Chicken coop / brooder shell, built from a recycled IBC tote
A cut bladder shell inside its steel cage makes a weatherproof, predator-resistant coop or brooder for far less than a prefab unit, reusing both components.
Recycled IBC
Reuses a durable, standardised container. Diverts it from scrap and avoids new-material carbon.
a prefab small coop
A purpose-built product — bought new, moulded or fabricated from virgin material.
Tank Depot — coop/brooder from cut tote + cage →
A real-world write-up with photos of this reuse in practice.
A cut bladder shell inside its steel cage makes a weatherproof, predator-resistant coop or brooder for far less than a prefab unit, reusing both components. That advantage is real for this job specifically — not a blanket claim that a tote is best for everything.
Suitability & safety
Prefer a documented previous-food-use bladder. Treat any non-food or unknown-history tote conservatively and confirm prior contents before reuse.
For any water-holding reuse, shield the bladder from sunlight to prevent algae, fit food-safe fittings, and rinse thoroughly before first use.