New at building the Chicken Tractor

[aart]

You could cover the vent holes and ridge openings with hardware cloth to exclude snakes.

Is the whole bottom covered with HC also?..hard to see in the pics.
Do they free range at all?

Nice Job!

 

[ftroop]

I moved the Fortress of Fowl uphill across the yard last night. It weighs well over 300 pounds. The chickens and I will both be happier when I put wheels on it.

 

[chicksbunsdog]

I was wondering how you could possibly move that coop without wheels. It looks very heavy but well built. Very cool design! I was also going to mention that the full grown chickens do not need heat in winter. Just keep the drafts away. I live in Connecticut and our chickens made it through the winter just fine, even when it dipped down into the teens and single digits. You don't want to risk a coop fire. Good luck!

 

[ftroop]

Yea, the pressure treated plywood and shingles really add extra weight but I built it to be very solid with extra corner brackets. I picked up one end of it so that it was balanced on one edge and walked it for a little ways. It didn't buckle or skew at all under the twisting. I then set it down on some skids and pushed it into position under that tree.

I had a client who saw this post and brought by a flyer for some inexpensive lawn tractor wheels. I'm looking at posts on how people have attached them. I should do that soon.

 

[ftroop]

Yes, there's hardware cloth on the bottom. Thanks for the suggestion about putting it over the ridge vent.

 

[ftroop]

I've put a standard feeder in there but will probably build one from PVC that will waste less food.

I put a bucket with a nipple on the bottom for watering but the Cochin doesn't seem to want to use it. Any suggestions about that? I left it in there fro a day and she got very inactive and just sat on the roost. I watched all the other birds use it. When I put the other waterer back, she bolted over and drank like a fish. The regular waterers tend to get dirty and need refilling more often. I'd love to get them all using the nipple waterer.

 

[JiveTurkey Acre]

can you post or email your plans, I have been looking for a long time to find the right one and think yours will work!!!

 

[aart]

I've put a standard feeder in there but will probably build one from PVC that will waste less food.

I put a bucket with a nipple on the bottom for watering but the Cochin doesn't seem to want to use it. Any suggestions about that? I left it in there fro a day and she got very inactive and just sat on the roost. I watched all the other birds use it. When I put the other waterer back, she bolted over and drank like a fish. The regular waterers tend to get dirty and need refilling more often. I'd love to get them all using the nipple waterer.

Maybe just keep trying to remove the regular waterer and she'll eventually get it?
Usually if one gets it, the others glom right on....maybe she's just very special (stubborn/stupid) ;-)