An A-frame chicken coop in a Portland, Oregon backyard -Steven Walling
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So, you really like your lawn, haven't any major fencing, and you want to have a couple of hens- what do you do?
You build an ark. Some call it a chicken tractor. No matter the name, it's a portable fenced run and coop in one, made to move around the yard as one pleases.
The idea of having urban chickens is often whimsical and romantic- a return to simpler times: when your apples came from your neighbor, not New Zealand- when your eggs were warm from the hen, not stale from months of refrigeration.
This lovely notion of the suburban mini-farm can become daunting when one suddenly realizes it means fencing the 800' perimeter of the yard and constructing something that may require a building permit and a plethora of power tools. Often a budget simply doesn't make room for the coop and run we want when we first delve into owning chickens. There is another option: enter the ark.
The idea is to provide the flock with ample space to graze and mill about while keeping the birds contained- and protected. Owners will want to be certain the construction is sturdy and predator-proof, but lightweight enough to be mobile. Arks mounted on 2 wheels at the coop end with a detachable run are most versatile, as the parts can be moved seperately. This will allow each part to be a bit larger in size and thus able to provide room to peck and exercise for more than one or two hens. Types of chicken tractor design are endless, and one can find hundreds of models to draw inspiration from on the web. There are also many sites that offer how-to steps and detailed plans for the direction-following, meticulous builder. Wise aspiring chicken hut builders will research thoroughly the necessary ingredients for a successful abode.
For those unwieldy with a hammer, or who lack the necessary tools for building from scratch, buying a kit may be the better part of valor. GardenEggs.com has a few options for those seeking easy entry into the urban chicken experience. Another, somewhat less organic option is the Omelet creation, the Eglu Cube. A larger version of the popular and colorful Eglu, this unit is advertized to hold up to 10 hens with the extended run, but owners may want to house fewer unless keeping only the smallest of bantam breeds.
Portable hen houses are a popular and versatile way to keep your hens on fresh ground, preserve your lawn, and yet manage protection without heavy cost in property improvements.
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