Chicken Tractor

[cmhyland]

Anyone build a Chicken Tractor? For those not into the chicken lingo.... It's a moveable chicken coop with a small moveable run attached to it... It allows you to move small quantities of chickens around the property.

I'd love to see some pics of what people built. Below I have added a sample i found on Google images.




Regards,
Chris

 

[crazyal]

A coworker has one. I think he has some pictures of it but usually when he openly talks about it at work he gets a ration of **** from the rest of us.

 

[MRSDOUGLAS]

I don't have the link here but there is a chicken forum where they have tons of pics is these as well as plans. When I get home ill see if I can find it.

 

[MossRoad]

Lots of good info here.
Raising BackYard Chickens, Build a Chicken Coop, Pictures of Breeds

 

[MRSDOUGLAS]

That's the one!

 

[mikim]

I've got a picture of one I want to build .....but it's still in my head. Build a rectangle out of 2x6s 8' x 16' placed on edge. Drill holes every 2' to put pvc pipe into. Bend the pvc and glue it to a center pipe that runs the length of 16'. put wire over all that to create the run. Build a box on one end for the coop. ....basic idea -- I have details I'll finish when I draw it on paper before I actually lay a hammer to it. This was a project I had hoped to do this past winter - but other things got in the way. Guess I'll hope for it next winter. Too busy during the summer.

 

[MossRoad]

The kid and I wend to a chicken seminar Friday night (most folks go to the movies). I am tossing around the idea of chicken tractor VS fixed pen and coop. On the one hand a chicken tractor looks good for a couple, three birds.... until it snows! Then what? And what about the bottom of the thing VS predators? And what if you have to get in it? On the other hand, a fixed coop and run can be made large enough for more than a couple, three birds. I'm thinking I want 5-6. And it can be made more predator proof. But, its more expensive to construct.

 

[Triguy1]

I built this one to be a Chicken Tractor, movable by my Tractor... 6 birds in this coop and can move it any time I want. I did wire it up with electric fence to keep the raccoons out. I have repurposed two other more permanent structures as well but I am glad I have both.

 

[cmhyland]

I built this one to be a Chicken Tractor, movable by my Tractor... 6 birds in this coop and can move it any time I want. I did wire it up with electric fence to keep the raccoons out. I have repurposed two other more permanent structures as well but I am glad I have both.

Thanks for the pics Triguy1,

I saw these online as well.... They look pretty good.



Regards,
Chris

 

[NorTracNY]

The kid and I wend to a chicken seminar Friday night (most folks go to the movies). I am tossing around the idea of chicken tractor VS fixed pen and coop. On the one hand a chicken tractor looks good for a couple, three birds.... until it snows! Then what? And what about the bottom of the thing VS predators? And what if you have to get in it? On the other hand, a fixed coop and run can be made large enough for more than a couple, three birds. I'm thinking I want 5-6. And it can be made more predator proof. But, its more expensive to construct.

I documented mine on Backyard Chickens many years ago when I built it. It is big enough for 5-6 birds, but it's heavy. During the winter it is frozen in place. I acutally pulled it into the barn before a few snow storms. In the end I'd just free range them. I build a separate coup and run which can hold more birds, has electricity so I can have a heat lamp for new birds. I got tired of having birds in two locations when I'd get new chicks. There also was always a problem integrating the young and old birds. I never have any issues.

The chicks are separated in the main coup from the older birds. As they get bigger I open up a small door which they can go into the main coup, but the big birds can't get to them. Much easier.

I did use the chicken tractor last year for meat birds. 25 fit in there without any fighting.

 

[MossRoad]

From the chicken seminar we attended, which was designed to introduce people to back yard chickens, as our local town just passed a back yard chicken rule allowing up to 6 with conditions, the presenter recommended not letting chickens free range in neighborhoods. He said if you neighbor has a nice car, that's where the chickens will poop. And, nice concrete sidewalks are apparently a chicken laxative! :laughing: He also said dogs are the main predators of chickens in neighborhoods, while coyotes, racoons and hawks are the biggest worries in less populated areas.

So, I figure a chicken tractor would be a good way to get the girls some changes of scenery, plus add some fertilizer under my fruit trees in summer. But as I mentioned, I fear the winter. Got some thinking to do.

 

[cmhyland]

From the chicken seminar we attended, which was designed to introduce people to back yard chickens, as our local town just passed a back yard chicken rule allowing up to 6 with conditions, the presenter recommended not letting chickens free range in neighborhoods. He said if you neighbor has a nice car, that's where the chickens will poop. And, nice concrete sidewalks are apparently a chicken laxative! :laughing: He also said dogs are the main predators of chickens in neighborhoods, while coyotes, racoons and hawks are the biggest worries in less populated areas.

So, I figure a chicken tractor would be a good way to get the girls some changes of scenery, plus add some fertilizer under my fruit trees in summer. But as I mentioned, I fear the winter. Got some thinking to do.

I'm looking to build a mobile coop on wheels. I will make a mobile pen and move them separately. My plan is to put a solar panel and and deep cycle battery with inverter to run lights. I'll also move the units up close to the house for winter storms to make taking care of the chickens easier.

I'm actually looking to recycle a very large dog house I built years ago. The base is 4' by 4' and the peak of the roof is 6' high. The whole thing is in excellent shape.
It just need some modifications such as nesting boxes.

Regards,
Chris

Regards,
Chris

 

[forgeblast]

My plan, since I have a coop already, is to take a dog crate that I have add wheels to it and then attach some 1x3 with chicken wire to make a run to allow the girls to free range. We ended up getting 8 more chicks and I figure I will probably keep 4 as layers the rest will be for the smoke house.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Anyone build a Chicken Tractor? For those not into the chicken lingo.... It's a moveable chicken coop with a small moveable run attached to it... It allows you to move small quantities of chickens around the property.

I'd love to see some pics of what people built. Below I have added a sample i found on Google images.

Regards,
Chris

Yep,

Here they are:

Our Best Tractor Yet!

Our Latest Chicken Tractor

We like the big one best.

Kevin

 

[Ed of all trades]

I am building a 10' x 10' or 12' by 2' high to put broilers in. they will hold 75 or 100 depending on what I build. With broilers I don't have to worry about winter. In Joel Salatin's book Pastured poultry profits, He says he puts his hens in a hoop house with a 15 year white cover and they have light and solar heat all winter, just have to protect the side walls up a few feet so the hens don't hurt them.

 

[Marveltone]

Here's a thread on the chicken tractor I built. Lots of pictures of the whole process. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/249529-yay-we-have-chickens.html
Since then, we've upgraded to more birds and a permanent coop. The tractor still serves to introduce new chickens, house a brooding hen, or any others that need temporary separation from the flock for whatever reason.

Joe

 

[MossRoad]

Yep,

Here they are:

Our Best Tractor Yet!

Our Latest Chicken Tractor

We like the big one best.

Kevin

Very nice.

What would keep a fox or racoon from digging under it?

 

[NoTrespassing]

That has happened. After I "took care of" 3 coons last year the problem stopped. Nothing ever got into the big cage but they did manage to reach under one of my smaller cages and pull a couple hens out that were roosting on the ground. In the big cage the hens always roosted up high and nothing was either brave enough or strong enough to get completely inside the cage I guess.

A solar fence charger would probably do the trick if things get worse.

Kevin

 

[Marveltone]

Very nice.

What would keep a fox or racoon from digging under it?

If you look closely, you'll notice the run has a 1" x 2" welded wire floor. The chickens can still eat and scratch, but nothing as big as a fox or raccoon can get in. I tried to cover all the bases I could think of.

Joe

 

[MossRoad]

If you look closely, you'll notice the run has a 1" x 2" welded wire floor. The chickens can still eat and scratch, but nothing as big as a fox or raccoon can get in. I tried to cover all the bases I could think of.

Joe

Thanks!