Finally started the tractor build....

[aart]

1) it sucks getting older. I just hit 50 this year and I DEFINITELY don’t have the flexibility or stamina I did when younger.

I loudly LOL'd at this one......NoSh!t, it stinks!!

1) GET MORE ADVIL!!!

Take it before you start working

Here is an article I wrote on cutting straight with a circular saw. You can apply the same technique to a 2x4 or use a speed square as a guide. A sharp carbide blade and let the saw cut at it's own pace don't try to force it. It also helps to clamp the 2x4 to your nice sawhorses.
JT

Clamps are good....and my daughter taught me that screwing the piece to cut to my wooden sawhorses works very well. Chop saws are nice, have had one for decades, but some things just can't be done...need a handheld. Took me a long time to get comfortable with them.

 

[RUNuts]

You might want to skip the OSB siding and use the plastic panels for a wind break. That will save a LOT of weight. As will a floorless coop.

I hope you have a tractor or golf cart to move yours. I'm considering wheels for mine already and it is still in pieces.

 

[Medda]

I do have a riding mower that runs but doesn’t cut any longer. It’s older and not worth repairing the deck. I do plan to have wheels on the tractor. In fact, I’m seriously considering 4 wheels instead of 2 - all mounted on pivot so the tractor sits flush. I’m thinking if I go with a 12-13 inch wheels it will *hopefully* make it easier to move, especially over my uneven ground.

I have about 1.5 to 1.75 acres the tractor will be situated on. The other 1.5 acre or so is the front yard, house, and a fenced portion for my dogs.

Also, I have a “dry” pond at the back of my property. It used to be a cattle pond when all of this property was pasture. Chicken math, well bird math, has me thinking of ducks too. I’m wondering what I would need to do to get the pond to hold water? We’ve had heavy rains here for the last 24 hours and the pond fills up but will drain and be dry within a week.

This is a picture this morning of the pond (sorry - taken from inside house so crappy quality).

 

[aart]

I do have a riding mower that runs but doesn’t cut any longer

Might a perfect chicken tractor mover.

 

[Medda]

Okay, with the colder weather and some dedicated thought (and lots of reading and research), I’ve decided to scrap the chicken tractor plan. I know myself well enough to know I don’t want to move something that heavy every couple of days.

My new plan is to build an elevated 8x8 coop and have an. 8x16 run attached. My initial thoughts are to use concrete footer blocks for the four corners with 4x4 posts for the coop support. I’ll frame out the floor with 2x6 24” OC. Walls will be 2x4 also 24” OC. Sloped roof of 2x4x12 with either polycarbonate or metal roof panels. Plenty of ventilation at the top and a human door on the back.

The run will be 8’ wide x 16’ long made with cattle panels. Bottom frame of 2x6 8 and 16 foot lengths. I plan to put in a top ridge support also. 1/2 inch hardware cloth up the sides of the run 4 feet. 1/2 inch hardware cloth enclosing the space under the coop as well. Welded wire fence apron all around the outside 2 feet out for digging predators.

I will hopefully end up with 64 sq. ft in the coop and 192 sq ft in the run. This will be for a max of 10 to 12 birds.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks, Medda

 

[aart]

Good decision making!

Plan sounds good.
Put the human door on the side with high roof edge,
so you don't walk thru roof runoff going into coop during rain.

How high will floor it be?
Make it high enough to crawl under there if you need to grab a broody/injured bird or eggs. It will be a good cool spot for your hot summers and hopefully stay dry enough to dust bathe all winter(check ground slope for runoff issues).