Have chicken tractors....now have bad back

[Billylynn]

The back issue did not result from hauling around the tractors but rather from excited grandchild..ouch. However, I'd hate to give up my meat birds that I raise in my tractors. On my hoop tractor I never got around to putting wheels on and had just dragged it everyday another 8ft. My "box" tractor I lifted from the front and again moved it another 8ft. Both are 8 x 4. Any suggestions on how to adapt these to ease the lift/drag motions.

 

[aart]

The back issue did not result from hauling around the tractors but rather from excited grandchild..ouch.

Well, all the hauling may have set up GC's being the 'straw the broke the camels back'.

Wheels are tough to get right. Got a riding lawn mower that can provide the 'muscle'?

 

[Farmgirl1878]

@aart that was my first thought too! If not, have someone set some stakes in the ground and you can then easily rig up a pulley system to move the wheeled tractors.

 

[Billylynn]

Well, all the hauling may have set up GC's being the 'straw the broke the camels back'.

Wheels are tough to get right. Got a riding lawn mower that can provide the 'muscle'?

Riding lawn mower would be great except we have a tractor and it just seems like overkill to rev up a tractor to move something 8ft. And another issue is being able to notice very quickly the possibility of running over a chick since I use mine for meat birds (8 wks, then out). I need to be able to hear every little peep

 

[Billylynn]

@aart that was my first thought too! If not, have someone set some stakes in the ground and you can then easily rig up a pulley system to move the wheeled tractors.

Pulley system? Could you explain that?

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Make a harness for that huge dog in the background in one of the pics and make him drag it! He will likely have fun doing it, plus it'll be an exercise workout for him! I've seen dog pulling competitions pulling massive weights, granted they were specifically bred and train for it, but I think it will be fine for your dog.

 

[Billylynn]

Lol. Got to think about think. Meanwhile...Musicians, artists, etc have nothing on chicken owners when it comes to creativity.

 

[JDN]

Pulley system? Could you explain that?

What about a farm jack? https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/bulldog-36-in-farm-jack?cm_vc=-10005

You may well have one already. Attach the jack to a tree, or some anchor, horizontally, and use it to pull the tractor.

 

[aart]

Hand truck under front frame, tilt and pull.

 

[Chad Oftedal]

Hand truck under front frame, tilt and pull.

Adding on to this idea - hand cart under the frame, lift, slide 3" diameter pvc pipe along the front that you've lifted up, remove hand truck, pull coop forward rolling it across the PVC pipe. Lay the PVC pipe next to the coop, ready for the next day? Maybe not easy to do on your own, just a thought.