How safe are tractors made of pvc pipe??

[shelleyd2008]

I was looking at the coops pages, and I saw a few that had runs made of pvc pipe for the braces. How secure are these? If my 70- pound dog (who loves to kill and eat any bird she can catch) were to get loose and pounce on it, would she break it?? I really like tractors, as I have at least 8 different breeds that need seperated, but I want to make sure that they are safe. I plan on having a solid coop made from plywood or similar material, so nighttime security won't be an issue.

What size coop and run would be sufficient for a trio or quad of bantams?? And a trio or quad of LF?? I have silkies, d'uccles, japs, OEGB, dutch, bantam cochins, LF lakenvelders, and soon to have Marans, for size reference

Thanks

ETA: Also, what is the material used to shade the run??

 

[Omran]

I really don't like the Idea of pvc tractor for KY at all, here we have all kind of preditors, and I guess if you are in Rular area like us you will have them too, I think PVC tractors are more for suburbs and small controled yards.

Omran

 

[codybird]

PVC tractors are to keep chickens in. I wouldn't trust them to keep anything out.

 

[jenjscott]

my pvc tractor is covered with hardware cloth and very sturdy against small predators. I would not trust one against a determined seventy pound dog.

 

[Crunchie]

We made a 4' X 8' hoop structure to tractor young birds partly using PVC. We made the base out of 2X4s and bent PVC to create the supports for the wire for the sides/top. We used 1" X 1/2" heavy woven wire, which was pretty easy to work with and holds its shape nicely. We framed a door, large enough for an adult to easily get in and out of, out of 1" X 2" wood. The entire thing is about 4' tall, so there's no standing room, but I've found it easy enough to climb in if I need to catch a bird. All in all, it is too heavy and sturdy for a predator or dog to knock over or lift, given that the base is made of wood--but it is light enough for one person to move it (if you move one end at a time). The only part of it I worry about is the door, which could possibly be pushed in by a strong and determined predator--but that has nothing to do with having used PVC for the frame, and re-setting the existing latch and adding a second should fix that problem for us.

I think using PVC as supports for a hoop structure is much more stable than making a square, flat, rectangular-shaped structure. I don't think I'd used PVC for the sides and tops of a run shaped like that--it would be too flimsy.

I have a tarp stretched and zip-tied over the back half of the coop for shade. Right now I have about a dozen half-grown birds in this particular coop, but I would say that it would be perfect for a trio of adult large fowl birds or a quad or more of bantams.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Thanks Crunchie, those were the ones I was thinking of, the hoop shaped ones. Now all I have to do is find some pvc

Do you have pics of your tractors??

 

[Crunchie]

Here it is (sorry, cell phone pic, but it should give you an idea):

We used hog rings to secure the front and back pieces of wire to the hoop part, and fence staples to secure the wire to the 2x4 bottom frame. Then we used good 'ol zip ties wherever necessary. I used zip ties to secure the tarp to the frame, and so far so good--the wind doesn't catch it and the tarp is still in good shape. I did cover the back edge with duct tape because there were some sharp points from the wire being cut. This seems to be working well to protect the tarp from getting torn there. And, like I said, the door needs some work...I think in this pic I had it unlatched because I was moving it/feeding/watering, but it doesn't close as securely as I'd like even with the latch closed.

ETA: The PVC pipe we used we got at Lowe's. I think it is an inch in diameter, and I think it's the stuff used for electrical wiring...

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Crunchie - thank you for the photo.

Where do I get hog rings? I have thought about using those. I have a lot of things being held together with zip ties right now, but now it is only a matter of time before the Arizona sun destroys them. I have heard of hog rings. . . do I just ask for them at Home Depot?

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

Boy - I wouldn't use PVC if you have a HUGE dog that would love to get your chickens.

I have 3 med sized dogs (ACD, Aussie, and little red heeler/shihtzu mix) who would want to play and chase the chickens. For that reason, I'm opting to make my tractor out of 3 cattle panels.

I have the cattle panels - as funds allow I'll make a frame out of 2 x 4's making it 5' W X 12' L X 6' H. Wheels all around so I can move it. Chicken wire over the whole thing zip tied and then hardware cloth on the bottom 2-3' that aprons out on the bottom to prevent digging.

 

[Crunchie]

Quote:
We get hog rings (and the pliers to clamp them) from our feed store. Any place that sells livestock supplies should carry them.

I forgot to mention in my previous posts, but we do have a strip of wood (a 1" x 2") running down the top, lengthwise, for additional support to the wire.

I know it's hard to believe, but this thing doesn't have much "give." I move it by lifting just a little bit and pushing on the sides. It is not flimsy at all. The welded wire that we used is heavy and rigid--it would have supported this shape even without the PVC/wood frame, though of course it wouldn't have been very sturdy without the frame. I have 3 pit bulls that are about 60-70 lbs apiece--no way that they could get into it.