A couple has created a DIY chicken coop using one IBC, two used lick buckets, recycled wood along with some aluminium plates and mesh.
Emma Macaulay and her husband, Cash, who are based in the North of Scotland at Rhicullen Farm, Newmore near Invergordon, told Catherina Cunnane, editor of That’s Farming, about the project they undertook in recent weeks.
Sourcing materials
“The IBC was bought from my workplace. I work for a manufacturer of cosmetics and hand sanitiser.”
“The boxes were empty with use for our sheep. Recycled wood was given to us by my mother’s partner who is a joiner.”
“The mesh and staples were the only items that were purchased – from HIS tools in Inverness. The metal plate was left over from barn doors that my husband fabricated.”
Method
They unbolted the metal housing from the IBC and cut this in half before welding it together in the middle; they then laid out the mesh and cut to size.
“We cut wood to size for the base and drilled holes to fit the poles from the IBC cage inside, before slotting the wood and cage together.”
They used tie wraps to secure in place and fitted the mesh to one bottom corner before stretching it over to a middle bar.
“We then secured it with fencing staples and repeated this for four sides. We secured a metal plate to the top of the IBC cage with rivets and used some recycled hinges to make a lid on the IBC cage for easy access.”
“We cut a hole in the front of the IBC above the drain tap, which was big enough for chickens to enter and exit.”
The Scottish natives then secured some plastic runners around the hole and cut a piece of wood to size to fit in the runners.
Final touches
They drilled a hole in the wood and attached a rope for putting the door up and down. Next step was cutting another large hole in the rear of the IBC for easy access to clean.
They secured the plastic in the hole with some recycled hinges and added a recycled lock.
Holes were drilled around the top sides of the IBC for extra ventilation.
“We hosed the IBC out, dried and dusted with sanitising powder. We put two used lick boxes inside and secured with a piece of recycled wood.”
The Macaulays drilled a hole in the top of the IBC to slot in a small rope to hold the food dispenser in place.
Using two further wooden poles from a broken windbreak, they made perches and screwed these into place from the outside.
They attached the IBC cage and IBC together with screws and elastic rope.
10 hours
“My husband saw a similar idea online and expanded it to use all parts of the IBC to its maximum potential.”
“It took two days, around ten hours in total to complete. The coop now houses four hens.” Emma concluded.
Photos
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