You've never seen anything like this! Cool chicken coop ideas for "grass fed" poultry!

Today's farm vlog takes us out on pasture with our broiler chickens, this video is part of our "Raising Chickens" series to help you find a better way to raise your meat birds. Cool chicken coop ideas for "grass fed" poultry is just a neat little coop idea I put to use on the farm...I hope you enjoy this pleasant little vlog!
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[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Folks don't forget! For daily livestreams come join us on the livestream channel here: kzbin.info

[@Former_Tucker]

What about in a high wind storm? Wouldn’t it be more prone to damage or lift off?

[@laneclaypool8005]

You can cut your own tin by reversing the blade in a circular saw so that the blade is running backwards. It makes a very smooth cut. You must use hearing protection when cutting tin in this manner. It will save you paying someone else to do what you can do yourself.

[@danfaller1089]

Lane Claypool or cut it with wire

[@TheRainHarvester]

@@danfaller1089 cut with wire? How? Interesting

[@arandom1024]

Or just buy a proper blade for the circular saw that is meant for metal...

[@tompincuspy81]

Yeah, you can buy 4 1/2" or 7" cut off wheels that will fit a circular saw.

[@jeremiahhill6047]

Josh, I want to thank you for this video. Back in Late August/Early September, we got our first batch of meat birds ever. We knew that we had to keep them away from our egg layers. I was searching for a cost-effective mobile coop and stumbled across this one. I do have to say that it was super easy to build and fit what we needed perfectly. Ours is 4'x8' and has been slightly modified, but the concept mirrors yours. When we have chickens in there it moves every day and goes around the backyard perfectly. We love the fact that the maintenance on it is virtually zero and the climate has no real effect on it. I look forward to using it 2 times a year for many many years to come.

[@terriperry6360]

how do you keep predators from getting to them?

[@wamblipaytah1600]

No smell, no flies, free fertilizer, AND my neighbors will think I'm crazy??? Man, so many wins! x-D That's a great design 😀

[@hihoney1122]

Lol that's especially why I wan TV it lol lol

[@wamblipaytah1600]

@@hihoney1122x-D

[@Vbluevital]

Swivel wing closures would be easy. The chickens will be hot with the sun blazing on a tin roof. Love the grasss mowing fertilizer part.

[@DyabXl]

.ة حعك٧تكغمجعتحهههلكخغطهع

[@Davyydable]

I may do this, but add some height for roosting space

[@hanshardt6122]

As an Ironworker I have plenty of times working with steel sheeting on roofs. I know that galvanized sheeting gets extremely hot in the sun, white sheeting reflex the suns heat much better take my word for it

[@andyjones6361]

I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING!!!!!!!

[@seandrake7534]

Yep the problem we have seen with the white rubber roofs is they cannot be around rooftop AC units it reflects so much heat it will melt the ac coils in hot areas

[@hanshardt6122]

@@seandrake7534 who talking about ac units we're talking about a chicken pen

[@armstada000]

Hey you may want to reconsider a completely covered roof again Joel Salatin dose 25% mesh on top so the sun can disinfect the birds on a daily basis. Just a quick suggestion

[@paradoxchild01]

adam armstrong they have outside time everyday

[@HenrysHere]

SO IN SHORT , NO HE DIDNT THINK OF IT

[@geanitsucuneli4791]

corect!!! Sun is life!

[@candacekuhn8589]

FARM GIRL WOULD USE HEAVY DUTY GORILLA TAPE FOR HINGE AND DOLLAR STORE BUNGIE TO CLOSE. ;) BE HAPPY AND PROSPER 🤟

[@gigiontube]

adam armstrong Completely agree with your suggestion. Those chicken need sun to get vitamin D.

[@lizbethdiehl318]

So cool!! Is there a modification you would recommend for doing this type of set up for egg laying hens?

[@mikewilson8265]

Good one. I really like the PVC frame but don't like the exposed tin around the edge. Looks like a long knife waiting for something to cut. I made a pine framed mobile coop for my cousin's kids and covered it with chicken wire like that. It took about 5 minutes for her poodle to break through it to play with the chickens. (No-one was hurt except for my pride.) I ended up using a couple of galvanized wire (1/4 in) fence panels and they worked well. The dog still tried to get in but never succeeded.

[@georgeseagrave3088]

I use 5 gallon buckets with chicken nipples on the bottom for watering. They can't crap in their water. I attached hoses to each bucket running to a manifold on the main line. I just open a valve to refill. A trough heater keeps each one from freezing in the winter. 5 gallon buckets with big enough holes and eyelet bolts serve as great feeders. They peck the bolt and the food falls. It's rodent and weather proof. They can't crap in it. I'm thinking about making A frame tractors as wide as a garden row to let the chickens weed and fertilize my garden but restrict their access to the vegetables. The PVC might be a great addition to my plan.

[@duanerichards2070]

George Seagrave I would like to see a picture of your freezless watering and garden tractor rig for fertilizing row crop

[@georgeseagrave3088]

I'm not sure how to attach the plans or pics. For watering, go to a co-op or Tractor Supply and ask for chicken nipples. You screw them into the bottom of the hanging 5 gallon water bucket. I later evolved that to a wire shelf. The handles gave out over time. I cut a hole near the top of the bucket just big enough for the hose and electric line from the trough heater. Don't cut the hole in the lid. Chickens get up there and crap on the lids. I leave a hose attached to a hose baffle to switch on and off which water bucket I'm filling. I do not leave that attached in the winter for freezing reasons. I put on a quick disconnect for that. I never put in the garden. You build a pvc rectangle as wide as your rows are spaced and as long as your rows. In the middle of the short sides, put a T and a vertical post about 3ft. Connect the verticals with a long pvc and 2 90s. Use chicken wire to make a long A frame and close the ends. Rig up a door to get them in and out. Move it from row to row as needed.

[@VitiatedsHOWTO]

Still think is a little small & the tin is too close it will get very hot in the summer I raise birds & u need at least a 2 foot gap

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Guys ....just for all you who have some feedback that think these birds are gonna somehow die of heat exposure and pneumonia and every other affliction known to man....this works great...no problems with summer heat....we lost 2 birds out of 50 ...one was in the inside brooder day 2 and one was outside..unexplained death at night. We don't have a predator problem here on the farm....as for staking it down....we survived 2 NC hurricanes this year with 70+ mph winds......lots of keyboard "experts" out there...but the proof is in the pudding...2 flocks raised this year in this coop with no complications aside from a rainy year. Now....I will be taking some advice from you all....next one we build I'll do an insulated bubble wrap on the top...we're gonna make it out of PVC but use aluminum roofing panels to lighten the design....it will be the same height and dimensions as this coop. This was coop #2 PVC prototype and it worked fantastically

[@lylerobeson8593]

Stoney Ridge Farmer another lightweight but alternative is corrugated fiberglass roofing panels. Otherwise good design.

[@rabbithomesteading3797]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer lol "keyboard experts"--yea im going to stop reading the comments here. Sounds like you have the pudding with the proof in it. LMAO

[@davidleroyemmons]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer can u send me the dimensions

[@kevinwilson8371]

Vitiated's HOW TO I think the roofing is a bit higher than two feet since the chicken wire is 24" wide

[@thedustybadgerhomestead_419]

Hey Josh, Thanks for sharing all your hard work and hard won wisdom. You had said that you wanted to put a door on your chicken tractor and when I built my chicken tractor based loosely on your design I put in 2 doors with hinges and posted the video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH2kdWV-lqaofZI and again, thanks for your videos.

[@smellinlady6618]

Extreme slow motion lawn mowing

[@jacquessoubliere5826]

Lawn mowing lol slow motion lol

[@whitehorseducharme4428]

How about use a PVC pipe that goes all the way across it little drippers on there where you can attach to hose to it and I'll fill it up fill your pan in there with water Hit or Miss down the chickens also

[@bullsnutsoz]

Good thinkun

[@e75mark]

Was thinking that I made pvc Drip system 👍

[@m.hughes6672]

Well presented; love the project. No unnecessary chat; straight to it. Good job man!

[@StingerSecSol]

"Your neighbors will think you're a crazy person." Love it! I subscribed just because of that statement!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

lol welcome to the channel!

[@robertgraham292]

Just made on out of 2" PVC. Turned out great. Thanks for the idea.

[@SpringIsBACK]

So... How do the economics of this work out? Say, price of flock when sold, less1/10 of cost of all parts* assigned to one flock, cost of chicks, cost of feed (at 25 lb. per day - yikes!), other costs? *I figure the PVC will last 5 years in the sun, 2 flocks per year around my area (otherwise shelter needed in colder months). Hours of labor put in = ?? Of course if one is a prepper, this is more like insurance, but in that case better be SURE no predators are around, or put the chickens in a SECURE house @ night... (Very few areas do not have an occasional large raccoon: They are smart and can be VERY problematic.)

[@equalizertime5350]

👍🐓🐔MAKE CHICKENS GREAT AGAIN!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@livioangel]

Equalizertime I just said thank goodness I don’t see a maga hat, and there I smell farts

[@moviemakerwannabe]

I would suggest making the pen a little taller. I've tried both heights and higher was much easier to work the birds. Sometimes you really have to catch one. For your door: might be able to make slots for the sides of the door to fit in and use the ridges of the piece behind for the slides to keep it in place. A slot on the end would be needed so when the door is closed nothing can lift up the door and pull it out of the slots on the sides. Usually we just used hinges and wooden doors but that is much heavier. Our birds like to have perches too.

[@wilbertbirdner1303]

you sold it to me with "your neighbours will think you're a crazy person"

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Awesome!

[@edro757]

Yup. ..hahaha

[@alexamunoz7943]

Some people say crazy, I say clever!

[@AndyFetisov]

Things that I would improve upon. To add weight use 10 lbs dumbbell disks as wheels at the corners. Use electric fence perimeter wire, space it with vertical 2" PVC pipes at the corners and middle. Keep it charged up with a solar panel. Use latch hinges and rivet them on. Run a water hose for the automatic chicken waterer and a mister nozzle in a corner on a timer. Soak the feed overnight and just dump it on the grass in a line, saves about 25% more $ vs dry.

[@gregmikulewicz7423]

They love wet feed. They will run for it.

[@rosecoward3292]

I hear going a step further and actually sprouting the seeds will make your chickens shine with health. (literally)

[@prairiewoman2054]

@@rosecoward3292 yes fermented chicken feed is a thing now. As is sprouts. I will be doing that with my layers too!

[@TheRainHarvester]

Good idea! Or use old brake pads.

[@davidsherbert6896]

may I suggest a leaf hinge, and a hook latch to hold the coop door down in wind....maybe a knob for easy opening...

[@SamHoustonNatForestLife]

Is that’s a LandCruiser or Scotty in the background 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾

[@micraman42]

For a door for your mobile coop, I was thinking of just fastening the roofing material to a piece of paneling. You can just lay it on top or use a hinge.

[@xFace021x]

I'm thinking about making one of these this year. Been watching these videos over and over. I'm thinking 16 T's for mine. I would have vertical center braises where your cross beam is and then two cross beams going on either side of the center vertical braise. I'm thinking for the door use a slot on the tin and screws on one of the cross beams to keep it down but able to slide. Not sure if it will work the way I'm planning. Great videos, thank you for these.

[@jbbinamira9044]

I suugest you have space of chicken wire on roof because chicken need also sun heat.

[@Debbiesnc]

Hi great presentation thanks. I’m hoping that you also raise hens for eggs so we can see how you build a cool coop for the long-living chickies!

[@mickeypritchard475]

Have used old leather gloves for hinges cut off a finger screw both ends cheep works grate for years

[@charlenesessionskandl5401]

AT 14:22 TEXT SCROLLS saying you'll put a "parts list in the video description below." Lots of links but no list. how did i miss it? Also, great music in your vids.

[@nikkibonbon1600]

Aww sounds like my husband...to heavy for my wife to move. I love having a husband. 😊

[@michelangelobuonarroti916]

too heavy

[@susanleftwich2333]

Wish I just had a husband ! :)

[@innanas]

His daughter chewed the bucket LOL

[@francesmarie73]

If my husband said that, I'd hook up the damned thing to a tow bracket empty of course and see how many miles it held up.

[@Craigscabin]

Was sent here to check you out by lazy dayz ahead (jessie and lisa) thanks for sharing

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

very cool

[@beaneesrotties420]

Thank you so much for the information about the quantity of what is recommended for that chicken coop you maid. Cuts down on so much work of counting how much pipe and all that extra stuff we need to build it 🤣🤣🤣... Much love all the way from Las Vegas NV. P.S Hope you and your family are staying save due to this crazy virus 🦠..

[@AllExprexxRestoration1972]

Make the cub higher so you can make a workable, standing area with less stress when cleaning the waterer, I’m old farmer from Jamaica, I know the full hundred

[@donlatimer5114]

Josh take a one by three board and put under your metal top where your doors going to be, cut it to fit between the pipe and add couple of flat aluminum plate and fasten it to the one end of one by three and to the top of your PVC pipe. Then take some one by two and make you a door frame that will fit between the pipe and passion your metal roofing material to the frame and put hinges on it, on the inside. PVC pipe screw on the some aluminum angle iron for the door to rest on. Where you are using your hanger hooks put a locking nylon nuts on them, this well innate the need for a double nut ..

[@davidrush8283]

jb weld some earth magnets on pvc pipe to hold then just slide back

[@smokymountainoutdoorsman1991]

Sweet Jesus those broiler chickens grow fast! Lol. I'd just get me some hinges and make one section of the tin liftable.

[@knivesoutdoorsbytotoco.6114]

I was doing it 5 years now i made mine from 1x1 square tube my chicken meat taste great and i have a gas free lawn mower lol I put insulation below my tin roof to stay cool in hot summer days

[@530eman]

Great information, thank you…! I personally would just leave the access tin loose and put a stone or brick on it, that’s what I do now; hassle free

[@lisasaunders4835]

These chickens do not have enough room! My vet just told me about how they raise these broilers to eat all the time so that by about eight weeks old they cant even walk. I found this video disturbing, because it looks like that is exactly what he is doing here. I sincerely hope not.

[@SimpleEarthSelfReliance]

Love it man, it's a nice idea to use the pvc piping. I want to do the same, but I want them to tractor out my ground (and hopefully destroy our invasive grasses) in the process, so we can build growspaces where the chickens were. Love the system, keep it up, regards from South Africa.

[@robinsouth8555]

Save some money and buy 3 way for your corners, if you can't find it locally you can find by google, I had to do that for my 4 ways on my dog exercise pens.

[@nsainah]

Am in Kenya, just love ur vlog lots of information am learning. I have a farm also.

[@geanitsucuneli4791]

PVC in Kenya very expensive !!!!Use some bamboo.

[@oxennguyen3148]

My chicken coop cost me nothing. I used reclaim materials from neighbors throwing them away. PRAISE THE LORD.

[@steventaylor4326]

Count your blessings we built a 4x8 last month and it was $1300.00 just for the materials.

[@drizzle335]

Hey josh been enjoying the videos. I actually live not far from you I’m in tobaccoville. I use to love those dewalt tools also, I suggest when it’s time to get new ones get a Milwaukee set they are in my opinion best bang for the buck. If your going to be building a bunch in the future it will be worth the investment. I also see you going far on KZbin and on your farm. Keep it up brother

[@saltiness_incoming1407]

Those batteries are shit it's cheaper to get the adapter from the 18 to 20 volt and buy 20 volt batteries don't try to stay with the old batteries to a big waste of money

[@truepatriot2404]

Good design. I see two points for improvement. First since pvc is hollow and light adding a fill at the top and a drain at the bottom would allow for adding water weight to prevent moving in storms. Second, poultry netting/chicken wire does little to stop predators. Upgrading to 1/2" hardware cloth would be more resistant and only add a couple of pounds to the overall weight.

[@saraherwin416]

Do you think adding the water weight would prevent raccoons from getting in? Should I put a skirt around the bottom too?

[@leecaffey]

solar electric fence!

[@sarahgardner7671]

What if you did Justin Roads moving waterer right in the frame of the coop?! Stacking systems!

[@Islandstonr]

Plus your neighbours will think your a crazy person 😂

[@mrgeorge4489]

What about predators borrowing under.

[@geanitsucuneli4791]

You got have dogs for that.

[@ashlieneevel9671]

An option is to add 2ft of hardware cloth around the perimeter attached to the bottom extending outward to prevent digging predators who instinctually will try to dig under right against the "wall" of it.

[@shannonwilkes9334]

Im alll for the neighbors thinking I'm a crazy person 😁😂

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Me too!

[@walkinginhopedoulaphotographer]

My previous neighbors, before we moved to a small farm, thought I was crazy. Called me a crazy chicken lady, and other not-so-nice things.

[@frankfromupstateny3796]

when one lives in a "middle class" neighborhood like I do...the Townships hate to see anything out of the ordinary....like this great idea. Everyone should have their' own chicken coups and fresh food. Store bought meats are garbage.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Fences, back yards and nice neighbors brotha...I agree

[@francesmarie73]

You can design your chicken coop to look as fancy as you like with pvc pipes instead of wood. Just look at the overpriced omlet chicken eggloo things. Choose a fancier wire down to mesh if there are no predators besides a neighbor's cat.

[@kalinbankov9737]

Hello! If there are long periods of rain, for example 4-5 days, and the pasture is soaked, how do we keep the chickens from getting wet and sick while in the chicken tractor? If we don't have a dry shed built nearby, is there a solution related to the construction of the chicken tractor?

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

keep moving them...they will be just fine. I havn't had any illness issues associate with rain....just recognize when the rain is coming and plan ahead the best you can...maybe move 2 times a day so they don't make a mud hole

[@blueheronfarm3818]

I built a pvc tractor about three years ago. It didn’t last more than one season. The sun in Oklahoma is too strong, not to mention the winds here. I now have mine constructed out of 2x2 severe weather pretreated lumber. Not too heavy and I have a corrugated tin roof on them. They are on wooden skids.

[@bridgetglass7372]

Terri M can you show me your coop? I have 50 broilers and need something lighter than what I have. In north Texas.

[@blueheronfarm3818]

Bridget Glass mine is a Salatin style tractor. I’m adding a wheel jack on the back end this year to make it even easier to move. The jack in putting on is like the one Sow The Land has on his Suscovich type tractor.

[@ricktantlinger7016]

Nice - Going to build this today !!! Thank You!

[@KeepingItDutch]

Looks good josh, I made mine out of 2inch like you said you would have, looks like thats going to work great.

[@twistedneckoffroad3790]

Dutch, I live in Oklahoma like you do, how will you deal with the wind with your 2" pvc coop?

[@wamblipaytah1600]

Keeping It Dutch Hiyas "Dutch" I follow you on the youtubes as well 😀

[@triggered8556]

Twisted Neck Jeep Co. the wind is just a whisper trying to give you the next clue.

[@fixitlikeag-fix8080]

Does the two inch hold up pretty good

[@FarmallFanatic]

Keeping It Dutch Thats not Josh, thats Stoney Ridge 🤪

[@kevinmanning4880]

You got great ideas! Thanks for your great videos!

[@hotpawvlog9408]

Hi, Thanks for showing a coop done with different material! Saw a lot of coops but always done with wood which has its own weight - and gets destroyed through the years! Think I will try it with these kind of pipes too! Regards from your new subscriber from Germany

[@AmericanConstellation]

I gotta tell ya....If you let those chickens stay in place when they get bigger...you won't have a lawn. They can rip your yard into dirt and holes in about 3 hours... They eat everything...All the grass...They can dig it up when they get big. You'll see!!! You'll find out. You'll be stepping in dirt pot holes....I've been there...Just sayin...God Bless......

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

if ya leave them too long you'll get a mess for sure...but keep them moving and you'll be fine my brotha...no issues for us accept when we leave them longer than 24 hr in one place...then we get a mess

[@johnfrancis4809]

maybe make hinges on one side of door panel using rubber straps. such as static straps. maybe 10 per panel edge. An idea.

[@B711HD]

Glad I seen this been watching your videos since yesterday and always wonder how u made the PVC house for chicken thanks so much going do that for my chicks when they get older

[@c.j.rogers2422]

Great looking tractor. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you add another layer of wire siding, but attached to the inside of the 4" pvc. This will give the "walls" depth (stay with the 4" pvc), so a coon or possum or fox cannot reach through and grab a sleeping bird by a leg, wing, neck, etc. AND THEY WILL. Doesn't matter that it hasn't happened yet, the preds will find your delicious birds. I also recommend, for that inner layer, you use something much more stout that chicken wire, like hardware cloth. A determined coon will tear through chicken wire like it was cheese cloth. In the future, i would use the hardware cloth for both inner and outer layers. Yes, I have learned all this the hard way. Great demo!

[@marilynwinnington7942]

C.J. Rogers n,

[@truthseeker9688]

C.J. Rogers ,those birds are too crowded.

[@gregmikulewicz7423]

Remember the one year we had rats. They chewed one leg off several small small chicks. Made them easy targets as they aged. One thing I would add is a way to keep this from going airborne if the wind blows.

[@gregmikulewicz7423]

Like the idea of double hard wire cloth. Predators don't give up.

[@peggyrogers7012]

I definitely agree about the hardware cloth. We have skunks, racoons, possums, coyotes, bobcats, and many many snakes that can go right through that chicken wire. I would be concerned about critters where we live tunneling under that coop, but it could work well where you live. Clever design.

[@Oliveir51]

Wherever i can i avoid screws using swaged joints

[@RennLaRoux]

New to your channel. Love it. Doing a lot of learning to have our own homestead. Have you considered doing a coop like this for rabbits?

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

not yet...but we don't raise rabbits yet either

[@davidskinner3963]

Joe Salatin has been known to put rabbits on top of the chicken tractors

[@zanesrehabilitation2075]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer Rabbits will dig out of a coop like this.

[@shrimp19]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer that would be another meat for your freezer ;) or to sell

[@johnrowley4686]

in Virginia mountains (snowy) winter salatin brings chickens inside under rabbit hutches, rabbits on pasture are in similar hutches to chickens except there are wood slats to prevent digging...although they chew the wood they don't get through before meat rabbit butcher date (tree limbs help reduce slat chewing/their teeth grow constantly like rodents)...inside chicken manure is simply covered with layers of mulch all winter to increase heat, give more scratching for bugs and of course reduce chores per day....Stoney Ridge is able to keep egg and meat birds in a wind proof coop with a run/turn out and they also layer over manure all winter (hay etc.) (reminder not to put sawdust with chicks/breath it/eat it risks

[@B711HD]

Thanks hearting my comment I got another question do you know how to tell the age of a chick? The lady from tractor supply told us they was just born hatch

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

typically a chick from the farm store will be 3-15 days old

[@grahampeterson3293]

Have you had any issues with predators with the mobile chicken tractors? Also, as light as it is, how does it perform through storms and high wind?

[@RangerCel]

Ever get an answer? I have the same questions and am searching through the comments.

[@grahampeterson3293]

@@RangerCel I don't recall ever getting an answer. He puts out enough content that it may have gotten lost. I don't know.

[@elbiemostert3502]

How do you get that there are no flies? I move mine every day, sometimes 2times a day, and I have LOADS of flies.any advice pls

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

don't raise meat birds in the hottest part of the summer....start in late march/april and process by may or start in september and process in october...keep them moving!

[@krisk255]

Thanks for the idea. If you have limited grass space, how soon before you can return them to the starting grassed area?

[@mikeblount9353]

What size is that coup because it looks like 8'x8' oris it a 4'x8'? And yes I am a paid subscriber and wont know were to look for your answer. I noticed you have no door.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

yep....I'm happy to answer ya buddy...it's 8ft wide by around 12-15ft long. Door is the top....you don't want these birds "free ranging" because that means free chicken to the foxes, coyotes and neighbor's dogs

[@aibnz3804]

Why u torturing those poor animals, so crumed up. U have 50 chickens inside this small box. Have mercy and do not just think of profits.

[@masonk.wilson538]

It's not tourture. Cornish cross barely move, at least most. They are too fat. To be fair, I think this could have been bigger but still

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Glad to hear from someone who knows nothing about chickens.....these are for our family to eat so there goes your "profit" theory.

[@geribrandon7057]

Dont animals dig under these pvc pipes.

[@xanderfarm2860]

I love the look of this cage, but it would never work here on our farm in NE TX, for several reasons. If we built this cage, the predators would rip through this chicken wire... we have to use heavier hardware cloth. And the wind would blow it away during any storms. We need enough weight to keep it on the ground. And the tin roof would turn our birds into roasted chickens, so we use PVC panels.

[@boots7859]

Easily remedied: 1 Use hardware cloth as stated. 2. Fill the bottom PVC with sand for weight. 3 Put a layer of the sheet insulation 1" x 4x8 underneath the corrugated sheet metal.

[@barbaramayer5182]

Really like your chicken videos….not the background garage “ music” noise.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

that's fantastic

[@michaelripperger5674]

Paint the pvc. It will help prevent the UV prays from making the pvc brittle and break

[@paulcondie2520]

Michael Ripperger i thought the same thing! I would of went with schedule 40! A little heavier but 10x more durable!

[@korishan]

PVC can handle UV for a loooong time. I've had pvc out in the sun for over 3+ yrs and it's still fine. It hasn't cracked or even flaked. Now, it might not hold 100psi water pressure anymore, but then again, a coop doesn't carry pressure ;) (well, of that sort, anyways)

[@rc3291]

I used the gray electrical pvc on my hoop coop. UV resistant.

[@korishan]

rc3291: Oooo, good point! Hadn't thought of the electrical grade pvc.

[@prime0591]

Yeah but the paint would melt and the chooks with peck it and get sick but good idea

[@JJWICKER]

Forgive me for not reading all the comments but how does this coop fare with predators like raccoons, coyotes, possums?

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

never had one issue at all...I installed solar motion lights all around it and it's never been an issue

[@wesbaumguardner8829]

You would never accomplish it with the 2". It bends too much. You may want to try a heavier schedule pipe for the central ceiling member to help make it more rigid.

[@crystaldavis6169]

Looked like you were using a wood blade on metal. Also a good sized snake can squeeze in those chicken wire holes. And a hawk can kill them through the holes in the wire. I use small hole wire. But I like your work. Real nice movable coop.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Snakes won't bother a 3 lb chicken....well...maybe if it's in Florida bhahhaha....hawks arent' flying down and getting through the wire either...I get what ur saying for sure...so far no predator issues and we've used it for 3 seasons....new versions coming soon..lighter and safer

[@ChickenHues]

"Plus your neighbors will think you're a crazy person"! LOL Love it!

[@JD-hh9jr]

Add six wheels to it rubber tire that you pump air into put three on each side and you can just push it keep it about 2 inches off the ground long as your ground is not 6 inch dips you’ll be OK we’re just put two in the back and that build a handle wraps around the front so you can just pick it up and walk it that’s what I would do that what I already did one of my coops

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

wheels and tires become plows...this slides very easy along the ground....I thought about wheels..but this is much much easier

[@shawnvictorharriman5759]

I love this set up man. I’m thinking of attaching a feeder to the side with screws for easy fill. 8x8 nice hangar for waterer…maybe double door hinge with drawer handle on top for door.

[@sargonoshana3607]

I believe sliding door is better than hinged door

[@601salsa]

Use 2" or 1" pipe to create a frame and hinge the frame, you can secure the tin to the pipe as you have done already. That will work just fine. If you had angled the roof an inch you could have collected the rain water reducing chores.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Why would I need to angle the roof if the coop is on a hillside?

[@imaspacewoman]

Nice, but I would also want a small uncovered area so they can get some nice Vitamin D for strong bones. Ok now I see below lots of others agreeing with the need for sunlight area.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

you do understand that the sun moves throughout the day.....so the sun shines inside 1/2 of the coop most of the day....the birds have the option to go to sun or shade

[@APS38]

Nice mobile unit that fertilize's the garden evenly. What about snakes getting thru the bottom??

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Snakes can't eat a 3lb bird in most cases...not a concern

[@APS38]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer Good ..... Snakes can't eat humans either but they do bite and kill...,😁

[@American_Made]

we can't use that type of chicken wire, we have to use hardware cloth here. coyotes will chew right through that wire, coons are a problem too. not sure if that's a permanent type setup.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

never had an issue

[@stanRmeyer]

Metal roofing conducts heat underneath, plastic roofing is more of an insulator

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

I agree with you...but the thought process here is light weight...that thick plastic/polymer roofing is heavy....if that's what you're talking about....I hope ur subscribed...you'll see this year's prototype...this coop is in no way the total finished product...I'm insulating the roof on the next one...you'll like it

[@seandrake7534]

How about adding some lawnmower wheels to the back end to save the pvc from being worn buy dragging it around

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

wheels in the wet turn into plows....this glides along the ground with ease without wheels...the weight is well distributed and it would take you 100 years to drag a hold in the pipe my friend

[@jobaccamasakado]

Awesome! It's great to see these things evolving. Great mods. Great video. Keep up the good work!

[@JD-hh9jr]

Let me know if you want to sell that Willys jeep

[@brianduguay2024]

That even looks pretty nice compared to the wood version. I'd keep 4, 5 gal buckets around with some sand to put on the top 4 corners for gusty days.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Believe it or not...held up great in the wind ...we had 2 hurricanes blow through this year and it sat right on the ground stable and steady...it weighs about $250lbs ish

[@bigjim383]

It is so light weight what is going to prevent a coyote from lifting the pen with it's snout and getting at your birds. Secondly all that pvc pipe and fittings must cost a small fortune.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

go pick up 5 sheets of 12 ft long steel and 15 pieces of 4 inch PVC and tell me it's light my brotha...it's not light and it's built to last ...been on the farm for nearly 7 years. PVC wasn't that expensive 5-6 years ago... It works fantastic and there's no predator issues over the last 6-7 years. It weighs over 300lbs but slides along the ground with ease..if it were wood it would be much heavier and tough to move. When I built it..the whole thing cost me about $350 to make. I've ran more than 300 chickens through it without ever having an issue

[@allthingspossible4569]

"and this is way to heavy for my WIFE TO MOVE" LOL uuuuummmm LOL

[@SaiyanMother]

right I was rubbed the wrong way by that comment lol. I don't know what his wife looks like or anything, or if she has any injuries or what, but even post knee surgery, I can move anything my husband can or sometimes heavier bc I use my brain more LOL

[@Sea-cucumber1151]

Why not hardware wire or galvanized wire vs chicken wire, chicken wire is not efficient in keeping predators out, they can chew thru it in no time.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

if a predator wants into your coop...they'll find a way...eventually I put solar motion lights on the coop which deters predators...that and German Sheps lol

[@davidbreeden9070]

Looks like based on joel salatin idea. seems like a great idea for small sustainable farming. Thanks for the videos!!

[@TheRainHarvester]

Joel is using aluminium now because the emisitivity is 1/4 that of steel roofs (too hot).

[@benb555]

WOW new breed of "Free range chicken?" Why don't we do it all. What is the difference of battery hens to get a few eggs? What about "free range humans" sorry in lost.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

LOL....I'm a free range human...when I go to Walmart bhahhahaa

[@martinmaddox5315]

Some of my farmer friends have had a taller homemade version of this for 15 years. It is about 4 feet tall x 7 feet long by 3 feet wide. It has 3 raised nest boxes built in one end and I believe they put only 3 chickens per coop. I they had wooden frames and wheels to move them. The wheels barely got them above or even with the ground.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

seems like a huge waste of time and material for 3 chickens per coop....however this is for meat birds..not layers so we're talking about a totally different setup for sure

[@martinmaddox5315]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer it might be a waste of time but they kill the insects on the pasture or lawn and aerate that section of ground. They also fertilize that small section of ground, not as helpful for a large pasture but is good for the smaller lawn. And most importantly the chickens are healthier. Just have to move often so they don’t damage the lawn. A local farmer sells them to the other farmers for the ones that don’t want to make their own. It is best for a mini farm.

[@andyjones6361]

Hey josh what was the total weight when finished ? And what was the cost? I know everything is weird now due to the current jack wagon in office but cost at the time you built it. ?

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

bout 200 lbs....$250 ish

[@allthingspossible4569]

I wanted to see you move it...

[@marcbee1234]

Nothing like a real life test with the chickens inside too.

[@ziauddin7948]

nice PVC pipes chicken schooner but cover the metal roof with wood pieces # it will prevent heat transfer to the metal & inside of schooner #

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

defeats the purpose of a lightweight mobile coop my friend....comparatively if the chicken was the size of a man, this would be the equivalent of a 24 foot tall pole barn. The birds rest on the cool ground...the silver roof reflects the heat. These are tropical animals and I've never had any heat issue what so ever my friend. If you wanted you could get silver bubble wrap insulation and place it under the metal sheeting for cooler temps and to stop radiant heat...it would be much lighter

[@hanalei412002]

What about the loud noise the rain makes on the tin. Will it be too loud for them?

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Depends on who you voted for in the last election......lol...thanks for the comment Hana....rain on a tin roof is music to a chickens ears

[@hanalei412002]

Stoney Ridge Farmer oh we need to drain the swamp faster. LoL have a good one.

[@estelltabor4692]

Grease popping in frying pan with chicken in it is music to my ears. Funny, who you voted for.

[@priusdave2064]

White PVC becomes brittle in a couple of years from UV light. Paint it first or use the gray electrical conduit.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

good point...however we've had it on the farm for nearly 5 years now without issue....you are right though it will degrade eventually

[@LatinDanceVideos]

Was thinking similar. Nice knowing I’m not the only one thinking of pvc pipe as framing. Easy to wash.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

lol....I can't say I've ever thought about washing it lol...stays pretty clean....why would you wash a chicken coop...this is probably the most interesting comment I've had on this vid...thanks so much !