Mobile Chickens Owner Luke Rogers stands by a mobile chicken coop set up along Carty Road in Ridgefield. Rogers has recently taken on the business from his father and since getting the word out the orders for fully-built units or manuals for do-it-yourself projects have been rolling in steadily.
Luke Rogers, owner of Mobile Chickens, works on a mobile chicken coop
at his work area in Ridgefield April 18.
Luke Rogers consults a manual detailing the construction of a mobile chicken coop. For those looking to take on the building project themselves, manuals are for sale through the business.
Though they might be in a coop, the chickens in pens made by Ridgefield native Luke Rogers don’t feel too “cooped up” due to a novel concept — keeping the coops on the move.
Rogers recently took over Mobile Chickens, a Ridgefield-based business specializing in building mobile chicken coops. On a visit by The Reflector April 18 Rogers was currently working on one order, mentioning that “chicken season” was starting up.
As indicated in the business’ name, what sets apart Rogers’ coops are that they can be moved around the yard, changing up the landscape for the animals.
The concept came from a problem Rogers faced as a youth, growing up on the same property where he now crafts the coops. Estimating that the family had about 200 chickens at a time, he said the chickens would clear out the grass in a stationary pen, leading to the ground deteriorating into mud.
The solution? Move the coop around, allowing for fresh grass as often as one moves the structure.
Mobile Chickens was initially founded in 2009 by Rogers’ father, Mel. This year the ownership changed hands from father to son as Rogers, a 2014 graduate of Firm Foundation Christian School, decided to make the operation his own business.
The coops have a fairly straightforward building process, as Mobile Chickens has a manual it both follows and sells for those looking to do it themselves. From the start Rogers said the interest has been there, in some cases back before the business had a commercial model built.
“People were requesting the manuals even before they were finished,” Rogers remarked.
Though the coops are made for mobility, the chickens themselves can’t make the unit move — that’s up to the coop owner through a fairly simple process with a dolly included in the purchase. On that first move Rogers said the chickens might be a little confused as to what is happening, but once the birds see the benefits of a little relocation they will get on board with a mobile coop life.
“After a week or so of doing it (the chickens) will be all excited looking for fresh grass and bugs,” Rogers said.
The coops Rogers makes are typically good for up to 10 larger chickens, though it could fit a dozen of a smaller variety of bird, he said. Currently coops are selling for $1,245, though people looking for a DIY (do it yourself) project can pick up a manual: $29.75 for a physical copy or $8 for a digital one.
In order to benefit from the mobility, would-be chicken farmers will need some space, though Rogers said about half of an acre would suffice. The coops have a bottom compartment allowing for easy removal of eggs, one of the biggest draws for people rearing chickens.
Apart from farm-fresh produce Rogers also said chicken waste made for good fertilizer that people could use in their gardens.
Rogers mentioned that wood used in the coops is pressure treated and rated for ground contact, leading to a long-lasting unit. The second-ever built coop was nearby Rogers work area and other than some cosmetic marks from lack of use was still fully functional eight years after being built.
The coops aren’t strictly for chickens, as Rogers explained the units can also be useful for raising other animals like ducks or rabbits. Even chicks are viable to raise by closing up the enclosed coop, and the coop siding can be customized to match the colors of customers’ houses, Rogers added.
Since taking over the business this year Rogers said the orders have already started to roll in, commenting that within a matter of days of setting up the business’ website and advertising he already had two coop orders and four manual orders.
Rogers will also be representing Mobile Chickens at the 27th Annual Home and Garden Idea Fair this weekend, the first time as the owner of the business. Although admittedly a little nervous, he said given all the interest he’s had thus far he, and Mobile Chickens moving forward, will be as on-the-move as the coops he makes.
“I think it’s going to be a pretty good turnout (at the fair) and we’re going to be swamped for the rest of the year,” Rogers remarked.
