Construction help/advice

[Badchickenpun]

Building a small enclosure that can be moved into larger enclosure, for time out/hospital/integration etc. The door is 36 wide, so I need to keep this "tractor" less than. My design is 32 wide, but... I plan to put on wheels. They can be on the sides without reducing width.
If this isn't super heavy does it seem feasible to mount a pair of pneumatic casters vertically to the back instead?
This way I can tilt up and drag/move, without reducing width.

 

[Badchickenpun]

View attachment 3256194

Maybe look into fold up dinghy wheels

If the ground could possibly be soft there's larger regular air filled tires also. That would make it easier to move around

That's pretty salty. I can get some pneumatic (air filled) 8" wheels for under $10 a peice.

 

[sdm111]

That's pretty salty. I can get some pneumatic (air filled) 8" wheels for under $10 a peice.

You'll fit in good here

 

[SourRoses]

36 inches, you mean? That's only 3ft wide.
A reasonable width for chicks, or single adults. But just so you know, it won't be wide enough to keep multiple adults / teens without them harassing each other. They like more space to pass.

 

[Badchickenpun]

36 inches, you mean? That's only 3ft wide.
A reasonable width for chicks, or single adults. But just so you know, it won't be wide enough to keep multiple adults / teens without them harassing each other. They like more space to pass.

This is for single adults who have a eed to be physically seperated from the rest of the folck, or for new (2 month olds) as the integrated from the brooder into the main enclosure.
The door to the primary coop is 36" wide, I am building this smaller mobile enclosure at 32" × 96" so I can move it in or out as needed.

 

[saysfaa]

Have you considered skids instead of wheels? Chicken tractors big enough for flocks usually have wheels or skids but moved with a tractor. But for something sized for one chicken, skids should work with being pulled by a person. Just taper both ends.

If it is heavier than you can comfortable pull, adding a lever might still work better than wheels. I had pictures and videos a couple of years ago of several types of lever set ups to move logs. Some light-weight versions would work well for this. I don't know if anyone else has noticed but about a month ago, the search engines stopped pretending to give different results. Instead of just the same information from different sources, they now give the exact same hits on every page for as long as you have the patience to click.

Anyway, I think castors will plug up with poop and bedding. But I haven't tried it. Maybe someone else has.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'll suggest something different. Build your tractor to stay outside. Make it easy to move, pneumatic tires can really help on soft ground but skids aren't bad. I'd make it 4' wide to better utilize building materials.

Inside the coop build a separate enclosure to handle hospital/time out/integration. Mine is also used as a brooder and a broody buster, depends on your design. Since it is in the coop you don't have to worry about making it predator proof. Flimsy wood and cheap wire mesh can work.

The more complicated you make the design the more complicated it is to build and costs often go up. I like to keep it simple.

 

[Badchickenpun]

I'll suggest something different. Build your tractor to stay outside. Make it easy to move, pneumatic tires can really help on soft ground but skids aren't bad. I'd make it 4' wide to better utilize building materials.

Inside the coop build a separate enclosure to handle hospital/time out/integration. Mine is also used as a brooder and a broody buster, depends on your design. Since it is in the coop you don't have to worry about making it predator proof. Flimsy wood and cheap wire mesh can work.

The more complicated you make the design the more complicated it is to build and costs often go up. I like to keep it simple.

The cage I designed is a comprise between the wife and i. We had a bird with a damaged beak. The brooder tank was too small. Bought a prefab from RK and set it up in an unfinished room in the basement. Which is fine, it will make for an awesome brooder. She then wanted two would more cages. One for in the coop and one for outside the coop. My compromise was that I could design one that would work inside or out, providing I could move it through the run door. So this the design is done and the wood/hardware cloth is bought. Under $150 all together. Im.just chewing on the final tweaks to make it easier to move.