"Super Chicken Tractor II" Question?

[JustDon]

I came across a Kindle book on Amazon that is plans and building instructions for a "Super Chicken Tractor II." It looks like a fairly complete, relatively good-sized starter coop for a flock of 5-6 birds (The run underneath has an area of approximately 60 square feet.) It has the advantages of being pretty inexpensive to build, plus being lightweight enough to be easy to move around the yard. It's made of PVC pipe, chicken netting, and "Coroplast" plastic sheeting.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VIECOY/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title

Has anybody here built or seen one of these? It's a little hard to see on the preview, but there is a raised coop/cage area, and a nesting box that can be accessed from a door on the side.

Any thoughts on this design as a starter coop? Any "gotchas" I would need to watch out for if I built it?

Thanks!

Don

 

[mickey328]

We considered something similar, but decided against it because we weren't sure it could handle the winds we get here sometimes. Plus it just didn't seem like it would be terribly weather proof for the winter.

We ended up building our own out of plywood and other scraps. Between what we had on hand and could get for free off Craig's list and Freecycle, I think we spent about $80 total. Most of that was on fasteners (hinges, screws, brads) and paint..of which we didn't use all so still have the balance for future projects.

Just a thought...

 

[JustDon]

We considered something similar, but decided against it because we weren't sure it could handle the winds we get here sometimes. Plus it just didn't seem like it would be terribly weather proof for the winter.

We were a little concerned about the winds as well. I figured I'd have to stake it down well and pull up stakes when we moved it.

Living in Texas, I don't have the harsh winters to plan for that somebody living in... say... Northern Colorado might.

I do, however, have to plan for and be able to deal with high winds on occasion. (I don't want the neighbors down the street to wake up one morning and find that they now have chickens and a coop...

)

 

[mickey328]

Hehe, I'm originally from Canada, so what passes for "winter" here hardly makes me blink. But we can get a few days of real winter from time to time. We weren't planning on heating it so we did insulate a little, and it has so far really made a difference in the heat we've had!

We did make the run out of conduit, but we used the 3/4'' metal and it's good and sturdy and light enough that the two of us can easily move it around. Actually, either one can do it but it's 9' x 9' so it has to be dragged if it's just one person.

 

[JustDon]

We did make the run out of conduit, but we used the 3/4'' metal and it's good and sturdy and light enough that the two of us can easily move it around. Actually, either one can do it but it's 9' x 9' so it has to be dragged if it's just one person.

So... metal conduit instead of PVC for a build like this? It seems like that would add a great deal to the weight. Is PVC not strong enough for this?

 

[mickey328]

We used the metal conduit primarily because we had it on hand. Plus, with the winds we get sometimes, I was frankly worried that the PVC wouldn't be heavy enough to hold the thing down. Our run is about 9 feet on a side, and about 20 inches tall. Either of us can easily pick up one side and drag it around...I would guess it might weigh 25 lbs or so. The two of us very easily pick it up to move it...just takes two because it's too unwieldy for one

From the photo, it looks like this is an all in one sort of deal, is that right? Or is this just a run you'd use next to the coop? What kind of wire do you plan to use on the "open" side? Here's a shot of ours...the open portion of the run butts up against the open portion under the coop so they can move back and forth. We attached the wire to the conduit with cable ties so it's secure but lightweight and if we need to remove it, we can cut the ties off easily.




In each of the corners we only attached the top wire on one side so we can flip it up to reach in if need be. When it looks as if a sprinkle is headed our way, we reach in and put the feeder under the coop, and I use one or other of the other "flaps" to drop extra goodies into it.

 

[JustDon]

We used the metal conduit primarily because we had it on hand. Plus, with the winds we get sometimes, I was frankly worried that the PVC wouldn't be heavy enough to hold the thing down. Our run is about 9 feet on a side, and about 20 inches tall. Either of us can easily pick up one side and drag it around...I would guess it might weigh 25 lbs or so. The two of us very easily pick it up to move it...just takes two because it's too unwieldy for one

From the photo, it looks like this is an all in one sort of deal, is that right? Or is this just a run you'd use next to the coop? What kind of wire do you plan to use on the "open" side?

You are correct. The "Super Tractor" is designed to be a combination coop and run all-in-one unit. It has a little coop with nesting boxes inside of it, elevated above the ground, and a run underneath.

I don't know what kind of wire I plan to use yet. The designer of the coop suggests plastic mesh chicken wire - but I don't know if that will adequate.

 

[mickey328]

If you have any issue at all with predators, I seriously doubt any sort of plastic would be much of a deterrent. Coons and such can just tear chicken wire up so the plastic would probably just make them laugh Hardware cloth is more difficult to work with and would add some weight, but it would make it much, much more secure. You might need to leave a little overhang under the bottom too, or even an apron sort of thing...in case you put it on ground that isn't flat..so that there aren't gaps where a little dip might be.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

PVC is fine in winds (FL here) we have a PVC hoop shade shelter for daytime use. It didn't budge while TS Isaac past by, or during any of our afternoon storms. 1/4" hardware cloth is best for that type of tractor coop. The bow style top will help deflect the winds over it.

 

[mickey328]

That's good to know CelticOaks. And the rounded top would keep the snow (here, not there from accumulating as well.