a solar-powered chicken caravan by doh studio is a 'coop on wheels'

california-based creative studio and part-time camping project ‘designers on holiday’ has built a solar-powered chicken coop on wheels. designed for the ecology center based in san juan capistrano the nomadic-style chicken caravan offers access to fresh grass on the move.

solar-powered door opens in the morning

the benefit is that the chicken can access different areas of a space, which stops them from overgrazing any one particular section of your garden. when a plot of land has been harvested the coop is moved there and leftover scraps become food for the hens while they fertilise the land and prepare it for a new planting season.

aluminium cladding reflects away heat

a solar sensor automatically triggers the door at first light and closes again after sunset while a solar panel keeps the batteries charged for the motor requiring minimum maintenance. a portable fence accompanies the coop, keeping hens in and predators out while the two large ‘wings’ open up to give the birds extra shade during the day and ventilate the coop. clad in aluminum to reflect away the heat it’s light enough to be pushed by hand while a hitch allows for it to also be towed by a tractor.

easily towed by tractor

designers on holiday started as a passion project for designers tom gottelier and bobby petersen in 2014 as an excuse to bring together creatives from different practices that they admired. it offers participants a hub for experimental, modern and sustainable design. in 2017, the project started including private commissions giving birth to doh studio, which was formed as a platform to showcase the philosophies developed during the camp.

nest boxes and perches make up the inside

‘all of our work is driven by a desire to push the expectations of what sustainable design can be, whether consultancy and creative direction or the design and build of a 360 farm experience,’ the studio explains. ‘working closely with our clients through every step of the process to produce a more meaningful and conscious end result that everyone involved can be proud off.’

lightweight allows it to be moved by hand