How We Made A Mobile Chicken Coop AKA Chicken Tractor
We finished up this 8 foot by 4 foot by 2.5 foot tall chicken tractor today. I made it four foot wide because most of our garden beds are 4 ft wide. So when I need to turn over a Garden bed I can put some chickens over it, in the chicken tractor, and have them do it for me. Not only will they till the ground and fertilize it with their manure we will not have to feed them as much because they are eating what was left in the garden bed.
Materials Used
- 7, two by fours, 8 foot long
- 3, two by one's, 8 foot long
- 3 pices of 8 foot long tinted corrugated polycarbonate
- Wood screws for corrugated polycarbonate
- Two and a half inch wood screws
- Chicken wire three foot tall
- Heavy duty Staples
- Two hinges
- One latch
- One L screw
Tools Used
- Drill
- Hammer
- Staple gun
- Sharp blade or scissors
- Circular saw
- Tape measure and pencil
Let me show you how we did it!
First we made the bottom frame by cutting one of the 8 foot long 2 by 4's in half, with the circular saw, and fastening them together at the corners with the 2.5 inch wood screws
We made the top part of the frame the same way as the bottom.
Next we cut the vertical pieces and fasten them to the inside of one of the frams with 2.5 inch wood screws.
Then we put the top frame on with the 2.5 inch wood screws. Now you have your basic frame for your chicken tractor!
The Next Step I took was adding a cross piece, with the 1 by 2, for the corrugated plastic to attach to. Then started adding chicken roosts on the inside with the 1 by 2. I cut one of the eight foot pieces of corrugated plastic and half to make the roof and attached it with the wood screws that were made for corrugated plastic.
After getting the second Roost in there and cutting another 8 foot piece of corrugated plastic in half for the back sides. I was able to wrap the front in chicken wire. We attached the chicken wire with staple guns. The hammer was used for a few of the Staples to get them in. You will need to put a vertical piece of 1 by 2 to attach the corrugated plastic to.
I made the door by making a simple frame and attaching a piece of corrugated plastic to it. I did use a piece of scrap wood down the middle to attach the hinges.
Attach the latch at the bottom of the door. The thought behind putting it at the bottom was that if a predator tried to pry it open they would be more likely to be pulling at the bottom and the latch down there would give it more strength.
At the top of the door frame we attached and L screw that can be turned back and forth when opening the door. This will help keep the door flush and any Predators out also...... It is the gold metal piece in the middle of this picture.
After cutting one more piece of corrugated plastic and attaching it to the right of the door she's all ready for chickens.
THANK YOU FOR POPPING BY!!
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Community Forums
Nice chicken tractor! I especially love that you made it fit your garden beds. Matt made a chicken tractor one year but used recycled materials so it ended up being rather heavy. He had wheels on one side that would pop down and handles on the other to help drag it to the next location. How are you moving your tractor? -Aimee
I have done something similar using recycled materials and it was way too heavy as well. I've also made them out of PVC which were to light. So with those two instances in mind I the weight of the tractor was definitely something I had in mind. This one is light enough to grab the front and drag along. But not so light that the winds going to blow it away.
Interesting, especially about the PVC. Experimentation gives us so much knowledge, doesn't it! -Aimee
That it does Aimee. I learn more messing up then any other method . lol😆
big cage, incredible and appreciating work keep it up have a good day friend
Thank you @moeenali!! 👍
wecome friend
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