Lightweight chicken tractor ideas

[ChicKat]

Didn't read all the posts here to see if I'm duplicating, however here are some thoughts for your consideration

Use augers like people who are camping use to do a tie down. It just makes sense in high wind area.

here's one examplle:
http://www.e-rigging.com/half-inch-...85nP-ckEgOe9E5I4_ZHbnDD-YsGMUkaevRRoCRv3w_wcB

here is another PVC design from MotherEarthNews
http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/buildings/portable-chicken-coop-zm0z12amzmat

great ideas here for some alternative PVC pens too.
http://www.pvcplans.com/pvc-pastured-poultry-pen.htm

Good luck - post back when you have built your pens!

 

[eggbert420]

We just had 80mph straight line winds in central texas, and to my surprise the coop only moved about 10 inches no damage.

 

[ChicKat]

We just had 80mph straight line winds in central texas, and to my surprise the coop only moved about 10 inches no damage.

That is astonishing. Was it a PVC pipe coop? Was there a roof or tarp? My thinking is that the protection from sun and rain - would act as a sail.
It must have been light enough for the wind to mostly pass through.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Here is mine I built it last week. It is cattle panel not pvc, it seems to hold up well to the central texas winds. I don't know if it will hold up to the Oklahoma tornadoes though. Just thought you might like to see it to get some ideas.

I hear people talking about cattle panel.... and I envision it as a gate type thing. But I don't see anything like that on your design. Can you please tell me what it is? What are your dimensions on that?

 

[eggbert420]

That is astonishing.  Was it a PVC pipe coop?  Was there a roof or tarp?  My thinking is that the protection from sun and rain - would act as a sail.  
It must have been light enough for the wind to mostly pass through. 

It was the red coop on this post.

 

[ChicKat]

It was the red coop on this post.

That''s what I get for not reading the thread! I also have cattle panel coops -- and I love them. Here is a plan for anyone who wants a reference:
http://www.plamondon.com/hoophouse.pdf

for those unfamiliar with them cattle pannels are usually 4' tall and 16' long made of very sturdy material. The frame at the base is usually 8'x8' giving your enclosed chickens 64 sq feet. Two cattle panels arched can make an 8'x8' enclosure.




Mine are more rustic (is that a nice way to say 'primitive') than Eggbert420's. They are heavy to move, and the chickens, on my soil, demolish the underlying grass in less than a month. I jack the coop up, slide under the wheels and push to another place....but the wheels I have are too small - and they get bogged down - so it is a big production to jack it up (I use just a simple leverage with a brick and a board) put wheels under the 2x4, move, it comes off the wheels, jack up, replace the wheels, move, etc. etc. etc. -- On solid non-wet ground I can move the whole thing with one finger...but most of the ground isn't solid or flat. I need to engineer bigger wheels that I can secure so they won't come off.... another thing on the TO Do list.

 

[ChicKat]

eggbert420 - Just enlarged and looked at the photo of yours. it's really deluxe compared to mine. Nice job for sure.


Is there an easy way to explain how you did the wheels? -- It means that you can go in a straight line only when you move with fixed wheels like that right? How often do you move the coop?
Thanks!

ETA - the very weight that made eggbert420's not blow in the wind, is why they are difficult to move IMO. I would like one that was just PVC that could be a 'playpen' to put groups in during a day - and let them take down the grass, then move it the next day and maybe even let a different pen's set of chickens in there. That type would blow around like a kite. Oh no - another thing on the TO Do list!

 

[eggbert420]

I hear people talking about cattle panel.... and I envision it as a gate type thing. But I don't see anything like that on your design. Can you please tell me what it is? What are your dimensions on that?

Cattle panel is 16' fence panel 50" tall
This coop is 100" long x8' wide x6' tall
The coop cost $200. To build thats every thing all new
It rolls super easy my wife can move it by herself.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Cattle panel is 16' fence panel 50" tall
This coop is 100" long x8' wide x6' tall
The coop cost $200. To build thats every thing all new
It rolls super easy my wife can move it by herself.

That sounds reasonable!

Since the project and chicken math never end.. I will have to look into it. Lumber gets pricey, as well as the paint to protect it from the weather.

 

[eggbert420]

the wheels are on a lever so I can lower them with my foot. They are placed so that it balances it .
I have a rope in the front to pull it. I got the wheel from harbour freight. For $6.00 each 10" wheels with tubes my wife moves this by her self. Yes its heavy so is a car but if you put it in neutral one guy can push it. And you can turn it any way you want.