The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: danccooke on July 01, 2017, 02:28:07 pm
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Hi,
I always like to recycle things and especially if there is a way of doing something for free other than some man power. Has anyone ever contemplated or made a chicken coop from old car tyres.
I am thinking the sheer weight of tyres will mean they don't need to be filled with earth as you would if you were making a retaining wall or house. From years of being a motor-sport marshal I know these things hold up pretty well. I know i can get loads of tyres for free as the garages have to pay to have the used tyres taken away and scrapped. I can build a proper door frame and door and even pop holes but the main structure could be tyres with just a few bolts being the expense??
Am I being a dreamer or do you think this is doable.
Dan
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Nothing wrong with dreaming Dan thats how some of the best ideas come about I would go for it mate and keep us posted on the progress/finished project.
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Like how outside box this is! No idea how to make it, but will watch with interest.
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Well at least that wasn't a don't be stupid :-)
I need to draw a rough plan before getting go ahead to begin from the other half. Currently I can see it in my head. I'll keep you posted as to if it get the go ahead.
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Mrs thinks it'll be impossible to keep clean. Looks like it's a non-flyer
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As someone whose farmyard looked like a shanty town with coops made from old fireguards through pallets to puppy cage panels to house poultry through last Winter I'd not dismiss anything as a building material. If you're talking about a low coop on a solid sheet of flooring and a lift-off lid roof and some kind of secure door for night-time, for hens that will free range during the day, then why not? The coop will have a huge footprint for the size of accommodation but, again, why not? Just be aware it will absorb a lot of heat in the summer and also need a gap at the top to allow air flow through.
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Personally I'd be a bit concerned about the chemicals in tyres such as polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs) etc. If the tyres get warm in the sun, I wouldn't want the chickens breating in that rubbery smell if you intend to eat the chickens or eggs.
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Idea has been canned. :) it was an idea. Once drawn and considerations taken on board for cleaning etc. I'll just have to build a traditional coop. How passé ;)