why 5A

Author: MarkBruns

_posts/2024-04-14-robotic-chicken-coop-abattoir.md

@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ categories: specification
 
 # The Abbridged Version Describing the DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
 
-This specification will describe how to build and operate a functional 4-season prototype with 500 chickens, quail, pheasant or rabbits with maximum intital expenditure of $30,000. This initial expenditure does not include land rent or land acquistion costs. The proving grounds for this DEMONSTRATION PROJECT will include 5 A of highly tillable, high-producing cropland in NW Iowa that are to be dedicated to a multi-species planting of chestnuts, plums, cherries, rasberrries, gooseberries; the poultry or rabbits will graze the understory of the agroforestry operation. $5,000 will be spent on the initial nursery stock. The electric system of the robotic coop will provide the power to pump water from shallow wells on this land.
+This specification will describe how to build and operate a functional, **secure** 4-season prototype with 500 chickens, quail, pheasant or rabbits with maximum intital expenditure of $30,000. This initial expenditure does not include land rent or land acquistion costs. The proving grounds for this DEMONSTRATION PROJECT will include 5 A of highly tillable, high-producing cropland in NW Iowa that are to be dedicated to a multi-species planting of chestnuts, plums, cherries, rasberrries, gooseberries; the poultry or rabbits will graze the understory of the agroforestry operation. $5,000 will be spent on the initial nursery stock. The electric system of the robotic coop will provide the power to pump water from shallow wells on this land. The 5A demonstration size was chosen because it is roughly equal to the size of a city block. Each city and its typical blocks sizes vary with its age and topography, of course, but it's safe to say that most are ***approximately*** on the order of something somewhat close to 660 feet by 330 feet or 217,800 square feet which is exactly 5 acres.
 
 It is expected $5000 will need to be spent to acquire initial stock of animals. The mobile coop unit itself should be doable for less than $20,000 total, although that might prove to be a stretch.  The approximate budget for the initial 4-season structure and fencing enclosures and feeding/watering systems for 500 small animals is approximately $5,000; the drive system might be possible for $5,000; and we should be able to develop power system and battery storage also about $5,000.  Finally $5,000 is expected for the rest of the systems including control and communication, security and animal protection/welfare monitoring.