Chicken tractor question

[Snafumonkey79]

I see all kinds of plans for coops and tractors, I'm getting ready to build a second enclosure, this one for bantams, and considering a tractor. Most tractor plans call for 2"x4"frames, even to 16'length. My question is how long will such a frame last, and does it require level ground? It seems to me that the 2"x4" frame would twist/warp. Also the land out here is rolling hills and my yard is no exception. Thank you for your time

 

[Chicken girl 15]

My only thought would be not to use solid 16' lengths. Use possibly 4' length attached with a lag bolt to allow for slight movement. Sorta like attaching 2 rulers with a pencil through the binder hole. It gives but is solid. Sorry for the school age comparison I'm a mom of 5 school aged kids. Maybe for the roost in it hang it from the top like a swing. Our girls love their swing and all it is made with are branches we cut and nylon rope to hang it.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Oh and make sure you use pressure treated lumber or you won't get as long from it. We experimented with 3-4 inch diameter fresh cut branches cut to the needed length. So far it's working great.

 

[Snafumonkey79]

I'm a father of 3 school age kids, and I'm definitely good with simple ideas. I suppose everything is a compromise, I could see the 4'lengths working for less than level ground, but I would think mobility would be lost. I should probably just go with a permanent enclosure and wait till I have baby chicks to do a tractor, smaller has to be easier

 

[Chicken girl 15]

For the mobility of it maybe small roles like the big ones used on cattle fencing. TSC has them in many sizes. Give me a day or so and I might have a solve for you. I'm very creative at times. What are the dimensions you are looking for. I'm on uneven ground as well so you just gave me ideas.

 

[Snafumonkey79]

I'm looking for one big enough to house between 6-12 bantam sized. I'm thinking the tractor may not be the best for that. A small tractor would be good for a brood setup when I need one.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Tractors can be kind of hard for them to live inside during cold and snowy winters, if you get snow.

 

[redsix]

My tractor has 2 by 6 pressure treated skids. There are 2 per side and the 4 by 4 building corner posts go between them. Make sure you cross brace the coop well, since you are moving it. I used 2 by 4's placed diagonally inside the coop instead of vertical studs in many places. The coop is 8 by 8 by 8.

 

[Hokum Coco]

My question is how long will such a frame last, In a perfect world 20 years longer than any of your original birds I dare say. and does it require level ground? Level ground would be best for sure. If your structure did start to twist or warp you could go to it's rescue by adding cross members to keep it straight and give it more integrity. As long as the tractor remains predator proof a twist or a warp is of no great concern in my opinion.

 

[Frito660]

What if instead of a tractor in the convention term doing something like a coop on a wagon. you could use an old hay wagon from a farm something like 8'x10' or 12' depending on what you can find. build the coop on that. that solves the portability and ground issues. after that could do temp enclosures around the coop with stakes and chicken wire for ranging.
Just an idea