Lance Allen wrote:

> I would imagine a moving barrier, the width of the shed.

  We think alike.  I thought about that one too (only just had a chance
to read the thread).  I was about to ask the preliminary question; "What
obstacles are on the floor?".

  Of course, this barrier would do double duty mucking-out the floor at
the same time - presumably a sweeper carriage running back and forth
underneath in the manner of an inkjet (previous incarnation: dot-matrix)
printer.

  There are alternative topologies - a fixed barrier dividing the shed
in one direction and corresponding to the supports, and mobile "sweeps"
moving back and forth on each side, herding chickens through the fixed
barrier.

  There are questions of behaviour here - "territoriality" and "pecking
order" may in open-range (or similar) areas, lead to inequalities in
growth.  Constantly, albeit slowly, keeping the birds on the move, may
even this out.  OTOH, it might have undesirable effects, perhaps stress
not so much due to the movement itself, as being herded together.
--
  Cheers,
        Paul B.