Chicken Tractor Build #3

[Kris5902]

Next is attaching all the verticals using 3” deck screws, it’s very handy to have a second set of hands for this... so volunteer a handy spouse, child, or neighbor!

You will probably want to pre-drill the 2x2 verticals to prevent splitting. Don’t worry that everything looks a little wonky if you’re building on uneven ground, the structure has lots of flex. Look at that rear one! Ok we did straighten that one out a bit...

I use the corner braces on the 2x2’s in the middle of the sides, the brace to the front, and one 3” screw in the back on an angle. (Use 1 1/2” or 1 1/4” screws on the braces)



The front roosting box verticals are 36” from the outside of the back. Just measure everything to make sure both sides are even and center the 2x2 on the side between the inside edges of the 2x4 verticals.

 

[Kris5902]

Now you’re going to want to Attach the top 2x2’s. Start with a 12’ -4.5” at the back corner and work your way to the front. Measure the spacing at the top to make sure it matches the bottom, you may need to shove things a little to get everything in line... this will keep things square, even if it doesn’t look like it. Or maybe you’re blessed with a level working surface

Use one of the 4.5” offcuts as a spacer to line the back and front up properly. This is the front... but you do basically the same thing for the back except parallel to the 2x2.



The front 2x4 of the roosting box you want to secure behind the center of the vertical

This leaves room to attach the front 2x2 of the roosting box later. I do the left side first, then the back, and finish with the right side.

Yes, you can see in this photo I’ve also got the front of the roosting box attatched, but I accidentally deleted the one without them in it, and I’m not taking it back apart for a pic! Also note the shadows... it was quitting time for the day! Hoping I can finish it off tomorrow, but it may have to wait a few more days, as we need to move the windows for our house and I don’t know if I’ll have the stamina, NVM poor husband!

 

[Kris5902]

On to the Roosting Box!

Measure and mark a line 16” up from the bottom of the base on all the roosting box verticals. The bottom of all the horizontal boards will be at this line. Cut 6’ off your last 2x4 and Attatch it and the leftover 6’ 2x2 36” (3 feet) from the back, as seen in the picture above. Measure and cut from the 2x4 (mine is 31”) for the left side box bottom. Measure and cut 2x2’s for the remaining three sides of the box. (Due to the lumber, measurements may vary here)

I pre-screw all the pieces so they are easier to manage by myself.



Cut 3 more 31” ish supports for the floor, and attatch them as well. Screw the angled screw in from the side on the front 2x4 and add a 1 1/2” from the 2x4 into the support from the top down. Screw straight through the 2x2 in the back into the brace.

Last step is framing in for the roosting box door. Measure and mark 18” and 30” from the outside left on the front horizontals. Measure the vertical gap and cut a 2x2 and 2x4 piece for the door supports. Attatch them both, and you’re done!

Edit: I lied... scab a 12” offcut to the inside top of the door opening... (this is going to cut down on my plywood use by a few feet depending on your siding options)

There’s also the roost supports to add, but those are offcuts from the roofing.

 

[Kris5902]

Next put in the 1” hardware cloth floor. Measure it a bit longer than the tractor is wide, fold it like a taco lenthgwaise and slide it in the side.

Staple it down using many, many staples (some days I think I keep arrow staples in business, all by myself) along the supports and sides.



Make relief cuts around the verticals and staple the front and back down.

Cut off the excess on the front and side with the 2x4. I wrap the hardware cloth around and staple on all 4 sides of the 2x2’s on the back and other side. And that’s when I hit a rain delay...

 

[Kris5902]

Now I Cut all my Roof pieces and set them aside starting with the remaining 2x2 from the last roosting box cuts. You’ll need that leftover and 2 more of your 2x2’s as well as 3 1x2’s. I cut these now because I need the remainder pieces for the next Roosting box step. I put my roof on before usual on this one, because I was losing my second set of hands for two days.

Use the speed square to cut the ends on a 45* angle with as shown with the longest side measuring 51”. The 45* isn’t perfect for the roof, but it is close enough. Now,we will move on to using the leftovers from this for the door and roosting box.

 

[Kris5902]

You need the long (93”) 2x2 off cut from the roof rafters, the short (43”) off cut and 2 additional 2x2’s. Cut the short piece to 39” (square on both ends, we are done with the angled cuts for a little bit!). From the long piece cut a 69” length and a 18” piece. From the new 2x2 cut another 69” and 18”, as well as a 34”. Cut a second one of these from a new 2x2 and put them with the roofing pieces.

Screw the 39” piece onto the 2 69” ones. Attatch the two 18” pieces to the front corners with 3” screws



Measure from the top of the front base board to the top of the 2x2 on the corner. Check both sides as they might not be the same! (This is squaring the door frame the easy way, so it will open decently.) Mark this on the appropriate sides of the door frame with a line using your speed square.



Attatch the door frame to the 18” front corners at the line you marked.

Then measure along the base board 18” from the corner to line up the bottom of the door vertical and secure it with screws. Do this for both sides. Make sure and screw heads on the inside of the door frame are flush or slightly set into the wood, if they stick out it will interfere with the door closing.

Aside: I love how wonky and not square everything looks in this picture. My uneven worksurface makes things super fun! Also when choosing a work site try to find a thistle free area. Too much kneeling and sitting is not advisable around stabby plants...

 

[Kris5902]

Normally I would be working on the Hardware cloth and then the roosting box while my Husband works on the door at this stage, but this time we skipped right to the roof because he was going to town for two days.

I actually liked doing it this way better than the way we did the last two, as it eliminated a lot of the ladder work, considering our work surface this is a huge plus. Prior builds we have secured three vertical supports then the ridge pole and attatched the rafters. This build we assembled everything on the ground then lifted it into place. Either way this is two person work as far as I’m concerned, ladder safety or the awkwardness of lifting the roof onto the walls.

The ridge pole, the remaining 2x2 12’-4.5” long, gets the two 34” pieces from the last step attatched to line up with the roosting box (36” apart) and we scabbed a 1x2 offcut at 34” on the front as a temporary support. (We did this on the box of the tractor so we didn’t have to bend over to work)


Then secure all the rafters on one side. 2x2’s for the roosting box, 1x2’s at the front and 2 about 3’ apart in the run area. You will have to pre-drill the 1x2’s with a 1/8” bit or they will split, secure them with #6 1 5/8” screws (thinner screws help keep it from splitting as well)

Stand it up and secure the rafters on the other side.

Lift into place and secure with 1 5/8” screws. Two people to lift, then one steadies it while the other person secures the roosting box rafters. Measure along the length of the top box rail to make sure the center rafters are aligned properly. Screw the front rafters to the inside of the door frame.

 

[Kris5902]

Next is hardware cloth... everyone’s favorite part of any chicken project, right? Start with the 3/4” or smaller 4’ high on the outside. Tack it in place from the roosting box front to the person door along the side and wrapping around the front corner #1, cutting out a notch for the skid. Attatch 4 pieces around the skirt below the roosting box sides and back #2, cutting out a notch for the axels. The front triangles #3, are all secured on the inside of the tractor rather than the outside.

See how I replaced my husband here with some convienient rocks? An angle grinder with a metal cut off wheel is very helpful for cutting hardware cloth.

 

[Spudsnsalsa]

Enjoying your build!

 

[Kris5902]

Enjoying your build!

Thanks! Third time is the charm... I’ve solved the issue of it turning into a big, heavy attack kite in high winds!