gettinaclue, do an online search on chicken tractors. There are so many designs out there, just because one specific one was too heavy to move, does not mean they all are too heavy. They come in every shape and size and material.
I built my first coop out of 4 sheets of plywood and a few 2x4's, it was simply a box that is 4' wide x 8' long x 4' high. It is a struggle for dh and I to move it, but it is not meant to be a tractor. It is meant to be movable, though, if I change my mind about it's location or use. I use it for young birds when they move out of the house but too young to join the flock, still needing hawk protection. I use deer netting on top of the smallish pen I built around it with t-posts, also easily relocated. I did learn to take the deer netting down each time, when snow shredded it for me the first winter.
I may use it as a buckling shelter if needed one day, will have to improve and enlarge the fence.....or move it to the big pasture and section off an end of it.
You could always milk one of your fiber goats. You wouldn't get as much, but it is still something. DH doesn't have to drink it, but you could make a little feta, some yogurt, and maybe goat's milk soap to sell. Pay for that feed!
I posted a picture of my mini-tractor, I will look for the link. I actually use it to till my gardens in the spring. eta:
http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1662
After 15 years, my dh is finally trusting me, that my projects will usually benefit us and not be too costly if I am mistaken. I always do tons of research and talk to people and if possible, visit and observe, too. He is kinda used to me pulling into the driveway with an animal in a dog crate in the back seat of my little Hyandai! Somehow, even when I tell him in advanced, he still manages to be startled by the actual appearance of the critters. "I didn't think you were serious!"
Goofball!
