Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I think I am going to build a chicken coop like this,
http://www.geocities.com/happyhenhouse/ ... ouses.html
here are more ideas,
http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/tractors.html
I would make mine from a metal frame though, stronger, last longer and easy to disinfect. My goal would be eggs, and to keep the chickens I have now from being eatin by the wildlife around here.

The cook just turned an old dog kennel that is on the property into a chicken coop. We plan to get some layers when we get back to town in the fall.

The only thing I've read negative about the A-frame design is that the square footage of the floor plan isn't completely useful to the chickens so make sure to oversize a bit so as not to crowd them.

I keep my rabbits cages in a dog kennel, Im making it 5' x 6' and put 2-3 hens in it.

Here's mine:
Mesh around the outside folds to allow it to be moved and keeps foxes out. Wheels just visible at the back.
Small 'box' at the back is were the chooks lay their eggs - it has a hinged roof for easy access.

My biggest worry is that the coyotes and bobcats may flip it over, so Im gonna prolly put mesh on the bottom too. Also thinking of shock wire on it, that has kept my rabbits safe.

Do you have a problem with the chickens getting too hot?

I have lost livestock alot in the past too weak cages, my biggest problem is the coyotes,like this ones,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyote
bobcats have killed many of my rabbits, but not since ive put them in a cage in a cage,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobcat
and I have not a problem with mountian lions, but I have had them in my yard a few times,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cougar
this is what I have built that has so far kept my rabbits safe,

No, but in the hottest part of the year I'll typically position it so it is partially under a tree. Our average maximum is only about 30 C (86 F), though we might get the very occasional 38 C (100 F).

Gee you have some wild beasts to contend with, though I reckon the wily fox is one of the hardest to keep out...but I know nothing about Coyote, Bob Cat or Couger

One of the problems with putting wire on the bottom of the cage is that the chooks will not be able to scratch around. In permaculture they talk about chicken tractors which are small cages similar to what you have linked to and you place it over a section of the vege patch and they will remove all seeds, dig it over and fertilise it ready for planting in. Wire under the cage will not allow you to do that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tractor

Mind you, here is Aus, the biggest thing we have to contend with regarding protecting our chooks are foxes.

I used to have a pyramid chook cage which I used when one of my chooks went clucky. Take away their ability to nest (only provided the chook with a perch) and the will snap out of their cluckiness.

Simon

I use a small dog kennel made of chain link fence with "gate" wheels attached the bottom so its easy to roll. The ONLY thing that has kept coons out is hooking a strong electric fence to the fence!

Perhaps you will need to have a coop inside the kennel with your rabits for at night and have an outdoor run for the chickens for when you are around to keep an eye on things.

I have to say that is very secure for rabbit cages but Rabbits are the mainstay of coyotes. I understand years and years ago there were bounties on coyotes and they were poisoned until their numbers were quite small in this country. That stopped for whatever reason and they have been coming back in leaps and bounds. In Louisiana I never saw any coyotes in the wild as a child while I did see a Black panther. No more panthers but the coyotes are everywhere. A little solar electric fence should keep them back. At our deer camp after a few kills we could make a horror movie between the howling coyotes and the buzzards. We haven't been succesful trapping them but we have shot a few stalking our deer or turkey decoys.
But I love the rabbit cages, a lot nicer than mine.

Meanie

The whole advantage of the rolling cage you linked to is that you can move it to a new area and let the chickens pasture feed and pick bugs. Where we live like where you are that does not help the ground nor the chicken. Unless you place them directly over a harvester ant hill they wont get any supplemental feed. The way our desert soil is compacted their scratching wont help the soil either. May as well build the pen stationary and larger. Then you can make it varmit proof. As for the droppings, yes, that would help the soil but in a stationary cage you can easily sweep it up and add to mulch or compost. After two years the layers will decline egg production. I keep 15 layers or so in the main pen with the hen house. I keep a second pen with hen house for younger replacment layers. Keeping them seperate prevents the younger ones from getting pecked to death. They need shade and air circulation in our climate and roosts for the night.

I keep my rabbits in a small insulated barn (made from recycled foam filled garage door panels)and run a swap cooler driven by solar this time of year. Over 95 deg. F. your buck may go sterile then it takes months for him to become potent again. I do not mate them in the spring or summer months. With 3 does and one buck I get plenty of meat mating just november thru march. The only trouble I have had with preditors is bull snake getting in and eating a baby rabbit then not able to get out of the cage. Happened twice before I found and covered over the little access.

I suppose that is one good thing about our Hot humid buggy climate, plenty of bugs for the chickens to eat. (Just hoping that some of the bugs don't fight back )

I went in the rabbit pen once and a small rattle snake was sitting rightn next to the feed, almost did not see him. snakes around here are small though. I dont think they will bother much.