DIY chicken tractor. Has anyone made this one?

[McChooky]

I was also thinking of using wire across the bottom to prevent predators from coming up under where it sits.

If the floor of the coop was covered in 1" hardware cloth the bird droppings would fall to the ground but snakes and weasels predators can fit in a 1" hole . By using 1/2" hardware cloth you can keep snakes and weasels out but the droppings won't fall thru the holes (making it harder to clean)If you use hardware cloth on the floor of the tractor the chickens can only eat grass thru the mesh holes.

 

[McChooky]

I was also thinking of using wire across the bottom to prevent predators from coming up under where it sits.

I imagine you could build a removable tray in the coop portion It could have a mesh or solid floor . It could catch their poop as they roost at night and keep predators out ( unless you forgot to slide it back in place and lock it in)

 

[springvalley123]

I was also thinking of using wire across the bottom to prevent predators from coming up under where it sits.

Remember that even baby chickens scratch, so you'd have to have a lot of dirt above the wire to prevent the birds from breaking their legs or scraping their feet (bumblefoot) on the wire.

 

[JTofSD]

Good to know. Thanks

 

[JTofSD]

If the floor of the coop was covered in 1" hardware cloth the bird droppings would fall to the ground but snakes and weasels predators can fit in a 1" hole . By using 1/2" hardware cloth you can keep snakes and weasels out but the droppings won't fall thru the holes (making it harder to clean)If you use hardware cloth on the floor of the tractor the chickens can only eat grass thru the mesh holes.

Thank you. Good to know.

 

[McChooky]

Thank you. Good to know.

I plan on making one very similar thanks!I'd add a tarp or build a canopy for it and add some vents .The chickens would burn up in it if you didn't add vents.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Suppose you put hardware cloth or even chicken wire over the top to keep it light weight, and make arrangements to cover all or part of it with canvas, or a tarp, for protection from sun or rain, and keep it lightweight? I mean, isn't the whole purpose of a tractor its portability? Once you start using plywood, OSB, shingles, metal roofing etc., you are no longer building a tractor but a permanent structure.

On the same vein, if you cover the bottom with hardware cloth and dirt you prevent the chickens from accessing the grass beneath, which, again, is the function and purpose of a tractor. You want to be able to move it around so the chickens can graze in different parts of your property. Put a floor in, and you've defeated the purpose. Plus, again, added considerably to the weight.

Seems to me, anyway. Not meaning to be critical here, just my observations.

 

[McChooky]

I don't have any large open areas to graze my chickens in a tractor. My grounds not level either. To avoid having any large gaps on the bottom I would need a short chicken tractor.

 

[JTofSD]

I plan on making one very similar thanks!I'd add a tarp or build a canopy for it and add some vents .The chickens would burn up in it if you didn't add vents.

Yes. Vents are important.

 

[Austrianbumb]

I just built this tractor (the medium one)

Will house 6 chickens in about 4 weeks.
Still need to add the chicken wire /hardware cloth to the outside but otherwise everything is done