Chicken Tractor for Tractors

[Tractorable]

I wish to build an improved system for moving chicken tractors with a tractor:

Problem: Mobile chicken coops, aka chicken tractors, that are light enough to be moved by a person are too small for more than a few chickens and are difficult to move on slopes and/or rough terrain as found in most pastures. Chicken tractors that have good sized runs and are big enough for a person to enter are too heavy to be moved by a person.

Solution: Build a mechanism so that a chicken tractor can be hydraulically lifted on wheels and moved by a tractor.

After a lot of research I have not found a kit for sale that is heavy-duty enough to accomplish this. We found a kit with wheels on levers that we’re currently using, but it’s designed for a much lighter chicken tractor and the axles are bending under the weight. Plus, it takes a lot of leg muscle to press down the levers and wifey and retired neighbor can’t do it.

I thought it’d be cool to build a system using a tractors hydraulics (rear or front remotes) to actuate wheels that lifted the coop and allowed the coop to be towed to its new location with fresh grass for the chickens.

Here is our current setup. The ramp to the hen house folds up, the wheels are levered down, and we lift the front with a ball hitch on the 3pt.

Do you guys think it’d be possible to weld together a more robust system that could lift the coop with hydraulics in a similar way that larger bush hogs are lifted with their rear wheels? We’ll be getting a new tractor soon with front and rear hydraulics.



Pom Pom inspecting busted wheel:

 

[Ritothebull]

Why don't you mount the hitch on the heavy end where the coop is and mount the wheels on the lighter end.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Of corse it’s possible to build it, just depends on how much money, time and parts you want to put into it.

You could just add heavier running gear, and use the 3 point to raise the end with the tires, so anyone can lower the running gear with the weight removed. Pull around to the other end and hook on like you do now. This would at least get you by till you get a new tractor with hydraulics.

 

[Diggin It]

Why not just call it a trailer? Or why not mount the whole thing on a small, low utility trailer? Or cobble up a custom frame using trailer axles, wheels and a tongue?

 

[wagne223]

Why not just call it a trailer? Or why not mount the whole thing on a small, low utility trailer? Or cobble up a custom frame using trailer axles, wheels and a tongue?

That was my first thought.....trailer.

Google search revealed several like this.

Google Image Result for https://i.pinimg.com/originals/44/fa/3f/44fa3fb26d1e418c815e8851268d730a.jpg

 

[wagne223]

Here is the pic.

 

[tomplum]

Chicken tractors are fun build. A thousand different ways to build and move them. If you are getting a different tractor, ask yourself if you want the hassle of hooking it up to a three point complete or just to lift it via a hitch ball. Or even just forks of the front loader. You can weld up anything but as far as simplicity, a trailer mounted deal is hard to beat as pointed out.

 

[Tractorable]

The problem with the trailer idea is that we can’t let the chickens free range like in the picture above because they get eaten by every predator around. With the chicken tractor, the bottom is open, and the hens get a 6’ x 10’ patch of grass to scratch and peck. Every few days we move it to a new patch, the chickens get fresh grass, and the grass gets to recover. We like it so much more than our other stationary coop because it doesn’t require much cleaning at all.

The new tractor will most likely be an L3560 and I’ll weld a receiver hitch to the bucket so I can use the ball hitch to move the chicken tractor. Once hooked in, it’s very easy to move around, just like a trailer.

I figured since I’m going to get rear remotes and a third function on the loader it’d be nifty to have the chicken tractor raise hydraulically, but perhaps just beefier components and a longer lever would make it easier to lift manually. The long hitch on the front is great because it allows the tractor to turn without the back tires hitting it.

Here’s what I got going after my girls:

 

[mwayne]

Rather than install hydraulics on the coop it might be easier to fix both ends to be lifted by the Ford. Lift one end first and allow gravity to lower the wheels into place and the lock with a pin. Then use the other end to move the coop.

 

[Diggin It]

So, why not just use pallet forks? Rig the coop up to accept the forks, insert, lift, move and be done. Or rig it up to use the 3 point lif on the back of the tractor. No wheels involved in either.

 

[tomplum]

We used to let the girls run free.Then they started running up by the treeline and we lost a couple. Guessing coyotes. We have the occasional bobcat, so take your pick. They used to sleep in their fenced area , but up in a cedar tree. Then we lost two about a week apart out of the dang tree. By an owl we figure they could grab and swoop outside the pen with them. Full sized girls. So their run has a layer of chicken wire over it. This time of year as their pen is all mucked up, the misses and her grandson made a basic PVC tractor that we let them transfer out of the pen and just drag them out and back to fresh pasture. I've seen trailer styles with a run built in. One thing that looked neat to me I saved a pic from, but I can't name the source so maybe someone can fill in the blank. It is a run that you could butt up against the trailer for extra foraging area.

 

[Tractorable]

So, why not just use pallet forks? Rig the coop up to accept the forks, insert, lift, move and be done. Or rig it up to use the 3 point lif on the back of the tractor. No wheels involved in either.

You’re saying lift the whole coop on pallet forks? It’s about 14ft long, 6ft wide, and 7ft tall. Weighs maybe 600lbs. Trying to envision how that’d work.

 

[Diggin It]

Can't you lift it from the side?

Or go back to the trailer idea. Instead of trying to raise and lower the whole thing, make hinged flaps for all four sides that can be swung or slid up to move, then back down when stationary.

 

[Tractorable]

Can’t lift it from the side because the floor is open and nothing for pallet forks to lift up against.

 

[texas42]

Put the coop on skids and drag it

 

[wagne223]

The problem with the trailer idea is that we can’t let the chickens free range like in the picture above because they get eaten by every predator around. With the chicken tractor, the bottom is open, and the hens get a 6’ x 10’ patch of grass to scratch and peck. Every few days we move it to a new patch, the chickens get fresh grass, and the grass gets to recover. We like it so much more than our other stationary coop because it doesn’t require much cleaning at all.

The new tractor will most likely be an L3560 and I’ll weld a receiver hitch to the bucket so I can use the ball hitch to move the chicken tractor. Once hooked in, it’s very easy to move around, just like a trailer.

I figured since I’m going to get rear remotes and a third function on the loader it’d be nifty to have the chicken tractor raise hydraulically, but perhaps just beefier components and a longer lever would make it easier to lift manually. The long hitch on the front is great because it allows the tractor to turn without the back tires hitting it.

Here’s what I got going after my girls:

View attachment 588178

View attachment 588179

Ah, okay......that does present more of a challenge.

Your idea using hydraulics would work if you feel like going to that expense and fabrication.

I like the skid idea better.

One thing for sure, if you are going to use the tractor to move it around you are going need to reinforce the structure.
If the coup gets hung up on something you wont know it until something breaks.

 

[Diggin It]

This section:



Make them panels on all four sides so they're outside the wheels when lowered. They can also be hooked/latched together at the four corners. You'd have to reconfigure the one door shown in your picture though.



And I maintain, it's a trailer. Tractors have engines and transmissions and such so they're self propelled.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have free range chickens and I understand the issue with predators. My plan is to fence them out and continue shooting as many coyotes as possible. But to your situation, in my opinion, the fewer moving parts, the better. Keep It Simple.

Not getting into specific measurements, I would start out with the basic rectangular frame that will rest on the ground. I would attach the rear axle to that it's about 3 feet or so behind the frame. My goal would be to have the frame resting 100% on the ground when not being moved. Then I would attach a trailer jack and 2 inch ball at the front of the frame so that when you lift the frame up high enough to attach it to your tractor, that the entire frame is off the ground and it's rolling on just the rear wheels.

I've seen something like this with oil field stuff that comes through town, so I know it works, but I've never actually done this, so I'm just guessing on the measurements. But with the frame laid out, it should be pretty easy to mock it up and see what works.

 

[Diggin It]

I would start out with the basic rectangular frame that will rest on the ground. I would attach the rear axle to that it's about 3 feet or so behind the frame. My goal would be to have the frame resting 100% on the ground when not being moved. Then I would attach a trailer jack and 2 inch ball at the front of the frame so that when you lift the frame up high enough to attach it to your tractor, that the entire frame is off the ground and it's rolling on just the rear wheels.

Expanding on that .... mount the tongue so the coupler is above ground enough to back a hitch and ball under it. Use a 3 point mounted trailer mover and the three point lift to raise it. No trailer jack needed unless desired.

 

[wagne223]

I really like diggin and eddiewalker ideas.

Just to complicate it more, do you move it with the chickens inside?

Couple vids on YouTube show similar setups and when the human is moving the chicken house, the chickens are walking along still inside the pen.