Questions about building Chicken Tractor

Hi all,

Advice needed and appreciated.

Should I put the 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the bottom of my chicken tractor, or would some fencing that has 2"X4" wire rectangles be ok? It will be in an area that has skunks, possum, snakes, mice and unfortunately I have seen some rats too.

It is for bantam silkie roosters.

Also, to put a roof on it, how do I cut the angle to form the peak? I only have a circular saw. Am I trying to get a 45 degree angle? Maybe I could get a protractor and get the angle?

The sides are put together. It measures 8' by 3 1/2' and is 3' high, covered on the sides with hardware cloth, with a plywood enclosure on the end. Hoping to have a peaked roof of plywood and shingles. I'm just unsure how to do it.

This is my first effort. Am having a wonderful time, and really enjoy my silkies, they are the sweetest, but felt I needed some help from you if possible.

Some day I want a duck. :)

Thank you,

Karen

Hello and Welcome my name is Harmony and i would recomend the hardware cloth and the roof i don't know about that but i will round up the ladies here and we will help all we can

I'm here, but no help.. I don't know much about predators yet.. I do know it's nearly impossible to decide what to do! I'm in the same shape with my coop... Although now I'm a LOT closer since I surfed around and got ideas.

Good luck to ya!

You say chicken tractor, will it be on the ground? Is it just for day time or night also?

If it is on the ground only during the day, I would put the bigger wire on it, so that the poop falls through easily when moved. If they are to be housed in it over night, I would put the smaller wire on it so that it would be predator proof.

I guess I am really confused about the roof. Could you post a few pics, so that we see what you have already?

Hope that helps.

Sheila

I would put bigger wire on the bottom as well, if it was only for day time. They like to scratch.

Thanks for responding yall i hope we can help this newbie.

Thanks so much.

Here is a picture I got from the web that I am trying to copy, or use for an example at least. I hope it's ok if I post it.

It's the boards going up for the roof I am in a bit of confusion about. I think there is some hardware at the store that can be used to hold them up, or maybe they just nail to the frame. Perhaps I just need some hardware to hold two pieces at a right angle for the peak too?

As far as the wire on the bottom, these roosters will be in this tractor most of the time, at least for now. I sure wish there was an automatic door closer, with a timer. Wouldn't that be neat? The chickens here at my house go in their little cage every night as the sun goes down, as I guess most chickens do.

These roosters will be out of town in a horse lot, with my donkey. I'm hoping it will be light enough to move around to get new grass and seed and bugs. That's why I was considering the larger wire for the bottom. Yes, it will be on the ground. It should have enough weight to hold it down. If it is built securely, the only danger might be something small digging under. I don't think rats and mice are dangers to bantam roosters are they? I've read that chickens kill mice. I don't know about rats. I need to work on killing those rats. There's an old storage building they have taken over. I read that peanut butter with baking soda works, but it sounded sort of cruel, so I haven't tried it.

Also, I'd like some little wheels that can be raised and lowered. Any idea where to get those?

Karen

I said the hardware cloth earlier but now that i know it will be on the ground i would go with the larger wire. I don't know about the roof not familiar with building a peak but I'm sure someone else can help you.

You can get those metal braces for attaching boards at angles at Lowe's etc. I do think rats could be a danger. Have you seen Melissa's automatic door prototype? Sounds just like what you need.

This is the picture of the finished product I found online.

Mine won't be exactly like this one. I am no carpenter. lol My doors will be at both ends, instead of at the side.

Karen

Another picture.

This has turned out to be much more difficult than I imagined. It takes a lot of time, at least for me, to figure out what I am doing. The hardware and lumber cost way more than I thought too.

I'm trying to make three of them. One for my chickens here at my house, that will be let out every day to free range. I want my roosters to be comfortable. So far nine have crowed and had to be moved.

Karen

Here is the link for Melissa's automatic door:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/877428/

What a pretty little tractor I'm sure your chickens will be quite happy if you build that.

It looks like the hilton hotel for chickens "FANCY" LOL

Karen,
In the picture, it looks like the builders cut their edges at a 45* angle and leaving the length of each board long... hopefully used 45* angle brackets to secure each 'peak'. Then you would set each of these peaked pieces on the wall frames and make sure the peak is in the center point of the structure.
It appears that they notched the roof beams so that they sit on top of the wall beams. I would notch the roof pieces, slip the notches over the wall beam and then secure it with another bracket. (maybe straight bracket?)


Also, word of caution .... use screws! lol! i learned the hard way that hammer and nails doesnt stay together :( of course DH could have TOLD me that before I threw my hammer muscle out !! UGH!

good luck! and let me know if that didnt make sense! lol! I only got 3 hrs sleep last night! ugh!

Karen.... are you using the plywood wood siding? you may be able to do the project cheaper by just using sheets of plywood.

also, for the critter problem...what about using chicken wire for the bottom of the enclosure 1" or 2" and then putting a hardware cloth perimeter on the exterior....going 2 feet out and attached to the bottom of the pen? so your roosters could still scratch...but predators would need to tunnel down and 2 feet in in order to get in...and then they would still come up against the chicken wire....

Should I remove these pictures? They aren't mine, I saw them on the internet and snagged them to study. I don't want to break any of the rules here. I tried to find the site I got them from, to give you a link. but I couldn't find it

Thanks for all your help. It is appreciated. Yes, those grooves are called bird's mouths I think, or something like that. I could do those with a jigsaw? See how much trouble this all is. :) Oh man, am I learning something new? You better believe it.

Karen

When you said Tractor.. I automatically thought of PVC pipe and the one I built... It's not permanent by any means.. but very handy!

I am running into the same problem with my coop building.. I wish I would have just bought plans and got the materials as I could afford them... This trying to make due is driving me insane! AND the weather is too hot to get anything done today..

So.. your not alone.. it's a pain..
This too will pass.. :)

Here's a site that tells how to make the birds mouth. This is not easy for me to figure out. Here it is if somebody else finds themselves in this predicament.

http://ca.geocities.com/web_sketches/hip_valley_dimensioning/common_rafter_hap.html

Greetings Light_for_Jesus!

Such a pleasure to see you back around these parts! You are doing a fine job with your chooks and the tractors. Too bad you can't get some physical help there with some of the miter cuts, but it will all go more smoothly the second and third time around.

Meanwhile, since you mentioned the BANTAM silkie roosters, CF would much prefer you use the hardware cloth on the bottom of the pen. Predators can reach through at night and dismember your fowl, plus their little toes could get caught through the 2x4 in the daytime.

And don't forget, everyone needs a duck! Someone near you may have some hatch out in a few weeks. So keep your eyes and ears open, and the Chicken Fairy will bring you a duck.

Is there anything else CF can bring you?
******************************CFLOVESKAREN********************************
CF

Light_for_Jesus,
Best of luck with the chicken tractor. It sure looks like a nice one! When you are all finished, you'll have to post a picture of it on the "Tour de Coop" thread for all to oooo and aaa over!

About the miter cuts, if you can get someone to cut them for you (have you checked with a local hardware store or a neighbor?) you could probably work something out with the roof being flat. I'm assuming your not going to get a lot of snow where you're at? Or you could put the two rafter boards (with flat edges) so that they meet eachother's sides.

Then use those braces that Cat suggests.

*Note* I'm not a builder and have no idea what I'm talking about really, I just thought of that and thought it might be a nice way to get around worrying about those cuts.

We did our first tractor after looking at pictures on the internet. There are things we would do different knowing what we know.

This is our first one. We used 2x12s for the bottom runners which were overkill. They made the unit heavy. We use the lawn tractor (riding mower) or my Suburban to move it.

Almost everything we used was salvaged from scraps/other projects around the house. We bought the lumber for the frame and the chicken wire.

The wheels are not attached in these photos. Hubby bought wheels at Tractor Supply that were kind of like push mower wheels. They did not hold up. He said he would replace those with the bigger wheels like the ones they sell for the garden carts. They are not retractable but only keep the unit about 1.5" off the ground.

We did not put any type of metal on the pen floor. When ever the chickens or dogs dig around the exterior wood, we move the coop. Our birds also go in the coop when it's dark and we shut them in and let them out in the morning. We have had no loss to predators. The only time we did lose any to predators, two of the small silkie girls sneaked under the lumber and got left out because they were hiding. ;(

The last picture you posted, looks like it would be pretty heavy. I also recommend using plywood where you can. It costs less and it's lighter. Our coop is OSB painted with exterior paint. After a year, it's still in great shape. You can see the roof is also shingled.

Will you have an attached yard or let them run free during the day?

We also have 3 smaller, similar coops that house 3 silkie sized birds or up to 5 silkie chicks for a time. Those are much easier to build and my husband can whip them out in a few hours. LOL

Is this a kid tractor or a chicken tractor? hehe I love it!

Most make jokes about my chicks. LOL It really is "for the birds". The kids loved sitting in there when the chickens were babies. Now we have to keep an eye on the Buff Roo. He's a monster.

I should have gotten a pic of my son in our tractor! He is 6'2" and looked like a pretzel.. LOL Sitting there with the 3 black roos.. it was priceless!

Love the pics!

You did a great job with that Badseed. You have a beautiful family. I really admire the planning and understand better now the cost of these materials, and effort it takes to do something like this.

At the hardware store they said the cost of lumber and everything made of metal has gone up. I have spent well over $25 on screws alone, most of which I can't use. My first misunderstanding was the size of screws to buy. I found it difficult to find the short ones that won't go through the wood on the other side. Then, the ones I found were 8 cents a piece. That may not sound like much, but imagine this, I paid $8.00 for 100 screws. Am I being petty? It seems totally ridiculous to me. I am using large washers under the screws to hold the hardware cloth to the wood. They are 12 cents each. It all adds up, and I'm not even finished yet.

The price of plywood has gone from $15 a sheet here to $25 in the last six months. I am using the 1X4's to make it lighter, since I will be trying to move them around myself. I wanted the roof to protect them from snow and rain and sun, mostly the sun. I bought the thinnest piece of plywood I could for the roof, or I could use the 1X4's I just don't know yet. I sure need to have these finished before it gets cold.

All in all, I really am enjoyed this project, and may make other pens later on. I would love to clean up my horse lot, tear down some old sheds and put up a nice fence all around, but these are future dreams. For me, it's one day at a time, and do the best I can.

I probably should have listened to GrannyGoody and just bought the five pullets, but I do love my silkies. About half of them are comfortable enough with me to jump up in my lap. I love to watch them walk across the yard and peck and scratch around, or catch a bug. It has a calming affect on me, which I need. I have little idea what I am actually doing with chickens and roosters. My first intent was for eggs, in case times get worse. However, the cost of chicken feed has exceeded what I normally spend at the store for eggs. So far, the hens have not laid any eggs anyway. I don't even know if I will like eating silkie eggs. lol Still, I would not change my decision. These silkies are my babies. I just want to take good care of them.

The wood rot paint issue is another thing I am struggling with. I would like to use something natural on them. Some people put bricks under theirs to keep them up off the ground. I was thinking there might be other alternatives, but I'm not sure what. Possibly some kind of material could be placed on the wood that touches the ground. I don't know. Might sound silly, but I was thinking, possibly pieces of old tires. :)

Anyway, this is fun and I'm having a good time, but it's certainly not as easy as I thought.

Karen

Light_for_Jesus,
I have read where folks have cut down old treated lumber for the bottoms of their chicken huts. Also, a staple gune using long staples does well for attaching the hardware cloth.
Best Wishes,
*******************************************************************************
CF

Karen if this tractor is going to sit on the ground there is no point in using the bigger wire since the poop isn't going anywhere. it's going to stay right there with the chickens. Also bigger openings will let some predators get in (like the rats!) Snakes can manage the smallest of openings so I can't imagine a wire that will keep them out unless it's a fine mesh. If I remember right your chickens will be way out in the middle of nowhere by themselves some of the time? That means that hungry predators will have time to figure out ways to get at them. Like rolling the tractor onto it's side so they can get to the weaker bottom or digging under. Rats can easily dig from below. I'd go with the smaller openings to give them a better chance to survive intruders. Some predators can reach through wire openings to grab feet, heads, etc. Those smaller predators are as deadly as larger ones and won't be seen or noticed by your donkey.

Don't forget a padlock to keep out any hungry two legged trespassers.
I'm assuming a solid roof here to give them shade?

Just my two cents worth.

MollyD

Thanks Molly,

Won't be on my land in Wheeler County, the middle of nowhere, but right on the edge of town where I live. It's one fifth of an acre they used for agricultural animals from about the 1940s. They call it Horse Alley, it was originally intended to give people moving into town from the farms, a place to have animals. About half the lots there now are just full of old cars and junk. A few people have recently bought lots and are making them into really nice places for animals again. I hope I can eventually improve this one too.

I go out and check on the roosters, donkey and dog every night, unless I am sick.

There are a lot of problems in that area. including the 2 legged creatures you speak of. There is one skunk, a four legged kind, that lives around there and I see him frequently. He doesn't seem to be too afraid of me. Opossum are also there, as my dogs used to kill the baby ones. They have the prettiest little paws, almost like human hands, and so soft. Maybe that's how they can grab through the wire, with those little "hands". So yes, I can see the wisdom of the hardware cloth.

The good news is, the lot is fenced. The fence is old wire, but seems to be holding up ok, so hopefully no coyotes can get in. There are also fox around here, but I've never seen one in that particular vicinity. I don't think they are native to this land, people seem to think they came in on the train. :)) Seriously they live around the old train depot. I often see them in town. Once I saw one with half a rabbit in his mouth, close to our main street.

I know you are experienced and knowledgeable about these things. That's why I was asking here. The donkey turned my not-yet-finished chicken tractor over yesterday. He's a real curious fellow. I may need to fence off am area, so he can't even get to them at all.

First, I put the roosters out in two wire rabbit hutches in one of the sheds, on the ground, giving myself time to make the tractors. I didn't think there would be a problem. However, the dog and donkey both were moving the cages around. I'm not sure what was going on, all I know, is the hutches would sometimes be eight feet from where I had left it. The roosters fortunately, unharmed. At 14 years old, I don't think the dog could be trained not to bother them. He probably won't live very long anyway. He can barely walk his arthritis is so bad, but I have seen him attack the donkey. He bit him on the side and was hanging on while the donkey was bucking and running. So the old guy has some fight left in him. Right now he is on a chain because of it, but he sleeps most of the time anyway. I often think I should have him put down.

The roosters can't stay here in town crowing and disturbing people, so they have to go out there, and maybe eventually I can make it a really nice place for them. I have my hopes.

Thanks again for your help.

Hi Karen,

That sounds a bit better. Can you afford an electric fence? They make solar batteries for those things now so no wires to run. Check out http://www.electric-horse-fence.com/electric_fence_chargers/solar_powered.htm

Something like this would give your chickens some extra protection and keep the donkey and dog away from their cage. I would still keep them in the tractor (Hawks and eagles are another source of danger!) but put post around them about 10' from the tractor in a circle or square. Then run electric wire at multiple levels starting about 1" above the ground (clear any vegetation with RoundUp cause grass etc touching the wire will short the fence out) . Make multiple levels at about 1 ft increments up to about 4ft high. That should discourage most of the 4 legged varmints. Using solar makes this fairly easy to accomplish.

MollyD