Here are some tractors I'm working on for some breeding groups I have. The fewest number of chickens I have in them are 3 (2 hens and 1 roo) and the largest is 6 (couple of different configurations - little "tight" but does work).
They are A-Frame tractors that do not have a completely enclosed coop. They are open to the ground.
I use 2 CP panels - 50" tall, 16' long, $22/ea @ TSC. This will actually make 2 tractors that are roughly 5x8'. To minimize the loss of panels, each panel will be cut where one end is 1 block shorter. That's why you need two CP. If you use just one, you will lose two squares to make them even lengths. Hmm, would need a 3rd one to do gates on the two. Forgot about that. We used lag bolts to join the frame. Used farm fence staples to join the panels to the frame. They aren't hammered all the way down on the gates - the gates hinge from the bottom.
I currently have 2x4" wire on ours (100' roll, 48" tall - $70/ea @ TSC), but I've got 1/2" HC to put on them (Larry ordered from Amazon, got great pricing - since gone up quite a bit). Used plenty of zip ties to put the wire on the panels. I applied all the wire and the 2ltr bottle tops before putting the panels on the base. Right now, I have 2 A-Frames that aren't on the bases yet - have to put the bases together. Harder to move, but not impossible. Have fewer chickens in these two so they don't have to be moved every day, LOL.
I don't have them on any of these, but could easily make hinged aprons. Right now, this year, we've noticed a lot less predator action - have a rat terrier (adopted in Feb 19) and a corgi/pom (adopted in Nov 19) that spend a great deal of time outside - during the day - which is when I lost the majority of our free ranging birds in the past. Will probably need the aprons OR electric poultry netting when I move them out of our front yard to the pony pasture - my eventual goal.
I've used in-expensive tarps (lower weight) and my oldest two are about 10 months old. NO tarp replacements yet. These have not been through an NC hurricane yet, but have made it through high winds with the storms we've had - w/o moving and no shredded tarp roofs. You could use other roofing materials - not sure exactly how you'd attach and any of them will add more to much more weight. My goal was little to no wood & as light as possible while still being able to withstand weather and chicks inside/preds outside.
I haven't purchased or put the wheels on yet... hmm, was going to try a DIY "stone wheel". Haven't attempted it yet, don't know if it would work...
But $20/wheel for the wider ones that will pull easily thru the sand here when these are moved to the pasture?? not happening. For now, they can be shifted side to side the same way you mentioned or pulled from the front or back. Always easier with at least one grand daughter to make sure the birds move and don't get caught.
I didn't do anything fancy. I have LOTS of haystring (large round bales for shetland ponies), LOTS of 2 ltr bottles (family drinks soda, I no longer do -didn't make a dent in how many bottles left over). The haystring joined the panels at the top, the 2 ltr bottles were cut down, holes punched, and haystring used to string them to the top of the A-Frames. Voila - keeps the metal tops from tearing the tarps & adds some weather protection. I don't have feeders in them yet, & only open buckets for water at the moment. Not perfect but does work (for now).
I did just purchase 2x2's (I don't have a way to rip 2x4's down), so that I can build a frame to set a basket into for the nest boxes. Currently, the girls either lay in the baskets where they are or on the ground... Working on that.
I'm sure there are ways to fix these to be show stopping beautiful! I'm doing less weight and DIY/Re-use/Recycle. I'm playing with some ideas to make solid wall on the back w/o adding too much weight or purchasing much of anything.... ...ever done decoupage on cardboard?
I'd love to use a Chick Shaw. I have the directions to build them, I have watched (many times) the You Tube videos from the Chicken Ninja "homesteader" that developed them. I have the parts list. I also have the parts list and directions to build the Joe Salatin type chick tractor (more for meat birds than layers in my opinion) and also John Suscovich 's tractors. There are several reasons I haven't built any of those yet. Though I'd sure like to...
They are A-Frame tractors that do not have a completely enclosed coop. They are open to the ground.
I use 2 CP panels - 50" tall, 16' long, $22/ea @ TSC. This will actually make 2 tractors that are roughly 5x8'. To minimize the loss of panels, each panel will be cut where one end is 1 block shorter. That's why you need two CP. If you use just one, you will lose two squares to make them even lengths. Hmm, would need a 3rd one to do gates on the two. Forgot about that. We used lag bolts to join the frame. Used farm fence staples to join the panels to the frame. They aren't hammered all the way down on the gates - the gates hinge from the bottom.
I currently have 2x4" wire on ours (100' roll, 48" tall - $70/ea @ TSC), but I've got 1/2" HC to put on them (Larry ordered from Amazon, got great pricing - since gone up quite a bit). Used plenty of zip ties to put the wire on the panels. I applied all the wire and the 2ltr bottle tops before putting the panels on the base. Right now, I have 2 A-Frames that aren't on the bases yet - have to put the bases together. Harder to move, but not impossible. Have fewer chickens in these two so they don't have to be moved every day, LOL.
I don't have them on any of these, but could easily make hinged aprons. Right now, this year, we've noticed a lot less predator action - have a rat terrier (adopted in Feb 19) and a corgi/pom (adopted in Nov 19) that spend a great deal of time outside - during the day - which is when I lost the majority of our free ranging birds in the past. Will probably need the aprons OR electric poultry netting when I move them out of our front yard to the pony pasture - my eventual goal.
I've used in-expensive tarps (lower weight) and my oldest two are about 10 months old. NO tarp replacements yet. These have not been through an NC hurricane yet, but have made it through high winds with the storms we've had - w/o moving and no shredded tarp roofs. You could use other roofing materials - not sure exactly how you'd attach and any of them will add more to much more weight. My goal was little to no wood & as light as possible while still being able to withstand weather and chicks inside/preds outside.
I haven't purchased or put the wheels on yet... hmm, was going to try a DIY "stone wheel". Haven't attempted it yet, don't know if it would work...
But $20/wheel for the wider ones that will pull easily thru the sand here when these are moved to the pasture?? not happening. For now, they can be shifted side to side the same way you mentioned or pulled from the front or back. Always easier with at least one grand daughter to make sure the birds move and don't get caught.I didn't do anything fancy. I have LOTS of haystring (large round bales for shetland ponies), LOTS of 2 ltr bottles (family drinks soda, I no longer do -didn't make a dent in how many bottles left over). The haystring joined the panels at the top, the 2 ltr bottles were cut down, holes punched, and haystring used to string them to the top of the A-Frames. Voila - keeps the metal tops from tearing the tarps & adds some weather protection. I don't have feeders in them yet, & only open buckets for water at the moment. Not perfect but does work (for now).
I did just purchase 2x2's (I don't have a way to rip 2x4's down), so that I can build a frame to set a basket into for the nest boxes. Currently, the girls either lay in the baskets where they are or on the ground... Working on that.
I'm sure there are ways to fix these to be show stopping beautiful! I'm doing less weight and DIY/Re-use/Recycle. I'm playing with some ideas to make solid wall on the back w/o adding too much weight or purchasing much of anything.... ...ever done decoupage on cardboard?
I'd love to use a Chick Shaw. I have the directions to build them, I have watched (many times) the You Tube videos from the Chicken Ninja "homesteader" that developed them. I have the parts list. I also have the parts list and directions to build the Joe Salatin type chick tractor (more for meat birds than layers in my opinion) and also John Suscovich 's tractors. There are several reasons I haven't built any of those yet. Though I'd sure like to...
