Chicken Tractor Coop - Self-Sustaining

You have a gift for building and videography! Really enjoyed the video, watching the build, and the birds grow! Turned out beautifully! Thanks for sharing!

Nice job!

I have 18 chickens in a 10x20 coop. Maybe I should get more

Wow!

I'm about 70 miles east of your work, and have to ask - How have the waterers fared during the winter? I suppose with that many chickens, it is always moving and would never freeze!!

Also like the way you can clean out the floor from outside. Clever perch idea as well - I'd never have thought about that in the middle of everything.

Very nice job!

The waterers on the PVC pipes did freeze which happened around mid November. I removed the PVC pipes and attached several water nipples directly onto the 30 gallon water buckets. I also installed a submersible deicer (1500 watt - $25) and positioned my water nipples at the same level as the deicer. Since I needed a power a power source, I just pulled the coop next to my house to reach an outlet. Never frozen over since and I refill it about every 3 weeks. When spring rolls around, I'll reattach the PVC pipes so they can have access when free ranging.

If it is going to be attached to power, I wonder if you could leave them attached and put a small pump to keep it circulating so it wont freeze. Then you wouldn't have to take it all down and put it back up.

I like the coop, it is full of amazing ideas!

Stacybaby9 said:

If it is going to be attached to power, I wonder if you could leave them attached and put a small pump to keep it circulating so it wont freeze. Then you wouldn't have to take it all down and put it back up.

I like the coop, it is full of amazing ideas!

Click to expand...

You're on the right track with that idea, but the problem with waterers is the droplets of residual water left on the 'outside' of the tips which unfortunately freezes and causes the piston/pin to lock up. The water pump method would allow water inside the pipe to flow freely, but it has no way to reach/thaw the ice forming on the outside tips. That's where the deicer helps as it keeps water at 30 degrees which is enough heat to dissipate through to the outside and melt any icing that occurred. And for extra measure, I installed the waterers on the drum at the same height as the submersible deicer. It took some trial and error but it's worked flawlessly all winter.

I was thinking in addition to the heater, that the flowing warmer water may save some build up/tear down chores for you.

I like the idea, where I live in WI it is generally 9 degrees colder (when it is really cold) than it is in the Twin Cities where I work.

Easier is better - I have 26 chicks coming next week...

Amazing article! I'm trying to build something very similar.. i just got a running gear and we've finished installing the 8x10 deck. I'm wondering how tall is your coop walls and how tall is the highest point? I'm a little nervous about it tipping on windy days.

sullivanbay94 said:

Amazing article! I'm trying to build something very similar.. i just got a running gear and we've finished installing the 8x10 deck. I'm wondering how tall is your coop walls and how tall is the highest point? I'm a little nervous about it tipping on windy days.

Click to expand...

Sidewalls: 4ft
Highest Peak: 6'2"
Access Door: 5'2"

Good luck!

Wow! really excellent!

I like what I see. You may want to make a roll way nest box and get an automatic open/closed door. That will make your like much easier.

The lawn tractor in the picture can pull that coop without issues? I somehow have trouble seeing my lawn tractor pull that big of a coop. Wonderful build though!

That's awesome! My coop is stationary and can get very messy. Maybe I'll build myself one of these so I always have fresh grass for the chickens.

Also If I may ask, What breed of chickens are those.

This is an amazing coop! Great job!!

This coop is absolutely stunning! Amazing!

That last picture is my favorite