Chicken Tractor For My Sister?

[Kurt M]

Greetings! This is kind of a combination new member introduction and plea for help. Here's the deal:

My sister lives in the Texas Hill Country, on a rural place that's 212 miles from my home here on the Texas gulf coast. We have both kept small flocks of half a dozen hens for many years, so neither of us are newcomers to taking care of "the girls". She has been wanting a chicken tractor for some time, and if at all possible I shall build it for her. I'm a professional woodworker, and have long experience building large amateur astronomical telescopes and cedar strip canoes and kayaks as hobbies, no beginner handyman either. My own personal specialty ... OCD, really ... is building ultra lightweight, which should be especially suited to chicken tractor making.

Thing is, I haven't kept chickens for some years (too much travel and nobody to look after 'em when I'm away), so this is NOT an area of interest for me at present. I'm a huge believer in the power of forums for learning, and will endeavor to do my own homework as much as I am able ... but ... dang, I hardly know where to start???

So I'm wondering if some kind enthusiastic soul who knows this forum well might help by pointing me to some of the more popular presentations given for homemade lightweight tractors that are easily (as possible) moved by one skinny little grandma? Oh yes, Sis is not overly inclined to do computer stuff in her very limited spare time, so learning from y'all is gonna be my baby.

Anyway, I'd sure appreciate any and all assistance in jump starting my adventures here, and thanks!

 

[Kurt M]

One thing I've really been wondering about: I'd like to see an open floor so the girls can scratch, but fear critters tunneling in. So how about a partial perimeter floor, where wire netting projects under the walls 12" to 18" all around the edges, leaving the central area open? Wonder if this would foil a fox or coon?

Also wondering about wheels; large diameter roll much easier, but tend to be narrow while smaller ones usually have wider tread and handle soft ground better. I want to pay special attention to finding the perfect wheels, something like 18" - 24" diameter and maybe 4" - 6" tread width. Oh yes, very light weight and long-lasting heavy duty too, or course.

"I don't want no fancy funeral, just one like old King Tut."

 

[AkChris]

I'm pretty new to chicken keeping but have spent lots of time looking at tractors and thinking about how to make one. Haven't made on yet but I have lots of ideas.

For critter protection I like the ones that have an apron of wire around the bottom. Use a few stakes to peg it down, when it's time to move pull the stakes, roll or fold the wire up, move, and then stake it back down in the new spot. Here a thread with a pic of what I'm talking about, https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/734841/concern-abour-predators-digging-under-chicken-tractor

As for tires...I'd look at wheelbarrow tires. Nice and wide with a reasonable height to roll over uneven ground. Good quality ones should hold up well over time and can handle a fair amount of weight/load.