Chicken race

For just over 6 years now we have ventured into trying to raise chickens and after a few chicken losses to poaching dogs, there are now two buildings in the field that we can move back and forth to provide space, shelter and vegetation for the chickens whilst gradually improving the sandy soil in the field.

Our attempt at a mobile enclosure is made of stainless steel tubes and chicken wire with a chicken coop that was originally designed to be carried in and out each time we moved.We had built it too big, and after it was finished it no longer fit.So the idea was born to put the house on a trailer and to pierce the enclosure with a chicken ladder as a bridge between the enclosure and the chicken cart with a net tunnel.
The new enclosure is 3 metres wide and 6 metres long, the front door opens outwards and is 2 metres wide. Our quails were also currently in the enclosure, they were extremely disturbed by the regulary catvisits and needed even more protection.

The lightweight enclosure is pushed inside with the help of carrying straps and carabiners in the centre and in the corners. at first we had put a roof with shade protection fabric over the chickens, which almost completely destroyed the whole enclosure in a storm, because it sailed very well... since then only the lower part has been protected up to 1m in summer.

In the photo below you can see the trial of an enclosure with a mobile chicken coop and a cage that stands on the ground with metal carabiners in each corner to be able to attach 2 ropes so that 2 people can lift and move this cage.  We had to retract wire mesh at the top, because of the booted eagles and other various birds of prey that still occur here, and we had to reinforce the sides again with stronger wire mesh to a height of 1 metre because of  wild dogs and foxes.
For an example a wild Rottweiler once jumped through the wire mesh into the enclosure. He tore a 30 cm hole in it, but then got stuck... Apparently he was too stupid to repeat the action on the way out. I was allowed to let the dog out, who had killed 4 chickens and the rooster unable to flee into the safe stall ...

For about a year now I have been using the cage for rabbits with 3 separate cages in which I can separate the male and or expectant mother rabbits in the boxes which I insulate on the outside depending on the weather conditions when they are used as a nest for rabbits. 
Otherwise the cages serve as shade and a drying place when it gets hot or wet.

Now a close-meshed steel mat has been embedded in the ground so that they cannot dig themselves out and nobody can reach in.
The cage is now carried from the outside to new locations using the old carabiner ropes.

Our first mobile chicken coop is this ‘mobile cupboard’ seen from the front and rear. It is already 5 years old and the choice of wood as a substrate was not the best choice with 6 months of dry, hot weather and 6 months of humid weather. In the picture below you can see the reinforced beam with the trolley axle at the bottom, the wheels were attached when needed, the cabinet was lifted with the diagonal bars on the side, there are carrying handles at the front end of the cabinet for pulling the cabinet.
As you can see, we were also very generous with the laying accessories during the first attempt. Two would have been more than enough, because the eggs of all the hens were only laid in the one on the left and at most 18 hens and the cockerel lived here together eventually. We could remove the eggs through the folding roof.
A door with a light barrier and the chicken ladder lead into the henhouse, which is hermetically sealed. The floor is removable through drawers with hard plastic trays for compost and hay litter and provides access for cleaning the chicken coop.

Glimpse Inside: Below are the hard shells that slide in and out. They were located just below the resting bars and collect excrement. Complete removal allows cleaning of the interior.In moment it is waiting for the permitted fire season...the old veteran will end in fire this year.

the 3rd and currently newest trolley is an attempt to make it lighter, more compact and more mobile. We used uv protected plastic panels for the walls and corrugated roofing felt and mounted it portable on a handcart with a fungus and moisture treated wooden board. It also has an automatic chicken door with timer and/or twilight switch.

This is currently the main roosting place for 17 chickens and the rest is in the old  chicken coop still in work.