Which prefab tractor? Money is no object.

[alisonleah]

My daughter received 6 chicks for her birthday. We've got about three weeks until we are going to need to move them outside. I'm thinking a tractor is the ideal way to go. We have plenty of land (12 acres), but LOTS of predators including weasels. I want the very best Fort Knox of chicken tractors. I don't care what it cost. I will pay anything to not have these chicken killed. I've called around to coop builders in my state and they either can't get it done in 3 weeks or don't build tractors, only coops. Does anyone have recommendations for a good tractor I can buy online. I have been looking at this one from ChickenCondos.com, but it doesn't appear to be weasel proof.

 

[Beer can]

My daughter received 6 chicks for her birthday. We've got about three weeks until we are going to need to move them outside. I'm thinking a tractor is the ideal way to go. We have plenty of land (12 acres), but LOTS of predators including weasels. I want the very best Fort Knox of chicken tractors. I don't care what it cost. I will pay anything to not have these chicken killed. I've called around to coop builders in my state and they either can't get it done in 3 weeks or don't build tractors, only coops. Does anyone have recommendations for a good tractor I can buy online. I have been looking at this one from ChickenCondos.com, but it doesn't appear to be weasel proof.

The more room the better if they're going to be confined.
Do you have any of those 'Amish shed' builders near you? They make some pretty nice heavy duty mobile coops, they are $$$ but very well made. The one's near us deliver also.

 

[lena_]

Maybe have a look at this site.
https://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/chicken_keeping/
Not sure how predator proof they are, but they look sturdy enough.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Wow that's a pretty expensive tractor, and unfortunately on the small side for your flock of 6. I know you were asking for prefab, but there's a fella on here who posted a pretty impressive home built tractor. Maybe you could have someone copy it? I know the issue is finding a carpenter but maybe the ones that do coops only could make a similar one if you show it to them.

Here's the link to his tractor: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-flying-fortress-chicken-tractor.1213066/

 

[blackdog043]

I have been looking at this one from ChickenCondos.com, but it doesn't appear to be weasel proof.

No it's not weasel proof and IMO not worth the money they want for it. Says it holds up to 16, maybe 4 at most, the coop is only 4' x 4', it needs a lot more ventilation...
Why do you want a tractor and not a permanent coop?

Also adding your general location to your profile, will help answer questions better.

 

[Beer can]

Wow that's a pretty expensive tractor, and unfortunately on the small side for your flock of 6. I know you were asking for prefab, but there's a fella on here who posted a pretty impressive home built tractor. Maybe you could have someone copy it? I know the issue is finding a carpenter but maybe the ones that do coops only could make a similar one if you show it to them.

Here's the link to his tractor: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-flying-fortress-chicken-tractor.1213066/

That one is pretty overkill , I do like his idea on the fencing flaps around it though to deter digging predators.
I have a different method of dealing with predators, some don't want that option so that laid down fence around sure would stop them. IMHO, would be better than putting a fence underground. A coyote,fox,racoon etc way more likely to dig deeper to get what they want than to dig 4,5 feet away.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Well OP wouldn't have to copy the idea exactly (it's a really massive setup for sure!) but I think squadleader's tractor has a lot of fantastic ideas that could be scaled down or included in a smaller tractor, and it definitely looks as close to "Fort Knox" as I've seen in a tractor.

 

[nminusyplusm]

How flat is your land? Even a slight gap at the bottom could affect the security of your chickens. If your top priority is making sure you have zero loss you might want to reconsider and do a large stationary coop and run.

 

[3riverschick]

Hi ,
if I may make a suggestion. how about getting a coop that will fit the 6 birds (that would be 24 square feet okay ), then put it in the center of a 6 foot high run. so your daughter and you can walk into the Run. okay don't attach the run to the coop set it in center of the run. it's easy to make a run that is weasel proof. much easier than trying to make a coup weasel proof. Plus it's very nice to have run you can stand up in. it's easier to take care of the birds. you don't have to crawl around on the ground trying to catch one. believe me it makes life a lot easier.

 

[3riverschick]

You will need a 60 foot square foot run each bird needs 10 square feet . So that would be a 6 by 10 foot run. okay The Coop will be raised off the ground so you can count the area underneath the coop.
I make my runs using a panel system. I use two by fours. in your case you want to use hardware cloth. make your panels frames 5 ft or 6 ft wide width, 6 ft High. use a horizontal bar halfway up at the 3-foot Mark .then use your 36 inch hardware cloth for the upper half of panel. use 48 inch or 60 inch hardware cloth on the lower part of the panel so that you have the excess sticking out the bottom of the panel and you can go ahead and buried in the ground to keep digging animals from digging underneath the panels. Staple it with heavy Staples . If you are worried an animal will rip off the hardware cloth, use one by twos and nail them down over the edges of the hardware cloth with the three and a half inch coated deck screws.
leave 1 panel open and create a 2 x 4 door to fit inside with hardware cloth. Make sure the door is wide enough for a small wagon to make cleaning easier. For the roof every 3 ft. Lay a 2x4 Cross Beam and put hardware cloth on your roof. Screw all your panels together with three and a half inch coated deck screws. use carriage bolts to screw the side panels into the 4 by 4 uprights at the corners.
This type of run does not need to be set in the ground . I like this because in my Township it means I don't need a building permit because it's a temporary structure . My dog runs made this way have now lasted over 20 years. they are made with 2 by 4 welded wire.
. At the 3/4 height Mark on each vertical post put in a three and a quarter inch coated deck screw . leave about an inch to an inch and a half outstanding from the post.
Buy a tarp from Walmart to fit your roof and some of those bungees with the red ball at each end. Buy a tarp that will give you about a 3in overlap on each side of the roof.
Add some extra grommets to the top if necessary put it over the roof . put the bungees Through The Grommet holes. slip the bungees over the screws. it should be tight enough to hold the tarp securely.
I did my roof this way and it held even in 50 mile an hour winds. the tarp is not ripped in the wind because the bungees have enough to give to keep it intact. the water will sheet off the 3in overlap on the tarp and hopefully not fall in your. This is an easy build and can be done in one or 2 days.
It took an 80 ft. Pine tree to smash this run.
Yes, the birds were fine but the run was toast.
Best,
Karen in western Pennsylvania USA
Oh make sure to add edging boards to the outside perimeter of the part of the door that opens. So it fits tight against the uprights when closed. That way a weasel cannot squeeze between the door and the frame.
Use a barrel bolt to secure the door . through the holehin the bolt,
put one of those clasps that spring loaded . raccoons have a harder time figuring out those spring-loaded clasps.