building a chicken tractor

[BayCityBabe]

Sonoran: Your photos didn't come out. Please repost. I had a very enthusiastic conversation with the family today about PVC tractors

... after I saw one in the Stromberg's catalogue for $700+

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I tried the pvc frame an didn't like it. The pipe was cheep but the connectors are not. Getting stronger wire and forgetting the frame ended up being stronger, lighter and cheaper. Shorter tractors don't work well in a dog attack, framed or not. they jump on them an crush the wire in on the chickens. Building them taller helps.

 

[cw]

that looks alright i was thinking of taking 2 stock panels (welde wire ones) and making a circle withem and renforcing the top and sides with poultry netting and 2*4 wire be light strong but kinda awkward to move around

 

[cw]

oh yea my expiernce with pvc is it dont like the sun at all! gets brittle

 

[grundail01]

If you use the electrical conduit aka the grey PVC it has UV protectors in it.
Too add weight to your PVC tractors just fill the pope with water or sand and instant weight and you can drain them whenever you like.
Alex

 

[cw]

i had actually thought about using themetal tube type conduit. i do want it to be pretty heavy

 

[erthymom2]

if you have a old trampoline, take the frame apart and you have instand curved poles to use for braces.
i am in the process of dismantling two free trampolines i picked up over the fall when folks did not want to store them.

take the cirved frame apart and you'll have two pieces: one long curved pipe and one piece with an "l" bend in it. you can actually use the mesh circle parts of the tramp. to cover for shade or wind protection on a run. Keep the springs too - they work like bungies.

Build a rectangle frame of 2x10's and you anchor the the curved pipe onto the frame and stand up the pipes, you have the side supports for a hut run. either weld or bolt the top of the curved pipes together on top and cover with whatever you'd like.

when i get a chance, i'll post pics.

 

[warhorse]

You might get ideas from this guy's site:

WWW.MOBILECHICKENCOOPS.COM

 

[cw]

i ve got a good start its 11ft by 5 ft wide
i need to put the shelter on it though so that will take some room

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Connectors for metal conduit are pretty expensive; and most of the pvc connectors don;t fit the metal