The Chicken Coops of GVF
Chickens play three essential roles on the farm: producing eggs, controlling invasive insects, and naturally fertilizing the land. To help them perform these jobs effectively, we use mobile chicken coops, often called chicken tractors.
By moving the coops regularly, the flock is always working on fresh ground. As the hens scratch and forage, they hunt for insects, spread nutrients through their manure, and turn the soil surface—helping improve the health of the pasture while producing delicious eggs.
With three coops in rotation, we can comfortably manage around 100 laying hens. Like our pigs, the chickens are moved throughout our 35 acres, ensuring they always have access to a new supply of bugs, seeds, and grasses. This constant movement keeps the birds healthy, prevents overgrazing, and allows the land to rest and regenerate behind them.
It’s a simple system, but one that lets the chickens do what they do best—work with nature while providing fresh eggs for the farm. 🐔🌱🥚
Coop 1 - The Chicks Chalet
This was our first chicken tractor. It sits on an old set of Deering running gear we picked up at an auction for $200. It has 12 nesting boxes and holds 33 gallons of water and 50 pounds of feed.
Coop 2 - The Eggernaut
This is our biggest coop and easily supports up to 50 chickens. Like the other coops, we use Run Chicken automatic doors that open at dawn and close about 30 minutes after sunset. The chickens naturally go in to roost at night where they're always safe.
Coop 3 - The Ova Office
This is our most recent coop and it builds on the best of the first two. It stores 50 gallons of water, holds 100 pounds of food and has 8 nesting boxes. The dimensions are a little under 8' x 12' to minimize material waste during construction. Storing a large quantity of food and water minimizes our effort. The daily task is limited to gathering the delicious eggs!