Mobile Chicken Coops: Salatin’s Secret to Regenerative Farming

Mobile chicken coops for regenerative farming—also called chicken tractors—are central to rotational grazing systems like those popularized by Joel Salatin. They allow birds to forage fresh pasture daily, fertilize land naturally, control pests, and build soil health. 

Rather than fixed pens, these mobile chicken coops are moved regularly, preventing overgrazing and integrating chickens into sustainable rotations. Farmers love them for boosting nutrient cycling, reducing feed costs, and enhancing animal welfare.

In this article, we will look at the role of Mobile Chicken Coops in regenerative farming methods and help farmers and homesteaders take steps towards better soil health and better chickens and eggs!

Rotational Grazing: The Role of Mobile Chicken Coops for Regenerative Farming

Joel Salatin, the legendary farmer of Polyface Farm in Virginia, revolutionized small-scale, regenerative agriculture through his innovative use of rotational grazing—a system that mimics natural ecosystems. In the Spoon to Table Homesteaders Conference in Ohio, he described the day his father figured out that structures can be portable. He was “almost levitating” as he returned back to the farm and put the thought into action. 

One step Salatin’s father took was to produce shade shelters for animals. This was crucial in helping build up the soil where it was most needed. If a spot on the farm had bare rock, his father would place the mobile animal shade at that location so the cows would drop their manure there and help build up the soil 

Mobile Chicken Coops are off-shoot of the animal shelter and are at the heart of Salatin’s regenerative farming methods.

The Salatin Method in a Nutshell:

Salatin’s rotational system layers multiple species (cattle, chickens, pigs, turkeys) across the same pasture, using timing and movement to regenerate the land. 

In this article we will focus on how chickens, housed in their mobile chicken coops, play a crucial role:

1. Chickens Follow the Cows 🐄→🐓 

Salatin first sends cattle through a section of pasture, where they graze and leave behind manure. About three days later, once fly larvae have begun to hatch in the cow patties, the chickens arrive in their mobile chicken coops.

This is where the magic happens.

• The birds scratch through the manure, eating larvae and parasites.
• This naturally reduces the fly population—no chemicals needed.
• Their scratching action also spreads and breaks down manure, helping it absorb into the soil more quickly.
• Their droppings add nitrogen-rich fertilizer, further building soil health.

But all of this process is carefully choreographed using the right kind of mobile chicken coops.

2. Eggmobiles and The Millennium Feathernet (Mobile Chicken Coops)

Salatin’s layer chickens live in a mobile chicken coop called an Eggmobile which is moved daily behind the cows. This design:

• Protects birds from predators
  Provides access to fresh forage each day
• Keeps them off previously soiled ground, reducing disease
• Encourages natural foraging behavior (bugs, seeds, greens)
• Helps maintain clean eggs by housing nest boxes off the ground
  

The Eggmobile has open bottoms, wheels, and roosts, allowing hens to roam free during the day and return safely to roost at night. In the morning, this mobile chicken coop is moved to a fresh patch of grass.

In addition, he uses the larger Millennium Feathernet for larger flocks of birds for regeneration of soil. These are moved less frequently and do not necessarily follow the cows in the same way.

3. Regenerative Outcomes

This approach with mobile chicken coops does more than just produce great eggs or broilers—it restores land, achieving:

• Builds topsoil through composted manure and foraging action
• Increases biodiversity of plants and insects
• Boosts soil carbon sequestration, key for climate resilience
• Reduces input costs by limiting commercial feed and fertilizer
• Improves animal health and welfare with fresh air, sunlight, and natural diet
• Better Eggs: Salatin says that “the eggs are out of this world.” Their eggs have 1038 micrograms of folic acid vs. 48 from other eggs.
  

Scaling the System with Various Mobile Chicken Coops

Joel Salatin uses three distinct types of mobile chicken infrastructure in his regenerative system at Polyface Farm: the Eggmobile, the Chicken Shelter (often called the broiler pen or chicken tractor) and The Millennium Feathernet. 

Each has a different function and is designed for specific uses. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences:

The Eggmobile (For 100 to 400 Laying Hens)

Purpose:
To house laying hens that follow cattle in the rotational grazing system. 

Design:

• A mobile henhouse on wheels (often built on a hay wagon frame)
• Contains nesting boxes, roost bars, and egg collection areas
• Birds are let out during the day to free-range around the mobile chicken coop
• Birds return to roost inside the mobile chicken coop at night
• Moved daily or every few days to follow ruminants (usually 3–4 days after cattle graze)

Function in the Ecosystem:

• Laying hens scratch through cow manure and eat fly larvae and other bugs
• Their scratching spreads manure across the field, speeding decomposition
• Chickens fertilize the land and improve pasture health
• Produce eggs while performing pasture cleanup

Management Style:

• Free-range during the day, with a safe return to the Eggmobile at night
• Eggs are collected from nest boxes inside the structure

The Millennium Feathernet (For Laying Hens – Up to 1000 Hens)

Purpose:
To house large flocks of laying hens in a scalable, low-labor system designed for pastured egg production with rotational benefits.

Design:

• A lightweight mobile chicken coop combined with portable electric netting
• Provides shade, weather protection, feed, water, and rollaway nest boxes under the shelter
• Birds are confined within a netted paddock (typically ¼ to ½ acre in size)
• Shelter may remain in place while fencing is moved weekly to rotate pasture
  Can handle up to 1000 hens depending on layout and pasture conditions

Function in the Ecosystem:

• Layers contribute consistent manure distribution across larger paddocks
• Pasture rotation prevents overgrazing and improves biodiversity
• Chickens stimulate forage regrowth, fertilize naturally, and reduce pest pressure
• Enables regenerative land management at scale with fewer labor inputs

Management Style:

• Birds remain within netting 24/7—protected from predators by electric fencing
• Shade and shelter move less frequently than fencing, minimizing daily labor
• Eggs are collected from nest boxes under the shelter
• Ideal for farms looking to scale up egg production without sacrificing mobility or soil benefits

Getting Your Own Eggmobile or Millennium Feathernet: Build or Buy?

There are several ways to go about incorporating an Eggmobile or Millennium Feathernet into your regenerative farm. 

Here are several options for acquiring this type of mobile chicken coop, whether you prefer a DIY approach or a ready-made solution:

1. Build Your Own Mobile Chicken Coop (DIY Video)

If you are an avid DIYer and love building things, then building your own Eggmobile is a great option. They can be built from regular building materials on a wagon frame. 

Watch this detailed build guide showing how to create your own custom mobile chicken coop from scratch:

Pros for building your own Mobile Chicken Coop

• Full control over materials (e.g., wood, canvas, hardware cloth)
• Potential cost savings — build one for a few thousand dollars
• Great project for skilled carpenters or homesteaders
• Perfect for those wanting a fully tailored mobile chicken coop

Since not everyone is keen on building their own mobile Eggmobile, there are a few other options out there that come ready to use. 

2. Blue Sky Enterprise – 10×16, 10×28, and 12×36 Mobile Free‑Range Chicken Coop

These Mobile Chicken Coops (also referred to as Layer Wagons) are built in Pennsylvania and can be shipped. Here are a few options:

🔹 10×16 Mobile Free‑Range Chicken House

• Overall height: 9′ 6″; Capacity: 200 hens 
• Design: Hoop-style, full canvas cover, built-in skylight
• Includes nesting boxes, pressurized water system, automatic door, roosts, feed bin
• Built for one-person tow with a utility vehicle or small tractor

🔹 10×28 Mobile Free‑Range Chicken House

• Capacity: Up to 400 hens; perfect for large flocks

🔹 12×36 Mobile Free‑Range Chicken House

• Capacity: Up to 700 hens; perfect for very large flocks
• Auger feeding system
• Belt egg collection to save time on labor

All of these offer features such as automatic doors, water/feeder tanks, automatic perch poppers to keep the hens from sleeping in the nesting boxes and more. 

Why Choose Blue Sky?

• Designed for medium-scale free-range egg farms
• Automatic systems reduce labor significantly
• Durable and commercial-grade, built to move across pasture
• No need to take the time to build your own if you are busy with other things.

3. Mobile Chicken House

Feature-packed coops designed for efficiency and integration:

🔸 Models:

• Model 300: 8′ ×16.5′ × 9.5′, 2‑tier nest system, solar/battery setup; ~2,000–2,500 lb empty
• Model 650: Larger hoop-style unit on wheels

🔸 Core Features:

• Automated solar-powered doors, lighting, and water thaw systems 
• Feed bin & 150-gal water tank, supporting up to 10 days feed and 3 days water
• Lightweight yet sturdy; towable with a Gator or tractor
  Roll-away nests under shelter, with full interior roosts

Why Mobile Chicken House?

• Great blend of tech automation and pasture mobility
• Ideal for semi- or fully commercial egg producers
• Reduces labor costs and supports continuous pasture rotation

Both the Blue Sky Layer Wagons from Happy Farmer and the Mobile Chicken House will have significant delivery fees since they are both built in Pennsylvania. 

The Chicken Shelter AKA Chicken Tractor (For Broilers)

Purpose:
To raise meat chickens (broilers) on pasture in a highly controlled way.

Design:

• Floorless, lightweight mobile chicken coop with open bottom
• Usually 10×12 ft, made with a metal or PVC frame and covered in tarp
• This mobile chicken coop Houses 75–100 broilers each
• Moved daily to fresh pasture using a dolly or tractor
• Birds remain inside the mobile tractor at all times for protection and containment

Function in the Ecosystem:

• Broilers manure the land directly as they’re confined to the shelter
• Pasture is evenly fertilized and rotated to avoid buildup
• Chickens eat grass, bugs, and supplemented feed
• High-density rotation boosts soil fertility and supports rapid pasture recovery

Management Style:

• Confined to the mobile shelter, moved daily to avoid over-soiling
• Slaughtered around 8 weeks of age

Options for a Chicken Tractor

Build Your Own DIY Chicken Tractor (Video Guide)

1. Fully customizable to your landscape and bird count
2. Minimal investment: build one for $300–$600
3. Educational and hands-on project
4. Control over materials and predator-proofing
5. Buy Plans for a hoop style mobile coop https://cottonriverfarm.mykajabi.com/

Buy a Premade Chicken Tractor Kit (here are a few options)

1. Happy Farmer 10×12 Mobile Chicken Coop

• Capacity: 60 laying hens / 80 broilers
• Size: 10′ × 12′ (120 sq ft)
• Material: Aluminum frame, 1″x1″ 14-gauge hardware cloth, heavy‑duty canvas
• Door: 58 inch walk-in door with handle used for mobility
• Mobility: Two adjustable rubber-foam wheels; moved by one person via front handle
• Height: 6′ high peak
• Options: Roll‑up sides, rollaway nest boxes, feeders, water tanks

2. 10×12 Port-A‑Coop (Powder‑Coated Steel Chicken Coop)

• Capacity: 60 layers / 80 broilers
• Material: Powder-coated steel frame, canvas cover, welded 1″x2″ wire fencing
• Door: 72″ high personnel door
• Mobility: Two wheels lifted via handle; one-person moveable
• Height: Around 6’
• Options: Rollaway nest box, bell waterer, galvanized/plastic feeders, winter enclosure kit

3. 10×12 Ranger Port-A‑Coop

• Capacity: Similar to steel Porta-Coop (60 layers / 80 broilers)
• Material: Powder-coated steel frame, canvas tarp
• Door: Large entry door
• Mobility: Handle-lift wheel system
• Height: Ample headroom
• Options: Nesting, feeders and waterers, roost bars

4. Featherman Chicken Ship 2.0 (10×12)

• Capacity: 60 layers / 80 broilers (manufacturer range)
• Size: ~10′ × 12′ (solid aluminum panels)
• Material: Laser-cut aluminum frame and panels, heavy-duty tarp
• Door: Framed personnel door + solid back panel
• Mobility: Bar-linkage lift; two-person move or lightweight vehicle tow
• Height: ~74″ peak
• Options: Rollaway nests, trough feeder, bell waterer, wind anchor kit

5. 10×12 Alumi‑Coop

• Capacity: 60 layers / 80 broilers
• Size: 10′ × 12′
• Material: Aluminum frame, Shelter-Rite vinyl, 14-gauge welded wire
• Door: Human-access hinged door
  Mobility: Adjustable smooth-wheel kit; even child-movable
• Height: ~6–7′ peak
• Options: Rollaway nest, roost bars, feeders, bell waterer, optional solar/electric door opener
  

6. The Chicken Ranger – 12×12 Mobile Coop

• Capacity: 100 broilers / 30 layers
  Size: 12′ × 12′ (144 sq ft)
• Material: Galvanized 2″ tubing with 1″×2″ wire, 10‑oz vinyl cover
• Door: Roll-up front access
• Mobility: Lift handle raises wheels; push to new pasture
• Height: ~48″ peak (low-profile) 
• Options: Built‑in feeder/water system; add-on nesting box
• Reviews: Lightweight, weather resistant, ideal for wind-prone sites

7. The Lancaster Collection 12×12 Galvanized Mobile Broiler Coop

• Capacity: Intended for broilers (exact count TBD)—likely 100+ broiler
• Size: 12′ × 12′
• Material: Galvanized frame, vinyl/plastic tarp
• Door: Roll-up access panel
• Mobility: Handle-lift wheel system, moveable by one person
• Options: Broiler feeders, waterers, anchoring kits

Most of these mobile chicken coop brands offer various sizes and styles. Visit each respective website to find out more about what they offer. 

Why Use Different Mobile Chicken Coops?

Joel Salatin integrates the three tools into his “stacked enterprise” system:

• Eggmobiles and The Millenium Feathernet turn layer hens into pest control and pasture enhancers.
• Chicken shelters raise broilers efficiently while regenerating soil.
  

Each serves a different function, but both reflect Salatin’s genius: using animals in ways that mimic nature, reduce labor, and regenerate the land.

10 Factors to Consider When Buying a Mobile Chicken Coop

1. Flock Size & Capacity

• Make sure the coop can comfortably house the number of birds you plan to raise.
• Rule of thumb: 1.5–2 sq ft per broiler; 2-3 sq ft per laying hen.

2. Ease of Mobility

• Can one person move it daily? This is a key factor. If you are busy and working a job and expecting the kids of the wife to move it, then a lightweight coop is crucial.
• Look for lever-lift wheels, lightweight materials (like aluminum), and a well-balanced frame. Most of the coops listed below offer lever assist wheel systems for easy moving.
• Consider your terrain when choosing a coop. If you have a lot of hills, consider a mobile chicken coop that is towable with an ATV or tractor.

3. Durability & Materials

• Consider frame material (aluminum vs. steel vs. wood) and covering (canvas, vinyl, tarp). Many of the mobile chicken coops found online and in farm stores across the country are lightweight and easy to move. Homemade coops that are made of wood are often heavier to move.
• Aluminum is rust-free and lightweight; steel is stronger but heavier. Consider heavier if you are in a high wind environment.
• Avoid wood in wet climates unless pressure-treated. Aluminum or galvanized mobile chicken coops are great for wet climates.

4. Predator Protection

• A tough wire is crucial to protect from predators.
• Look for features like reinforced skirts, solid doors, and secure latches.

5. Ventilation & Weather Resistance

• Good airflow keeps birds healthy.
• Roll-up sides or open mesh provide air in summer; wind flaps or canvas covers help in winter.

6. Nesting Boxes & Roosts

• For layers: rollaway nesting boxes keep eggs clean and reduce pecking.
• Roosts are optional. Salatin prefers his birds stay on the ground since they get fresh grass daily.  

7. Feeder & Waterer Options

• Integrated or mountable feeders/waterers simplify chores.
• Look for gravity or bell waterers and suspended feeders to reduce mess. Many of the mobile chicken coops offer tanks that feed into the bell waterer. 
• CoopWorx offers a waterer that holds up to 8 gallons of water and can have a deicer added to keep from freezing in the winter

8. Assembly & Maintenance

• Is it pre-assembled or do you need to build it?
• Modular or bolt-together frames are easier to maintain or repair.

9. Weather & Wind Resistance

• For exposed or windy areas, choose heavier frames or wind anchor kits. The Port-A Coop is a steel coop which adds to the weight. 
• Many bell waterers have an area under the waterer that allows you to add weight. There are other ways to add weight to keep a coop from blowing. 

10. Budget vs. Longevity

• You can save a lot of money by building a mobile chicken coop yourself. However, if you are busy working a job while homesteading, it might be tough to find the time to build your own mobile chicken coops. 
• Investing in a high-quality mobile chicken coop allows you to get up and running soon and gives you a coop that will last for decades.

The Future of Farming: Mobile Chicken Coops and Regenerative Success

Mobile chicken coops, whether an Eggmobile, Chicken Tractor, or Millennium Feathernet, are indispensable tools for anyone committed to regenerative agriculture. As championed by Joel Salatin, these innovative mobile chicken coops are not just shelters for chickens; they are dynamic components of a living ecosystem. By facilitating daily pasture rotation, they transform chickens into active participants in soil regeneration, pest control, and nutrient cycling.

Adopting mobile chicken coops reduces reliance on external inputs, improves animal welfare, and ultimately builds healthier, more resilient land. Whether you choose to build your own or invest in a high-quality pre-made unit, the transition to mobile chicken coops is a pivotal step towards a more sustainable, productive, and profitable farming future. Embrace the power of the mobile chicken coop and witness firsthand the regenerative magic they bring to your farm.