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Over the last few years, homesteading has EXPLODED! Food Insecurity and rising costs have put fuel on the food-growing fire. Whether it’s a basil plant in the window sill or chucking it all to move to the country, FOOD has become DIY.
Countless have followed the spirit of Lucas Nelson and they’ve turned off the news and built a garden… or tended a chicken (or both).
The Problem
There’s a lack of reasonable infrastructure to host said endeavors. A quick look online for chicken coops for example, and all you’ll find is something MEGA large, expensive, stationary, and things that require the user to clean out its evil chicken poo<<< Gross! Which is something I don’t have to do anymore, save a few exceptional cases.
Over ten years ago, when I set out on my own crazy chicken lady adventures I wondered… could I just build something practical, mobile, affordable, uncomplicated to build, AND easy to use? Inspired by Elliot Coleman’s concept of a chickshaw (a chicken coop designed like an Asian rickshaw), I set out to build the ultimate (mobile) chicken coop.
Welp, I succeeded…
Developing Plans
And now, we’re living the dream life with over a dozen homestead builds sitting at the core of our food-growing success.
I’ve improved the ChickShaw along with dozens of other designs and tens of thousands of people have downloaded them online at AbundantPermaculture.com
My online plans are free but have sadly become outdated. Folks can get by, but we’ve made so many improvements over the years we’ve perfected our designs… Our structures are now easier to build, easier to use, and maximize abundance while minimizing input and you might even say they are more aesthetic (well, I know the PrettyShaw is ;)
Finally, a BOOK to share my Designs
After getting requests day after day for updated plans, I’ve finally gotten to the point where we can release something legit. Like a book! For one, I wanted to test out my prototypes. And secondly, I’m not a carpenter per se, and I’m definitely not an engineer or a graphic designer. So, I’ve partnered with Chris Slattery of Polyface Designs fame and enlisted a graphic designer from my team to put together a legit book with step-by-step actions on how to build the ultimate homestead structures.
Your NEW Core
Let these builds rest at the core of what you do with your chickens and gardens and these practical (no frills) solutions will allow for max efficiency with less input. Since homesteading is so much work, you might as well enjoy sensible and easy-to-use infrastructure. These structures can literally be the difference between homestead misery and pleasure.
More than Just Structures
These aren’t just the foundational structures of your chicken and garden operations, they are strategic tools for making your work easier. The raised garden beds mean more control over your growing medium, and because they’re elevated, you won’t have to crouch or bend over as much. Furthermore, ALL the chicken builds are designed with work in mind. Each and every build will take full advantage of chicken power and you’ll soon be sitting back and watching your chickens fertilize, till, and aerate your gardens, yards/pastures, and compost piles.
Simple to build
The finished product is simple, minimalistic and takes advantage of readily available hardware and supplies. As for the building process, you’re guaranteed to enjoy our crisp and colorful step-by-step plans that anyone can follow. Dare I say they resemble the ease and simplicity of a Lego manuel. Yeh, they’re that easy.
Practical designs
No bells or whistles here. You’ll find just what you need for your chickens and garden structures with nothing more. Think multi-purpose everything. For example, the handle becomes the roof prop, underneath the coop is their daytime shade, and the floor is also their perches.
Easy to use
Because I have kids (and a wife) who help out on the homestead it was important to me that each design be built in such a way that any one person can do it. Raised beds eliminate a lot of bending, and it’s more difficult for children to step on the beds. The ChickShaw's wheels are in the center of the frame (wheels handle most of the weight) and there’s an optional pull bar for pulling the coops behind a machine. Oh, and we’ve got you covered with flat-free tires, so no messing with a flat way out yonder. Those are just a few examples of many ways homestead life becomes more pleasurable with these simple builds.
More than just plans
Getting these things built is one thing, but you’ll also want to know how to use them to take full advantage of their potential. For the first time, I introduce each build with practical tips on how to take advantage of all the features to maximize your homestead while minimizing your labor. For example, on the chicken tractor, I explain several different ways you can use it to have your chickens do the work of your little farm.
Plans Include:
Currently Available:
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Chicken Tractor Plans
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Chickshaw 5.0 Plans
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Chickshaw Mini-Me plans
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Raised Garden Beds
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TurkeyShaw
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Meatshaw
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Compost Corner
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Poultry Drying Rack
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Produce Curing Rack
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Compost Sifter
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The Brooder
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PrettyShaw