The Chicken Tractor: a coop for the modernist chicken and an organic lawn fertilizer

It's called the Chicken Tractor, and it's the Los Angeles design firm 100xbetter's first foray into urban farm equipment: an architecturally modernist, indoor-outdoor chicken coop that doubles as a fertilizer spreader.

"The lower screened portion has an open bottom. The chickens fertilize the area where they are placed, and then you move it around your property like a wheelbarrow," 100xbetter co-founder Brendan Sowersby said. "The upper portion is where they nest and roost. There are doors on the back to collect the fresh eggs."  

Made from brass wire screen and exterior grade plywood, the 7.5-foot-long piece includes an intricately patterned roof made using computer numerical controlled (CNC) cutting tools.

"It's definitely for the 'modern' chicken farmer," Sowersby said. "One who may only want a few chickens for their own eggs or pets. I love the idea of the mini farm for urban living."

Sowersby and 100xbetter co-founder Will Rollin created the Chicken Tractor prototype pictured here for an art exhibition. It was expensive to produce, which explain why it's offered at $2,500. Not exactly chicken scratch, but  based on the interest it has generated ("Judging by the response, having chickens is the new cool." Sowersby said), 100xbetter will be offering a similar version as a flat-pack kit that customers can assemble themselves. Price: $900 to $1,500, depending on options.

The Chicken Tractor interior, below, has the elegant minimalism of a Dwell magazine interior. Below the roosting rod, a ramp leads to the yard. The pendant light has a Corian lampshade and can be used to heat the coop in the winter. 

For an easy way to follow future headlines, join our Facebook pages for California home design and gardening in the West.

RELATED:

Our series: A year in community gardens

City Farm

Call the chicken sitter

24 picks for new patio chairs

-- David A. Keeps

Photo credits: 100xbetter 

 

Comments

[Joseph L Cooke]

Excellent concept, but this is too small for even one chicken. (except for maybe one bantam)

[edward]

Organic egg cost how much? For the amount of $$$ for this contraption cost people who have built there own coop in there back yards are having a good laugh.

[Dancing Scorpion]

Really clever but waaaaaaaaaaay too expen$ive.

Otherwise, how much are the plans?

[RevDanny]

we tried to come up with something like this but couldn't manage the weight issues. Looks like this would do it. And for our three hens, at only $830 per head! I guess distributing the manure manually isn't so bad after all.

[Someone]

While this is positively luxurious compared to the cramped, squalid factory farm conditions most chickens suffer in, that few square feet of area for them to roam around in isn't exactly free range, is it?

[sameoldsameold]

LOL, so very self centered Los Angeles typical, these have been around for awhile, they certainly weren't invented, nor is their design very original. You can buy them on ebay for $500 or so

[wendy maddy]

this looks like a one-hen operation. I surely could use something like this, only insulated for michigan winters and a triple decker so more birds could be accommodated and with a larger, longer yard for the birds to enjoy.

[davidjskjonsby]

Brendan you're a genius.

[Brian]

Looks like a pretty tight fit for those 2 chickens in the picture. Better than the factory farm though I guess.

[marie]

at least a most useful invention to have one's fresh eggs. Without eggs, industry would collapse in many areas like ice cream. They deserve to have their own space but the lighting is not necessary. The sun is enough energy for them.

[caribis]

Very pretty, but having actually cleaned out a hen house, there are way too many nooks and crannies to be cleaning chicken droppings out of. Speaking of which, do the walls drop away or something so you can freely clean out the inside? And what about predator protection? A raccoon or skunk could easily get under the wire at night. Does the ramp lock in such a way as to completely seal the house?

[wee]

awesome!!1

[fuelcelljoe]

Hmm, makes $5/dozen for organic brown eggs a comparative bargain to hatching this coop plan ...

[Matt]

Cool!

[jackwells]

Urban farmers may have a bit of a surprise when they discover that roosters are noisy, early risers.

[ccj]

not good. not enough space. plus predators will chew right through. that's why plastic is better. and it cleans easier too. too many nooks. sorry guys.