Check out my chicken tractor

[aart]

Here is something to consider.

That's a great illustration. But see how the handle is below grade in the down position?
..and difficult to build with stiff enough pivot points so axles stay horizontal..

I'm also thinking of those lumber carts at Home Depot / Lowes. The high wheel is in the middle ... and there are smaller wheels on the front/back so that it can tip either way.

Not really how you'd want a chicken tractor,
but putting the wheel in the middle rather than at the end is a good idea to reduce load.

 

[Krugerrand]

That's a great illustration. But see how the handle is below grade in the down position?
..and difficult to build with stiff enough pivot points so axles stay horizontal..


Not really how you'd want a chicken tractor,
but putting the wheel in the middle rather than at the end is a good idea to reduce load.

@aart, what about your tractor page ... I think this is the one I originally had in mind:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-hoop-coop-chicken-tractor.72211/?page=2

 

[aart]

@aart, what about your tractor page ... I think this is the one I originally had in mind:

First one worked great on the concrete garage floor, not so much on the lawn.
Second one worked pretty good on my lawn but was a struggle on the customers rough pasture.
Both were difficult to keep axles horizontal, even with a bushing.

 

[Joyfillednomads]

I plan to use this to clear my yard of grass to start a garden. Once the chickens have eaten the grass, bugs, seeds I will move it to the next spot to increase the size of the garden. I plan to rotate birds from my 12 chicken flock into the tractor. It can also serve as a maternity ward, R&R spot for wounded birds should it occur, or separate out bullies from the main coop.

The coop/run is intended for 4 hens at a time and cost ~$350 in materials. The coop has:
-2 nesting boxes made out of repurposed milk crates
-6ft of roost space
-coop is 39.5”x48” for 13.17sqft
-draw bridge style ramp to aid in movement of the tractor
-repurposed kitty litter container with the red water nipples holding 2 gallons
-a 12LB open top feeder
-Run is 4ft x 10ft for 40sqft run space (inside dimensions).
-8” tires
-1/4” hardware cloth on the top, windows, vents, and front and back
-1/2” hardware cloth on the two sides
-All exterior wood stained for weather protection
-Motion activated lighting

Thing I regret about this build:
-Sweet Jesus this thing is heavy, especially with the angle required to gain traction with the tires.
-maybe use 2x3 and a slant tin roof to reduce weight.
-make the trap door towards the front of the coop rather than the back of the coop or enclose the front to allow a solid floor.
-need to move the motion detection light lower

So what would you suggest for my next chicken tractor build?

Wow!!!

 

[Joyfillednomads]

First one worked great on the concrete garage floor, not so much on the lawn.
Second one worked pretty good on my lawn but was a struggle on the customers rough pasture.
Both were difficult to keep axles horizontal, even with a bushing.

Can't make it too light or predators will get in. Looks great tho

 

[aart]

Can't make it too light or predators will get in.

Even if it's heavy they can dig under, thus the foldable aprons.

 

[FeatheredRaptor]

So I’ve been pretty slammed at work and at home but finished some modifications suggested here.
1. Ramp moved to the side. This gave more continuous area in the coop.
2. installed the trailer levels on each side with 2x6 and lag bolts moving center of gravity forward some. I went from 8” tires to 13”. As you can see I had to block brace and strap as well as drill to keep the wheels from buckling and to keep them straight. Cheap harbor freight junk.
3. During my tests I noticed food was getting wet and there was no real shade so I added walls to provide wind break and protect the food from rain.
4. I also noticed that my over hangs over on the windows and top vents did not block rain... so I added impromptu rain guarding and stained the interior with anti mold stain.
5. Added the corrugated shingling over the ramp area for shade and weather protection.
6. finally I added a hook allowing me to tow this beast around the yard. It can be moved by hand easily but why not tow it to its destination in style.

thank you all for your positivity, the two broody hens I’m breaking broody are testing it out and hope to be putting some 8wk hens in there next week.

 

[Krugerrand]

Excellent work! You should write up an article on this in the tractor coop section.

 

[3KillerBs]

I love the little window awnings!

Necessary, but also decorative.

Do write this up as a Coop Page article.

 

[FeatheredRaptor]

Excellent work! You should write up an article on this in the tractor coop section.

There’s several things I’d change on this, not sure I should be doing how to guides on my first build.