Post by: hrd2fnd on April 05, 2014, 07:51:09 PM
I'm thinking about 10 chickens with sliding trays for retrieval of eggs, already have hundreds of yards of nylon netting yards to cover.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on April 05, 2014, 08:06:10 PM
I'm in the investigation stages of what it will take to build my chicken tractor next year. Would love to see what others have built and what things you would do differently the next time.
I'm thinking about 10 chickens with sliding trays for retrieval of eggs, already have hundreds of yards of nylon netting yards to cover.
What happens when the hen is still in the nest? :dunno: slow tray removal and she moves.
I do like your thinking. :tup:
Post by: 3nails on April 05, 2014, 08:19:58 PM
Post by: hrd2fnd on April 05, 2014, 08:28:56 PM
Post by: huntandjeep on April 06, 2014, 08:44:30 AM
Post by: rasbo on April 06, 2014, 09:39:52 AM
Dumb question but what is a chicken tractor ?here is one,,,
Post by: montana44mag on April 06, 2014, 09:54:11 AM
I bet an A-frame or hoophouse made of PVC and covered in hardware cloth would be pretty cheep and efficient.
Post by: runamuk on April 06, 2014, 10:00:24 AM
Post by: hrd2fnd on April 06, 2014, 10:26:50 AM
I'm imaging using the crap load of netting i have left over from a batting cage. Thinking of making it drape down to to ground when stationary, when time to move hook up the lawn tractor pull up the net drapes and move.
Post by: Jonathan_S on April 06, 2014, 10:31:29 AM
It's a neat little idea if it works. I probably couldn't make one big enough for 33 hens :yike:
Post by: hrd2fnd on April 06, 2014, 11:03:59 AM
Post by: 3nails on April 06, 2014, 11:28:24 AM
Post by: montana44mag on April 06, 2014, 11:52:08 AM
One of the main reason I'm not going with the hoop or a-frame is due to my disability with not being able to bend down to get to the eggs. So yes you can say they are less expensive which would be true, just not practical for me.
heres a design that is an A frame where the coop is at the top, no bending down to get eggs. :)
Post by: hrd2fnd on April 06, 2014, 11:53:18 AM
Post by: montana44mag on April 06, 2014, 12:00:12 PM
May I ask what is the purpose of blocking off the access underneath it? Was there any thought given to cleaning out access? Not trying to not pick, just curious is all. Thanks for sharingnot sure Im quite following you, there are doors for access, I just like the A frame because its less wood and material for the same floor space. Heres another design.
Post by: hrd2fnd on April 06, 2014, 12:19:25 PM
my post was not to the a-frames. Those a-frames are a thought, by chance do you have a pic of the insides? How many chickens call it home?May I ask what is the purpose of blocking off the access underneath it? Was there any thought given to cleaning out access? Not trying to not pick, just curious is all. Thanks for sharingnot sure Im quite following you, there are doors for access, I just like the A frame because its less wood and material for the same floor space. Heres another design.
Post by: 3nails on April 06, 2014, 12:35:49 PM
May I ask what is the purpose of blocking off the access underneath it? Was there any thought given to cleaning out access? Not trying to not pick, just curious is all. Thanks for sharingIf you are referring to the coop I posted there is a trap door that gives the chickens access. It's been my experience that putting a lot of time and effort into making it mobile is unnecessary. It's nice to have a small run for them that is caged but most people end up letting them free range the majority of the time. Hardly anyone moves them around on a consistant enough basis to keep them from destroying the sod they are on, so instead of ruining the whole yard they just leave them in one spot and let them out.
Post by: Craig on April 06, 2014, 12:41:38 PM
3 black stars
2 Plymouth rocks
1 Americana
Compact rock and gravel with lots of chicken wire secured with bricks
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv411%2Ftruck1%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2Fimage_zps3086b911.jpg&hash=69471826f454c698878cc76a153ba574673b1909) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/truck1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps3086b911.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv411%2Ftruck1%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2Fimage_zpsaa12bd51.jpg&hash=7f03e20c13d0e8730428ff7821f64f0a48d292af) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/truck1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsaa12bd51.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv411%2Ftruck1%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2Fimage_zps62315ef2.jpg&hash=ee738cc7db6f8c905f1fa85c6b1ad7d0286d156b) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/truck1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps62315ef2.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv411%2Ftruck1%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2Fimage_zpsbb0cf436.jpg&hash=46a24cbbf71fb34cbad3858f3516fbd2ac97a3f4) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/truck1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsbb0cf436.jpg.html)
Making a outside additional run for when we are around.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv411%2Ftruck1%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2Fimage_zps92497efa.jpg&hash=f964a211627ec571bff84e328a4cffef01563736) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/truck1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps92497efa.jpg.html)
Post by: 3nails on April 06, 2014, 12:45:25 PM
Post by: hrd2fnd on April 06, 2014, 12:49:06 PM
. Point well taken. I can see this being the case and am giving thought around both types for both my turkeys i have currently in a 16x16 converted dog kennel that's a little closer to the house then we like.May I ask what is the purpose of blocking off the access underneath it? Was there any thought given to cleaning out access? Not trying to not pick, just curious is all. Thanks for sharingIf you are referring to the coop I posted there is a trap door that gives the chickens access. It's been my experience that putting a lot of time and effort into making it mobile is unnecessary. It's nice to have a small run for them that is caged but most people end up letting them free range the majority of the time. Hardly anyone moves them around on a consistant enough basis to keep them from destroying the sod they are on, so instead of ruining the whole yard they just leave them in one spot and let them out.
Post by: 3nails on April 06, 2014, 12:50:41 PM
Post by: montana44mag on April 06, 2014, 12:56:44 PM
Moveable coops are nice, but yes you do need to move them often and the bigger the better so they dont tear it up so quick, ideally youd have atleast 8 square foot of floor per chicken, but you can go as low as 5 or 6 feet, but youd want to move it everyday, and of course dont do this on your pretty manicured lawn if you want it to stay looking that way, chickens are miniature dinosaurs and they can tear stuff up looking for bugs. A semi-wild yard is better anyway for them with a diverse selection of "weeds" and bugs, they like the dandelions more than the grass!
three nails: technically thats a coop and not a tractor, but it looks like it gets the job done, youre cleanup might be easier if the floor inside was made of wire mesh, and the nest boxes were plastic buckets, then you could just hit the inside with a pressure washer?
Post by: montana44mag on April 06, 2014, 01:19:39 PM
Post by: hrd2fnd on April 06, 2014, 01:20:58 PM
:tup: nice coop craig, I like it.couldn't agree more. Having the acreage that I do, and not being able to maintain it the way I had hoped before I physically got worst. I figured what better way to maintain it then to use our natural resources. Not only do they help keep nature from taking back my land, I can also become more self-efficient with the fruits of nature.
Moveable coops are nice, but yes you do need to move them often and the bigger the better so they dont tear it up so quick, ideally youd have atleast 8 square foot of floor per chicken, but you can go as low as 5 or 6 feet, but youd want to move it everyday, and of course dont do this on your pretty manicured lawn if you want it to stay looking that way, chickens are miniature dinosaurs and they can tear stuff up looking for bugs. A semi-wild yard is better anyway for them with a diverse selection of "weeds" and bugs, they like the dandelions more than the grass!
So far the goats are keeping 1 acre cleared, while I expand that out to 2 this spring eventually a total of 4 fenced for a cow or 2.
Post by: montana44mag on April 06, 2014, 01:33:25 PM
Post by: hrd2fnd on April 06, 2014, 01:37:33 PM
If you got a bad back maybe 2 tractors, each 4 foot by 8 foot would be a good plan? Unless youre hooking up a tractor or quad to it I dont think youll want to move anything bigger by hand.by hand is out of the question, I would move either with the lawn tractor.
Post by: montana44mag on April 06, 2014, 01:46:21 PM
Post by: hrd2fnd on April 06, 2014, 01:53:47 PM
good call! :tup: well that opens up alot more options! lots of free pallets out there if youre looking for free wood!get out of my head there's barely enough room for me :chuckle:
Post by: 3nails on May 28, 2014, 07:38:58 PM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on May 28, 2014, 07:52:14 PM
Post by: hrd2fnd on May 28, 2014, 08:07:17 PM
Turkeys same, but separated by 10' of walkway between.
Post by: Buckmark on March 15, 2019, 11:43:19 AM
The snow finally melted away enough i could get this project going, i still have to get the wire on, some more trim and add the runners which will have a length of trex on the bottom to help it slide and keep the runner from direct ground contact, then repaint it as we decided after the fact that red is not our thing, going to paint it to match my house.
Post up your tractor or coop
Post by: Angry Perch on March 15, 2019, 11:53:11 AM
Post by: jennabug on March 31, 2019, 12:18:55 PM
Post by: Buckmark on May 28, 2019, 11:50:16 AM
Post by: jackelope on May 28, 2019, 02:34:08 PM
Well got it 99% done, wife decided she likes the red so i have some trim to finish painting and i will be done, got it all livable and the girls seem to be happy. Now if they can just start laying :tup:
@Woodchuck You should subcontract Buckmark for your chicken coop construction.
Post by: Woodchuck on May 28, 2019, 02:46:44 PM
:yike: That is a fancy lookin sum gun.Well got it 99% done, wife decided she likes the red so i have some trim to finish painting and i will be done, got it all livable and the girls seem to be happy. Now if they can just start laying :tup:
@Woodchuck You should subcontract Buckmark for your chicken coop construction.
Post by: PolarBear on May 28, 2019, 04:05:46 PM
Post by: Buckmark on September 03, 2019, 12:06:00 PM
Bonus was i got paid to paint it, sorta, went to Lowes to look for some cheap returned paint, found this gallon of exterior for 9 bucks, went to pay for it and got a rebate form for $15 bucks....Free paint and made 5 bucks :IBCOOL:
Post by: jennabug on September 04, 2019, 07:58:49 PM
Post by: Birdguy on September 04, 2019, 08:49:37 PM
Post by: Machias on September 06, 2019, 10:36:45 AM
Post by: RockCreek on September 06, 2019, 01:00:35 PM
Post by: Machias on July 06, 2020, 09:23:56 AM
Post by: Machias on July 07, 2020, 09:56:48 AM
Post by: Machias on August 09, 2020, 10:14:19 AM