Our new chicken tractor! So glad it's finally done.

[PlentywoodFarm]

Here it is. So glad it is done (well, for the most part). We have a few adjustments to make, but at least the chickens can live in it instead of our basement!

 

[Quail Keeper]

Would you happen to have the plans for this tractor? I just absolutely love it!

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

That looks extremely cool and well made. I have to ask, how easy it is to move? Is the skirt attached or do you have to reposition it each tim?. Either way, it looks awesome, I think even if it took two people to move, the year, round functionality of it might be worth the extra weight and effort.

 

[PlentywoodFarm]

No, sorry Quail Keeper. My husband put it together, and it's been a situation where we kind of had an idea in our heads, but we just kept building it and changing as we went. Originally the house part was going to be attached at the side of the run, not on top. I like it like it is a whole lot better.

 

[PlentywoodFarm]

Thanks, HummingbirdHollow!

Our plan is to attach a rope at each end so we pull it with the four-wheeler either way, but we moved it like it is just by rolling it by hand. It wasn't too bad. The only problem we had was that the skids on the sides dug in a bit, so we plan on raising the back wheels up another inch or so for a little more ground clearance.

The skirt is attached all the way around, and there are hooks on each side. When it is time to move it, we just hook the skirting up on the sides of the run, so it doesn't drag the ground. The hardware cloth is still trying to curl to its original shape on the roll, which is why there are boards sitting on the edges. I hope it flattens out. If not, I'll probably just get some landscaping timbers to lay on each side.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

I have a tractor that I move by mini-van, although sometimes it is just as practical to move it by hand. The with a yank on the lever, the wheels lower into rolling position, raising the tractor a few inches. Once you are in place, moving the lever in the other direction drops the tractor flat on the grass. I borrowed the idea for wheels that raise and lower from another BYC poster. Here are the plans:


Here's what the tractor/van looked like before the wheels were attached..and a few other modifications were made. The basckend of the van itself is the coop.


I always planned on adding a skirt, but never did. Since the chickens were locked in the van at night, when most of the predators are out and about, I managed to get away without one. Perhaps just luck on my part.

 

[pappy1264]

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!! Awesome job!!

 

[smoothsewing]

Very nice

 

[CherishHolland]

Very nice! Your husband sounds like mine no plans just build as you go.

 

[PlentywoodFarm]

Wow, Hummingbird Hollow, great design idea for the wheels. I'll have to let my husband take a look and see if the same design might benefit ours. The front wheels are on casters because he wanted it to be able to turn easily, but the back wheels are rigid and might just work. Do I understand you right, you used the minivan for a coop? That is such an unconventional idea! How has it worked out?

CherishHolland - He is very much build as you go, which is so hard for me to do because I'm exactly the opposite. haha. I'll admit I got a bit frustrated a few times. I'm glad we didn't decide to build a house together.

Thanks everyone else for the compliments. I'm really happy with it. We have three curious dogs that I am sure are just waiting to kill the chickens. Today is the first day all three are out while we are at work. I'm a little bit of a nervous wreck. Let's hope the skirting and the wire hold up like they are supposed to! I might just have to make a detour back to the house to check when I run out to get the mail.