One more idea: tapered square nails...much better holding power and less splitting than a normal round wire nail...screws I find split out too much esp. in pine.
That is an awesome nest box. I tried to build one similar but it didn't work out. I think if you are selling eggs, that type of nest box is a MUST HAVE. That is a Sweet Chickshaw.
Awesome build so far, looking forward to seeing it in action once complete. Great job! 👍 🐥 Would you please give a bit more detail on your axels and wheels. Thanks for the great content, loving the channel. All the best from a VERY windy Scottish Highlands today. ✊🏴
Links to the wheels are in the description. I'll probably give more details when I finish the build. The axles are 3/4" - 3' threaded rod that are attached to the bottom.
@@JoshSattinFarming I used those same wheels to build a cart. I'd suggest putting in a Slime tube or some kind of sealant right away, mine got a puncture in about 5 minutes but have been fine since I put in a Slime tube.
@@JoshSattinFarming I second the slime idea I get around a lot by bike I carrying a spare slime inner tube a wrench to remove My rim a couple tire removal spoons and a hand tire pump I got all of them from Walmart for under 20.00 when I have a flat I can be underway again in under 10 minutes total time
@@jamessteffens8337 I don't think that I will. My Chickshaw which is almost two years is doing really well. I did put some non-toxic sealant type stuff on there, but I'm sure it's worn off. Most of the wood is covered by the PVC panels and none of the wood is touching the ground.
Looks like it should be plenty stiff to not be a problem, a little may sit on it depending on the slope of the ground its on. I make one side of my chicken tractor roof 6-12" higher since I use smaller lumber and a tarp that would pool without a decent slope.
This is the best one for me that I have seen! It totally fits what I need. Can you give an update as to how it's panning out so far? I am in the process of finding the materials.
Here are two videos for you ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6FJY0dSjEQI.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-p1lJ5bYM3tk.html
This is SO cool! I wonder if you really need the middle wheel if you're going to put a jack on the front? You will likely need the jack anyway to not only support the front but level out the nest box so that the rollaway function still works. We have a medium Best Nest Box and are excited to see how it works when our girls start laying (coming up in 7 months old so gosh darn it that should be any day!). Can't wait to see how this turns out. Very cool!
The Chicken Caravan also has the roost bars below the nest box. I think there are lots of ways to design a coop. Just because you think the roost should be higher and you have heard so many people say that, doesn't mean it has to be.
Hey Josh, love your channel. I'm not sure if you calculated the full weight of that thing, but I'd have to assume you're going to have close to 400lbs just in chicken weight alone. You're probably over 550lbs total, plus eggs, maybe 600lbs. While I'm sure those tires can support the weight, I cant imagine theyll be ideal to maneuver in any kind of terrain. In the future you might want to consider making an axle out of steel tubing and using trailer spindles with trailer tires and a steel tubing axle. I actually built one of my coops by making a really simple steel trailer frame with the aforementioned axle setup. Obviously more time and cost upfront but its rock solid. Something to consider.
Yes I totally considered all of that. I won't be moving the coop when there are eggs in there because I move the setup in the morning. Each wheel is rated at 300 lbs and that's why I used 4. We'll see how it does, but based on how the Chickshaw does with 2 wheels I'm hoping it'll be alright.
Looks great! Noting that you ripped 2x4"s for 2×2 roof rafters. Not sure what part of the country you're in, but us Yankees up north might wanna think about using the whole thing, or maybe even tying in a center support. I'd be up all night worried about it coming down on the chickens in a heavy snowstorm.
Haha. Yeah, I invited that on myself. It's cool though. Hopefully it gives people ideas and gets more people into mobile chicken coops and rotational grazing.
I live in North Carolina and we have very mild winters. The chickens are fine in this sort of setup. As long as they can get out of the wind and rain, they are good. This will have good ventilation without being drafty.
Was wondering if you have a plan to level the coop. The reason I ask is that the roll away nest box needs to be somewhat level to work properly. If the coop is leaning too much toward the front, for example, the eggs wont roll into the collection tray.
I asked Hen Gear about that. I'm going to just position the coop and make sure that it's not going downhill from front to back and I should be good. I'm also going to put a trailer Jack on the front.
My only concern would be, if a bird died or wasn't able to exit on it's own, how would you reach all the way to an awkward spot? I mean, a dead one, you could use a rake, but a sick or injured one would be hard to get to. I do love the design and the nest box is 👌
The chickens will use these boxes. Just to share with you, the company that makes these uses them on their farm where they have 7,000 pastured laying hens. They work really well for them.
We are in Raleigh, NC (zone 7B). It doesn't get that cold here. Also, chickens can do pretty well in the cold as long as they can get out of the rain/snow and wind. They do need ventilation without it being drafty.
In these temperatures above 90 I can't even pick up a metal tool or the hose that's been sitting in the sun. Not sure about that metal - hope you're testing it beforehand or you'll have a lot of fried chicken to eat all at once :)
You have plans to put sides on it for winter? Impressive design, but with the fancy egg laying gadget wouldn’t be the cats ass if you put a auto door on it too?
Not in my context or with this coop. I would need a trailer or something stronger to support the weight. The birds are never that far from the house and I just run a hose out to the chickens. We are on a private well too so water is super cheap.