Build Your Own Mobile Chicken Coop (aka Chick-Shaw)
Weekend Workshop
Kick off your journey into homesteading with our "Chickshaw DIY" workshop, tailored for beginners in both carpentry and animal raising.
Over the course of a weekend, you'll dive into the world of poultry housing, learning how to construct your very own mobile chicken coop capable of accommodating up to 12 chickens. Guided by our experienced instructors, this hands-on workshop will equip you with essential skills you need in carpentry, design principles, and animal welfare. By the end of the workshop, you'll have a wealth of knowledge to provide your feathered friends with a safe, comfortable, and mobile home, and optionally, your own chickshaw to take home.
Want to gift this skill to someone? Vouchers available here
On the course you’ll learn:
Basic Carpentry Skills: Gain fundamental woodworking techniques, including measuring, cutting, and assembling materials.
Chicken Coop Design: Explore the principles of coop design, focusing on mobility, ventilation, nesting areas, and predator protection.
Sustainable Practices: Discover eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient design, and responsible waste management for a greener approach to poultry housing.
Animal Welfare: Understand the essentials of creating a safe, clean, and comfortable environment for chickens, ensuring their well-being.
Maintenance and Upkeep: Learn about regular maintenance tasks and how to keep your chickshaw in excellent condition over time.
What will you take away?
Your Own Chickshaw: If you purchase the optional material bundle you will leave the workshop with your freshly-built mobile chicken coop, ready to house your feathered companions. The optional extra of the Material Bundle of €480 will allow you to build your own mobile coop over the weekend under our expert instruction and take it home with you. This amount covers everything involved in constructing your chickshaw included wheels, axels, towball, timber, steel and other assorted materials.
Confidence and Knowledge: Gain the confidence and capability to undertake future DIY projects, not only limited to chickshaws but also applicable to various woodworking endeavors.
Empathy for Animals: Develop a deep understanding of animal welfare, ensuring your chickens live in a space designed with their needs in mind.
What’s included?
The course fee of €380 covers tuition, the use of tools and materials to practice with, breakfast and lunch and refreshments provided by our resident chef.
Additional Information
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We will provide you with a loan of a hi-visibility vest for use when on-site.
For your own safety, no loose-fitting clothing or shorts are permitted, and you should wear long sleeves when in the workshop. The following safety gear is required and mandatory to participate in the course:
Protective gloves*
Safety glasses*
FFP2 Mask*
Goggles*
Ear defenders*
You may already have many of these items or want to pick them up yourself. These items are available in our optional Site & Safety Kit which also includes a high quality measuring tape and comes in a Common Knowledge tote bag. This is available to purchase as an add on to your course ticket.
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For more information about booking a course, accommodation options, and preparing for your course at Common Knowledge, see our FAQs page.
Staying at The Common Knowledge Centre
We now have a range of accommodation options on site to suit all budgets and needs. You can view available accommodation on our booking page.
Instructing this course
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Zack Halliday
Zack has been residing in Ireland since 2018. He purchased a 7-acre holding and embarked on an agricultural journey focusing on regenerative principles to improve soil health and increase biodiversity. With a small homestead in Co Clare, Zack and his family are dedicated to regenerating heavy clay soils using diverse animal inputs and perennial food systems. Zack has hands-on experience in building and designing structures, and he has actively supported reforestation initiatives by planting 4000 native trees in Ireland. His passion for sustainable agriculture and love for nature have been the driving forces behind his journey.