Need Tractor Material Advise

[bigredfeather]

I am wanting to build a few more tractors. I have been building them like the Salatin model, but the material is a bit expensive, and they tend to get heavy. I am wanting to build a "hoop house" style tractor. I am going to use some treated 2"x8"'s to make the skirt around the bottom, putting some braces in the corners to keep it sturdy. I then want to make an arch across the width about 5' high, and then cover part of it with chicken wire and a tarp over part of it for shade. And finally, put a door on one end for access. The problem I am having is coming up with a material to make my arches. Has anybody made a tractor like this? What did you use to make your arches? Pics would be great as well.
Thanks.

 

[tgrlily]

I haven't done this yet, but a friend made hers using cattle panels from TSC for the arched part. She topped that with chicken wire & used a tarp for the covered area. I saw a tutorial online where they cut open pvc pipe & put it on the bottom of the long skids to make it easier to move around. Seems like a good idea!

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
That's a GREAT idea that I hadn't thought of! Those panels are very rigid when arched and really aren't that expensive. Thanks for the idea, tgrlily (and thank you friend for me).

 

[Dogfish]

1" pvc tubing.

 

[tgrlily]

Quote:
That's a GREAT idea that I hadn't thought of! Those panels are very rigid when arched and really aren't that expensive. Thanks for the idea, tgrlily (and thank you friend for me).

No problem! My husband isn't happy about it, but I'm going to make one too. He likes all the coops to match. I hope I can find "barn red" tarps!

 

[PotterWatch]

We thought about making hoop house tractors as well. I like the look of them and they do seem like they would be a little easier and lighter. We've opted to go with the Salatin type though because we want to be able to put a water bucket on top and couldn't figure out a good way to do that with a hoop house.

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
I was thinking about putting a platform on the front of it big enough for a couple of water supply buckets.

 

[ourflockof4]

I made our last one out of either 1/2" or 3/4" EMT (I cant remember which) It's 8'x10' and 3' high (for turkeys too) with some steel barn siding on one end, chicken wire on top, and 1"x2" wire around the perimeter. Everything is all wired & screwed together. The feeders go on the end pith the metal top so they stay dry and the nipple waterer bucket sits on a platform outside and the pipes just poke through the side. Overall I think I had about $100 into it, but I don't remember. I didn't put any wheels on it but it's easy to slide, and heavy enough not to blow or be lifted up by anything.

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

Does the chicken wire work for keeping predators out of the tractors. All I've heard on this forum is don't use chicken wire. I'd like to build a tractor with the cattle panels as mentioned, but I'm hesitant to use chicken wire. Or does the cattle panel underneath give the wire enough strength to keep predators at bay?

How well does the PVC in the other style tractor hold up to constant moving/ extreme weather conditions?

How big a tractor would house 50 birds? How often should it be moved?

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
You're right, chicken wire will not keep predators out, however, the big white dog(Great Pyrenese) I will be putting out there with them surely will.

How well does the PVC in the other style tractor hold up to constant moving/ extreme weather conditions?

I'm not sure. That is the main reason I have stayed away from them. They obviously work or people wouldn't use them. I'm not sure about the cost, but I would think it would be comparable to wood construction.

How big a tractor would house 50 birds? How often should it be moved?

75 sqft(1.5 sqft/bird), something around 8ftx10ft. It should be moved at least once a day.​