McGREGOR Agile 4250 - User Manual

Agile 4250 O & M Manual Iss-01 1.
This document outlines the operating and maintenance procedures for the Agile 4250. Read this manual
before operating within and around the structure. Always keep this manual with the structure.
Following installation, the structure should be inspected and signed-o󰀨 by a responsible member of sta󰀨.
Once the installation is signed o󰀨 it is the customers responsibility to ensure the product is well maintained
and inspected regularly for damage, wear & tear, this can be done by the customer themselves or a
contracted maintenance provider.
Agile 4250 Operations & Maintenance Manual
Customer name:
Customer reference number:
Site address:
Date of installation:
Installation completed by:
Date of sign-o󰀨/ completion:

Summary

Scope Of Applications

Ground Suitability

Structural Loading

Structure

Securing the building

Operating methods & features

Personnel doors

A personnel door is sited at each gable end. Care should be taken stepping over the raised threshold.

Popholes

Manually operated popholes are distributed across both sides. Open by lifting handle and threading chain.

Pophole gutters

Positioned above popholes to manage water run-off from roof without downpipes.

Water tank support

Support provided for tanks up to 70 litres, max height 450mm.

Nest-boxes, feeders, drinkers

Space provided on slatted floor area for internal equipment; do not exceed 50kg per hoop.

Egg collection

Egg collection equipment is part of the internal setup and should be considered during procurement.

Lighting

Lighting can be added to assist daily operations and bird welfare. Fit by qualified electrician.

Precautions in use

Fabric roof sheet

The fabric roof sheet is robust but can be punctured by sharp objects. Handle with care.

Framework

Structural grade material supports the structure. Damage compromises integrity. Handle with care.

Skids

Check skids before and after towing. Inspect for wear, fractures, and bending.

Cleaning

Standard procedure is to jet-wash interior after each moving cycle to eliminate waste.

Hinged popholes and personnel doors

Check closures fasten securely and hinges pivot correctly. Keep handles clean.

Moving the building

Check weather forecast for wind. Do not move in winds greater than 20mph.

Moving the building

Removing Anchors and Pins

First remove anchors and skid pins. Use steel bar to twist out anchors, then remove brackets and pins.

Raising Drag Flaps and Attaching Wire

Raise and secure all three drag flaps using hooked chains. Connect braided wire between towing saddles.

Moving the building

Attaching the Tow Bar

Attach tow bar to skids. Inspect skids are free to move. Towing sunken skids over-stresses structure.

Tow the building

Attach strop/chain between vehicle and tow bar. Accelerate slowly, stop after 50m to check for damage.

Moving the building

Replace the Anchors and Skid Pins

Install auger anchors and skid pins once building is moved. Hammer pins through skids into ground.

Remove Tow Bar and Reset Drag Flaps

Check floor supports are vertical. Remove tow bar, lower drag flaps, and latch shut with drop bolt.

Maintenance Schedule

PVC Top Sheet Punctures

Action for punctures: mark, record, and monitor based on size (10mm, 11-30mm, >31mm).

PVC Top Sheet Tears

Action for tears: prompt repair, photograph, contact supplier, monitor daily/twice daily.

Damaged Sheets - Important Note

Assess risk for damaged sheets in high winds. Owner is responsible for judgement to remove.

Maintenance Schedule

Weekly Checks

Look for damage from impacts, weather, or debris. Ensure building is securely anchored.

Monthly Checks

Inspect structure, roof sheet, skids, anchor/pin positions, doors, popholes, framework, and floor.

Twice Yearly Checks

Includes monthly checks plus visual inspection of full length of both skids.

Maintenance Schedule

6 Month Maintenance Checks

Detailed checklist for cleaning & maintenance tasks covering anchors, roof, doors, popholes, framework, skids.

12 Month Maintenance Checks

Detailed checklist for cleaning & maintenance tasks covering anchors, roof, doors, popholes, framework, skids.

Maintenance Schedule

18 Month Maintenance Checks

Detailed checklist for cleaning & maintenance tasks covering anchors, roof, doors, popholes, framework, skids.

24 Month Maintenance Checks

Detailed checklist for cleaning & maintenance tasks covering anchors, roof, doors, popholes, framework, skids.

Maintenance Schedule

30 Month Maintenance Checks

Detailed checklist for cleaning & maintenance tasks covering anchors, roof, doors, popholes, framework, skids.

36 Month Maintenance Checks

Detailed checklist for cleaning & maintenance tasks covering anchors, roof, doors, popholes, framework, skids.

Yearly maintenance checks after 36 months

Checklist Summary

Visually inspect structure and canopy. Use numbered list to mark actions on yearly schedule (Years 4-10).

Overview

1. Technical Specifications
2. Usage Features
3. Maintenance Features

The Agile 4250 is a mobile poultry house designed for small commercial laying hens, suitable for the production of free-range or organic eggs. This structure is engineered for mobility, allowing it to be towed between laying cycles for efficient mucking out or to move to fresh pasture. It is best suited for towing in a straight line between multiple static sites, though it can be turned at a broad radius with caution.

Technical Specifications:

The Agile 4250 comes in two variants: free-range and organic, each available in two lengths.

• Free-Range Variant:
  • Length: 16.4m, Width: 4.25m, Slatted Floor: 4 Bays, Popholes: 4, Bird Numbers (max): 540
  • Length: 8.2m, Width: 4.25m, Slatted Floor: 2 Bays, Popholes: 2, Bird Numbers (max): 235
• Organic Variant:
  • Length: 16.4m, Width: 4.25m, Slatted Floor: 4 Bays, Popholes: 4, Bird Numbers (max): 400
  • Length: 8.2m, Width: 4.25m, Slatted Floor: 2 Bays, Popholes: 2, Bird Numbers (max): 162

The structure is manufactured from cold-rolled steel hoops. The roof sheet consists of an inner and outer 600gsm PVC sheet with an 80mm insulating fibreglass core. Side and gable polyboard are made of reinforced HDPE panels.

Usage Features:

• Ground Suitability: The Agile 4250 requires firm and relatively level grass fields. Excessively soft ground may necessitate an aggregate base, while uneven ground can disrupt towing and damage the skids. High abrasion surfaces can also damage the skids.
• Anchoring: When stationary, the building must be secured to the ground using skid pins and auger anchors. The number of anchors varies by building length:
  • 16.4m building: 10 skid pins, 10 auger anchors
  • 8.2m building: 6 skid pins, 6 auger anchors
  • Skid pins are hammered through angled holes in the skids. Auger anchors are wound into the ground using a metal bar until the crossbar contacts the auger bracket.
  • Required pull-out loadings: Skid Pin: 80KG, Auger Anchor: 200KG.
• Personnel Doors: A personnel door is located at each gable end, featuring a raised threshold. It can be secured from the outside with a tower bolt, and a hasp and staple are fitted for a padlock. Cabin hooks allow the doors to be held open. These doors also have a movable ventilation panel.
• Popholes: Manually operated popholes are distributed on both sides of the building. To open, lift the pophole by its handle, thread the chain back through the handle, and hook the chain back on itself. A tower bolt secures the pophole in its closed position.
• Pophole Gutters: Individual gutters are positioned above each pophole to manage water run-off from the roof. These open aluminium channels are wider than the popholes and spread water to minimize build-up.
• Water Tank Support: A support is provided for a water tank up to 70 litres (15 gallons). The tank must be no higher than 450mm to ensure clearance with the roof. The base frame of the support is 780 x 480mm. Water tanks are not supplied.
• Internal Equipment: The slatted floor area accommodates nest boxes, feeders, and drinkers (not supplied). Equipment can be secured to the hoop frame, with a maximum load of 50kg per hoop. Nest boxes are placed between uprights and should not exceed 1990mm (wide) x 1500mm (high).
• Slatted Floor: The raised slatted floor is made of interlocking plastic tiles fitted into a grid of supporting steel beams. The slatted area should not be overfilled to prevent bending and fracturing. A maximum of 165KG per hoop is recommended, accounting for both equipment and personnel.
• Egg Collection: Nest boxes typically feature an egg collection belt, manually operated with a crank wheel. The belt direction dictates the collection zone (inside or outside the building). If collecting outside, the personnel door may require an aperture cut for the belt exit.
• Lighting: Lighting can be added by a qualified electrician, secured to the internal framework with cable ties.
• Ventilation: Achieved through baffled side vents (50mm wide, running the length of the building on both sides) and a hinged ridge vent in the roof. The ridge vent is operated by a cranked handle to increase/decrease ventilation.
• Towing:
  1. Remove Anchors: Remove all skid pins and auger anchors using a steel bar to twist out the augers. Store them for re-insertion.
  2. Raise Drag Flaps: All three drag flaps must be raised and secured using hooked chains. Connect braided wire between the towing saddles.
  3. Attach Tow Bar: The tow bar must be attached to the skids. Ensure the building has not sunk into the ground, as this can over-stress the structure. The tow bar is secured with M16 x 120 bolts, M16 mud-wing washers, and M16 standard nuts.
  4. Tow the Building: Attach a strop or chain (not provided) between the vehicle and the tow bar. Accelerate slowly, stop after 50m to check for damage, then resume. Limit speed to 2-3mph (slow walking pace). Maintain a straight line; if turning, a 100m radius is recommended.
  5. Replace Anchors: After moving, re-install skid pins and auger anchors as described above.
  6. Remove Tow Bar & Reset Drag Flaps: Check floor supports are hanging correctly. Remove the tow bar, lower the drag flaps, and latch them shut with the drop bolt.
  • Wind Conditions: Do not move the building in winds greater than 20mph, as it will not be anchored during the procedure.

Maintenance Features:

• General Precautions:
  • Fabric Roof Sheet: Robust but can be punctured by heavy or sharp objects. Exercise care when moving the building or lifting materials.
  • Framework: Made of structural grade steel. Damage can compromise integrity. Be careful during towing and when vehicles/machinery are nearby.
  • Skids: Inspect before and after each tow for wear, damage, fractures, or bending, especially where the tow bar attaches.
• Cleaning: Jet-wash the entire interior after each moving cycle to remove chicken waste and grime. All surfaces can be cleaned with water and detergent, as no adsorbent materials are used. Remove bird waste from skids.
• Hinged Popholes and Personnel Doors: Regularly check that closures fasten securely and hinges pivot correctly. Keep handles clean.
• Maintenance Schedule:
  • Weekly Checks: Look for obvious damage from impacts, weather, or debris. Ensure secure anchoring and free operation of hinged components.
  • Monthly Checks: Visually inspect the structure and roof sheet. If towed, check skids for good condition and absence of soil/bird waste.
    1. Secure anchoring and anchor/skid pin positions.
    2. Roof sheet for punctures/wear.
    3. Gable end tension and U&T infill seating.
    4. Personnel doors seating and hinge freedom.
    5. Personnel door latches security and function.
    6. Popholes seating and hinge freedom.
    7. Pophole latches security and function.
    8. Framework alignment (inside and outside).
    9. Slatted floor seating and plastic edging strip position.
    10. Underneath slatted floor for uncommon features/debris.
  • Twice Yearly Checks: Same as monthly checks, with an additional point: 11. Full length of both skids (inside and outside) for mud/bird waste and sinking.
  • 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 Month Checks: These are identical to the twice-yearly checks, with a checklist provided for recording completion and reported issues.
  • Yearly Maintenance Checks (after 36 months): Same as the twice-yearly checks, with a yearly schedule provided for marking each action.
• PVC Top Sheet Damage:
  • Punctures:
    • < 10mm: Mark, record date, monitor monthly.
    • 11-30mm: Mark, record date, monitor weekly.

    • 31mm: Prompt repair, mark, record date, monitor daily.

  • Tears:
    • Gable end pocket (any size): Immediate attention. Repair with patch weld or full sheet replacement.
    • Body of main roof sheet:
• < 100mm: Prompt repair, photograph, contact supplier, mark, monitor daily.
• 100-700mm: Prompt repair, photograph, contact supplier, mark, monitor twice daily. Tension ratchet straps (500mm either side) recommended to prevent spread.

• 701mm: Prompt repair, contact supplier, mark, monitor twice daily. Tension ratchet straps (500mm either side) recommended. New roof sheet likely required. * Significantly Damaged Sheets: If high winds are forecast, it may be necessary to remove the damaged sheet. The owner is responsible for assessing and managing this risk. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE SHEET IN HIGH WINDS.

For emergencies, general maintenance, and assistance, contact McGregor at 01962 772368 or info@mcgregorltd.com.

McGREGOR Agile 4250 Specifications

General

Brand	McGREGOR
Model	Agile 4250
Category	Farm Equipment
Language	English