The Chicken Ark
An updated version of this post is available over on my suburban green living blog, Green Change: [Chicken Ark Plans](http://green-change.com/2008/11/17/chicken-ark-plans)
When thinking about a coop for our chickens to live in, we wanted something practical, non-permanent, and space-efficient. Looking around the net, the ['chicken ark' or 'chicken tractor'](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tractor) concept seemed the best for our needs.
To get some idea of the number of variations on the basic chicken tractor, check out this [chicken tractor gallery](http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/tractors.html).
There are heaps of resources for building chicken arks:
- [Building A Chicken Coop](http://cb1508.chickcoop.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=PR) (downloadable chicken coop plans to buy)
- [Catawba Coops](http://affiliate.catawbacoops.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=136) (lots of photos in the gallery, and downloadable chicken ark plans for sale)
- [chicken ark plan](http://www.organicgardening.com/pdf/coop_plans.pdf)
- [ark construction photos](http://www.confederatecolonel.com/articles/ark/ark.shtml)
- [the Cadillac poultry ark](http://www.al.com/specialreport/mobileregister/?arc.html)
- [the ALS chook shed album](http://www.aussieslivingsimply.com.au/photogallery.php?album_id=141)
- [BackyardChickens.com tractor photos](http://www.backyardchickens.com/chickencoops4-chicken-tractors.php)
- [Turn Old Pallets Into A Chicken Tractor](http://www.instructables.com/id/Turn-Old-Pallets-Into-A-Chicken-Tractor/) (includes video)
There are commercial options, too:
- [McCallum Made Chicken Tractors](http://www.thechickentractor.com.au/shop.htm) – one of the best in Australia
- [Forsham Cottage Arks](http://www.forshamcottagearks.com/poultry-housing/cat-prod-forsham-chicken-coops.htm) – UK (see also [this demo video](http://www.backyardfarming.com/boughton512.wmv))
Of course, none of these were exactly what we wanted 
. There were lots of good ideas, though, and we got a good sense of the features we wanted in our own ark. After a few nights spent researching and sketching, measuring and planning, we came up with our final design.
To be continued…
3 comments August 3rd, 2008