love the video and in not being a skeptic in along honestly bc in thinking about getting chickens soon, your math is obviously correct but my question is can you realistically so 10 dozen eggs per day every day? If so how? Where? What's your plan for moving that many eggs?

[@michaelbohlander6711]

Sweet

[@krisk1547]

What part is, SK are you in? Do you sell your eggs ? After that shovel great video of yours I would like to support your business a bit.

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Appreciate it. Our homestead production sells out completely, always, with people within literal walking distance. Would love to expand, but that would mean bicycle distance

[@clightning300mi]

We used a fine sandpaper for cleaning the eggs. Bought ones sandpaper walls but hand size to putvthe sandpaper on.

[@tonytango6676]

Very nice. But what about fresh air?

[@waylonhartwell]

For passive solar on the inside, I wonder if hanging rubber mats would give you any thermal Mass along with extra heat with how hot those buggers get in the back of my pickup truck in the summertime. I wonder if they ever get anywhere near that hot in the winter and hanging on a wall on the inside of a structure indirect Sun here in Saskatchewan

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Probably would work for sure

[@boby4751]

When you said that it gets around 30c during winter in your greenhouse when it is -40c?

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

35 👍

[@bwillan]

Looks like you have the making of a commercial trailer yard on your property. 🤣

[@toddfriley9373]

I saw another video on using similar units….they had fans for ventilation for ammonia overload??

[@alpineflauge909]

nice

[@wayneholmes9081]

Hello from over in Alberta! I'm curious about your feed mix recipe!

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Flax, wheat, oat, pea mix, all at least equaling 16% protein. And chicken powdered supplement mixed in. As many garden and greenhouse scraps as possible. With the pond they get a little fish biproduct too now.

[@suzybeaman6758]

Great setup! How much do those Reefer Trailers cost?

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Check your local marketplace. Anywhere from $500 to $9000

[@jeffallen3382]

Just saw your video on the "most efficient greenhouse" and saw you mention insect problems. Couldn't you have your chickens roam through the greenhouse eating those oest insects?

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

I have a duck in there for slugs. Too many birds smell up the greenhouse like a barn.

[@sjrmike]

if corporate finds your getting into their profits, they might send people to shut that down.

[@luma6759]

-where do you sell the eggs to?

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

The little set up we have had, just to locals. The demand is very high and easy to sell

[@elinyght9491]

Where do you find reefer trailers for sale? Is there a website you used?

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Used marketplace (Facebook or Kijiji). Auctions too.

[@thenannywoodforest98]

Where do you find reefer containers at affordable prices?

[@MrBurntfinger]

How do you deal with snow load on the roof.?

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Never been a problem where I’m from. Shovel it off if a weird no-wind snow

[@teresasuderman2199]

What about air flow? A couple of weeks and it will smell pretty ripe in there.

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

So far so good. Might have to add something if humidity creeps up

[@petethelion4614]

Where/how do you sell them??

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Locals, direct. 👍

[@sigrid2402]

👍🏻👍🏻🥰

[@danparadis01]

ok but you will need a good fan to get your humidity out

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

So far so good with just cracked window and far door. May run a tiny black pipe all the way down and a super tiny fan.

[@danparadis01]

@@ArkopiaKZbin I say this in case you put 300 birds in there you can fit a device like agri-control to regulate your fan between this and that temp to keep everything dry that's what I have here, I breed chickens & quails to feed my eagles. I'm a falconer/eagle hunter in the infamous Quebec province... The plantation I call it lol

[@ArkopiaYouTube]

Nice. I may have to add something. 👌👍

[@happyhobbit8450]

Please don't tell us to take care ... just say bye and thanks for being a fan

[@daviddean4618]

I think I read somewhere that raw eggs are inflammatory for dogs. Apparently cooking them before feeding them to your GP will keep that from being an issue.