DIY How to Build a CHEAP Chicken Tractor

[BillynBertie]

Didn't mean to criticise your tractor which is a work of art compared to the ugly structures we use! (I'm not a great craftsman with such DIY! ) In general I think it's a great principle to clear ground and I must get round to constructing something with wheels at one end this summer.

[london1817]

@BillynBertie Oh ...I didn't take it that way my friend! good point you made....I like my Whyanndote coop

that doesn't move...I just open it every day and they can pick thru whatever they want ...I think that is healthy

for chickens to get thier own way of exercise and brousing time.

[BillynBertie]

Far too expensive and elaborate a 'chicken tractor'. for simply fattening up chickens for the pot, you don't need coops or covers, merely some plastic over the end to give cover from the rain. The heavier the thing is, the less likely you are to move it. Something with wheels is always better so one person can move it easily.

the other problem is that chickens leave alone the most obnoxious and difficult to remove weeds like docks. Anyone can pull out a bit of grass.

[london1817]

@BillynBertie Well...I built it from recycled wood and crap laying around...I think it you are right though. I built it to be pleasing to my eyes. It is kinda hard to mve...I like the flat roof kind....so you can put a 5-gallon

waterer on it.

[itsumonihon]

@london1817 cool design. i figure you could probably just find an old kid's wagon or a wheelbarrow and take the axle off of it and use it for wheels. since you built a handle on one end already you'd only need a single axle to move the tractor around like a wheelbarrow. probably not even 15 minutes to make the adjustment to what you've already built.

[counterman4]

whats up with the truck in the back round.....

[london1817]

@counterman4 oh thats my brother in laws jeep comando...he parked it there....

[london1817]

@london1817 forever

[lookin4space]

My parents had such a hard time with stray dogs at their place that my dad set foot traps around the outside of the coop and shot whatever predator they caught, dog or otherwise. While I was in the Army he claimed he killed over 12 stray dogs caught trying to get in. I asked him how he got away with the neighbors getting mad, he just said, "The 3 S's, shoot, shovel, shut-up."

[london1817]

@lookin4space Your dad is a very smart man. You can only imagine all the animals I have shot

out here over the years. I don't even count stray dogs. My chicken farmer neigbor claims to have shot

over 35 dogs! Thats a ton of dirt digging holes!

[KMKMaven]

I've had stray dogs rip through poultry netting and hail screen/hardware cloth when we kept chickens in town. Out on the farm now, and we have coons and bobcats to contend with. I use poultry netting over welded goat fence (2" openings) now, and no more losses.

[london1817]

@KMKMaven Yeah I hate it when you come home & see something not right & go up to see the

horror ...breaks my heart! my biggest thing here is stray dogs mostly & hawks...I can barly let mine out to free

range. the hawks swoop down & fly off with them.

[spiritartman]

can you send me a link to your "updated" video - I can not find it??!

[london1817]

@spiritartman just go to my videos & type "updated chicken tractor" it will pop up. It shows the inside.

[KayakFisher01]

@spiritartman The name of the video is "chicken tractor UPDATE" user/london1817#p/search/11/uU­cSrfNhDBM ...... Put the youtube stuff in front of that link.

Rick put tin on the sides and it doesn't look like the same tractor in the video.

[spiritartman]

Why did you use "Hex" fencing or Poultry fencing and not say - " hardware cloth" fencing? Curious - also, what kind of "flooring" is it. Is it "Small Animal Fence" or Field Fence or Welded Wire Fence? And where did you get it as well as Dimensions. We are starting this project in 2 weeks using yours as a model of sorts. Just going to have a larger coop area and detachable "run" area option.

[london1817]

@spiritartman I used crappy poultry fencing. I would rather use hard ware cloth on any coop.

YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT MY UPDATED VIDEO ON THE MISTAKES AND IMPROVMENTS I MADE.

[spiritartman]

Where's your updated Vid? Thanks.

[spiritartman]

Do the chickens stay in there all winter? I'm in NY State "Long Island" I'm going to have 5 chickens. Do you have plans? My friend is going to build a similar one maybe a bit bigger "Coop" area. Do they need their own individual nesting area?" Where did you get the heating lamps?

[london1817]

@spiritartman Tractor supply sells heat lamps the cheapest...8 us dollars. My chickens are fine iin there all winter...just the hens need 1 nest to lay eggs. you need a roost in there where they all fit together....that is how they stay warm. YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT MY UPDATED VIDEO OF THIS TRACTOR FOR THE MISTAKES I MADE BEFORE YOU BUILD IT.

[rouncole1]

pretty good!

[london1817]

@rouncole1 Thanks! i still have it & it works really well.

[joe18370]

thanks anyway rick how is the wind generator and solar panels working any new upgrades coming.

[london1817]

@joe18370 Not too many upgrades just still using it everyday & the lights are on right now!

[joe18370]

rick nice coop hey i like that old bronco you have there what are going to do with it.

[london1817]

@joe18370 That pile is a Jeep comando. I would give it to you for nothing but it is my brother in laws. he thinks it is great but it needs wayyyy to much work.

[EMITRAY]

esco is great.....and growing. i wanna build a chicken tractor for my lil mona...one lone star chicken. she's in the house right now.....i made her chicken diapers.check out my video....so i want her to enjoy the outdoors too.......its been cold here but i am sure it can get real cold there too........keep the videos up there great....

[london1817]

@EMITRAY A chicken would never get cold in Cali. Chickens out here withstand below zero. Not mine though. I have 4- 250 watt heat lamps going non stop right now in a closed coop.

water heaters are a must here.

You should get Mona a chicken to hang with but not a rooster.

[EMITRAY]

no way!! i live in escondido.....too. off of citracado pkwy!! what a trip.....cool

[london1817]

@EMITRAY Wow! it is a small world! I lived on Tulip street. That is soo cool! How is Esco these days?

[EMITRAY]

I have a lil design i found...light weight. iam from california, san diego. so hopefully nothing will blow away........

[london1817]

@EMITRAY Thats awesome! I grew up in Escondido. I lived right next to westside park. near the police dept. I live in NC now. way out in the country. I miss it out there. not much to do here but hobbies.

[EMITRAY]

awsome......i am going to be building mine soon.........

[london1817]

@EMITRAY Don't build one like this. I like the looks of this design but if it rains and the wind

blows they get wet & sick . Build one with a flat roof on an angle.

[wdgandy]

I don't know if I watch his videos because they're interesting and informative- and entertaining- or because he's such a cutie!

[london1817]

@wdgandy Well thank you kindly! That's the nicest thing anybody has ever said to me! i don't feel like such a hill billy now. Haha!

[DreamSeekerOne]

I was thinking of getting into the chiken biz (just for my family) and all that I had seen made coops sounds so hard to build, but you have done a great job with bacicaly trash! I think I can do this.

[london1817]

@DreamSeekerOne Oh man, This thing I built..I wish you could see it

in person. I Made it out of a couple pallets. Just make the triangle ends & just

guess on the angles man don't get technical. You can make it happen. Don't wait til spring. Do it tomorrow! You can do it!

[fckuvrymch]

ur badass brother.

[london1817]

@fckuvrymch Well thank you sister.

[94DOOSE94]

awwwww man you think you could put up a video of showing up how to make that please i really want one of those for my beautiful hens, thumbs up !!!!!!!

[london1817]

@94DOOSE94 I don't have any footage of the build. It wasn't all that. I just made 2 triangle pieces then built around it. If I can do it YOU can do it. Up close mine looks kinda crappy but they never complain:)

[imglashaus1]

So cool, i like it. We want to have chickens in the next year - thx for this goog idea!!

[london1817]

@imglashaus1 I like having them around. great hobbie to have.

[lvickers73]

Ohhhhhhhh How smart..Im gonna make my husband Rich make opne of those boxes to get the eggs out...hahaha No more chicken poop on the kids shoes...I make the kids get the eggs...granted they arent laying now..We were recently given the chickens..so no clue about how Chickens Lay

[snoebelt1]

i came from a farm and my dad had these things, maybe bigger. Your a cool cat and have good videos. Keep them coming.

[london1817]

@snoebelt1 Thanks for the comment! I am working on some more video's. Stay tuned!

[besamemucho5]

@snoebelt1 you are right..he is a "cool cat" but man that is got to be alot of work, first he has to incubate them, then he has to wacth them grow, build a cage feed them, if he wants to get eggs he has to wait for them, if he wants to eat them, well that is a whole set of problems, there is feelings involved, you can't just twist their necks, i just buy my chickens allready cooked froms sam's for $4,99 they are so big they look like turkeys, the eggs i get 36 for $3.88, no feelngs involved

[london1817]

@besamemucho5 I know but I do it for the hobbie really. I enjoy having chickens. & my eggs are better than anywhere. haha!

[besamemucho5]

@london1817 actually i was just talking ....i was comparing apples with oranges...you know how "talk is cheap"....i was looking around and i have to say you got the best chicken tractor and i say best because of its functionality...simple and yet very strong because of its triangle design ...where i live we have very strict zoning laws and we are not allowed to have certain animals...dogs.cats. and so on but that is it...i am glad you are enjoying your way of life ...



[london1817]

@besamemucho5 Oh that was nice of you! Thanks. I try to have great chicken housing!

[Brian080982]

Chicken Tractor!!! What a GREAT idea! I like that your recycling stuff into useful items! You inspire me. Thanks!

[london1817]

@Brian080982 Thanks for saying that! I like to try to build everything I can

out of pallets....They are useful I think. Sometimes I find oak ones.

[iwantosavemoney]

this is a really nice chicken tractor i like the idea of the nest in the back with the door for getting the eggs. 5 stars i wish thay would bring back the rating system

the cheap guy

[london1817]

@iwantosavemoney Thanks I love this design....kinda too small. would be better shorter and wider, longer...for meat birds.

[sydneyheremaia]

awsome bro, Im gonna try make one this weekend from the materials of an old aviary I have. Thanks for the ideas

[london1817]

@sydneyheremaia That sounds great!! I wish I built mine shorter and wider. To have more birds in there to free range & eat grass'  Thanks for the comment!!!!

[jose99329]

whats a Chicken Tractor for

[london1817]

@jose99329 It is a coop with wheels made so you can have free range birds eating new grass all the time but protected from dogs / preditors.

[BongoExpress]

here mate you shid try daen a few cover versions of johnny cash songs!!!

[london1817]

@BongoExpress do you think I should sing them? Thanks mate !

[BongoExpress]

@london1817 to rite mate, voice wid suit it perfect

[london1817]

@BongoExpress I play guitar...maybe I should learn some Jonny cash. What do you think his best song was?

[thepeach12345]

I need one of these for my cock fighting cage fighting arenas.

[london1817]

@thepeach12345 I got a spare one you can have...Its not as nice but it makes them even more meaner if you keep them in a tiny cage & feed them gun powder.

[thepeach12345]

@london1817 lmfao you made my whole night. :)

[putointaft]

I do not believe in God,but God bless you.Thank you

[london1817]

@putointaft I believe in God... and thank you kindly for the comment!

[hollysangel1]

How much did that cost to build?

[london1817]

@hollysangel1 I had the 2x4's already . the most expensive part is the chicken wire. Altogether maybe you would have to spend around $50us.......now..if you used your creativeness you could build one for free I would bet out of pallets and fencing or something !! Go for it....you live once.

[hchoshawn]

Thanx for the informational video; thanx also for the view of the bottom~ guess littler vermin CAN just tip the thing up for a fresh KFC Meal- but not if it is wired on bottom as well. .

[london1817]

@hchoshawn Yes, they dig right in and get them.

[kyleneanne]

Great idea. Thanks for sharing!

[Carbon5Steel]

awesome. i will try and build one.

[london1817]

@Carbon5Steel It is really not that bad of a chicken coop..  As long as you let them out every day....Small confines turn them into canibals

I think.............

[pdsavage]

@london1817

It's over crowding that makes em start to to peck each other then they start going for blood....

[sujaysukumar123]

the bottom has wire mesh too?? the chickens cant scratch the ground then....

[london1817]

They can stay alive though...........Predators are a pain in the you know what.

[blinketyblank]

@sujaysukumar123 Small predators like weasels and even foxes and coyotes which we have here can dig down and get to them through the bottom. If you build the bottom and attach the wiring flush with the ground the chickens can scratch the ground very well while keeping predators out. Notice the chickens in the video. They are scratching. I am building a similar one right now.

[london1817]

@blinketyblank I do have a bottom with wire in the video. My problem here are dogs & snakes.

[clowns76]

that nice sir

[london1817]

Thanks for the comment!

[lawtec]

i know the pullets are still young but if you want eggs from them daily, do not leave food in cups all day long, as they will just eat all they can do nothing for the rest the day & there vents will swall up & cannot lay eggs becase the hens are not keeping fit & looking for food...

[london1817]

This video is old...... the chickens are a year old now. I have some hens that don't lay....maybe that is their problem.....Thanks very much. I will try that...

[lawtec]

no probs mate :)

[bilalshaffi]

Good plz tell me about your fitting of bottlre.

[london1817]

I bought it at the trade lot for $1. I like the giant watering cans now not these ones.

[mizzletits]

Thanks for sharing, it looks very doable.

[zhestah]

nice little skateboard ramp you got back there

[london1817]

Thanks ...I try to shread on it once & a while with the kids.

[SweetGumMinis]

The only thing I would suggest is to use a different wire to protect your chickens. Raccoons and other predators will rip chicken wire. Good construction though! Happy little birdies.

[ThanksgivingWalk]

Enjoyed the video. Love the detailed info and photos.

Thanks for posting!

[london1817]

Hope you liked it .. thanks for the comment.

[cmrnkl]

dude, ur videos are great. You show the best way to do things on a budget. I used some of your rainbarrel tips. Thanks, man. Keep it up.

[fly2000jtb]

I pushed awsome 5.0 dont know how to check it but I think it was 5.0 so keep us updated on eggs coons etc.. Joseph T (fly2000jtb)

[london1817]

I have other chicken coop video's on here check em out! To rate.... put your arrow on the 5th red star and click.  thanks for watching.

[fly2000jtb]

how do you rate a video? been on you tube for a while but never really found out how to do that yet, Joseph T(fly2000jtb)

[Whaaaazaah]

see the stars under the videos? you click on the star that you think they deserv :)

If you hold your mouse on it, it will name your rating before you click it

[GypsyGardener2]

can racoons can tip it?

or foxes b/c i think there are both around NE Ohio. I do like your design though with the wire on the bottom too. Do you bring them in at night?

[london1817]

Nothing can really get them in there. Some people go with the 1/4 wire mesh that would really protect them.

I bring all my birds in at night....Thats when most raccons & others try to get them.

[Xx12ker]

i made 1 it was a card bord box

[london1817]

What ever works..thats the main thing.

[Heelerboys]

Thats neat ... We have a few chicken coops on here as well ... some do it yourself .. but need to try something like that ..thanks for some ideas

[ssecretgirl1983]

Hey man, I have come across your "do it your self" videos a few times now. There pretty good and you seem good at it. I have never owned chickens before so tell me, are they noisy? Hard to take care of? Messy? What it the difference between a chicken coop and tractor?

[london1817]

Chickens are not all that noisy. The roosters "cock a doddle doo" in the morning. Other than that they are easy to clean up behind. The chicken tractor moves so you can have them eat fresh grass in different areas........The coop is there to stay.

[hernanx3]

COCHISE COUNTY ARIZONA

[hernanx3]

Suggestion, unless chickens are inside at night. Had a skunk that would kill a chicken thru the wire and eat a lot of it. So I put smaller wire (1/2"x1/2" square at the bottom where the chickens would cuddle and sleep then up aways (18") regular chicken wire. My buddy killed the skunk; didn't like that. Wasn't skunks fault he was just doin what comes natural.

[london1817]

I have not had a skunk problem yet. Where do you live man?? You have had a problem with almost every wild animal!!! Hhaha..

[jimjenn97]

Looks like ours :)

Have you have issues with anything getting in the chickens wire on the sides?

It doesn't look like it but does it have wheels? Do you just drag it to move it?

[london1817]

no issues with the wire yet. My wheels are lawn mower wheels...they work well.

[cbarn360]

That is a great idea, nice job!

[london1817]

Thanks........ it only took a couple days to make it. Do you plan to build a chicken tractor?

[csbarrett14]

How are they now?

[london1817]

Well it turned out that there was only 2 girls out of 8. 2 boys died then I let 3 other boys to free roam in the yard. I put the last little guy with the 2 girls in the pen.

[kokonutbaby1]

hi liked the looks of your chicken tractor. Do u have a materials list and some step by step instructions for us newbies? Need to see some plans, lol

[london1817]

Well I just kinda slapped it together. I used 2+4's for the frame then some old tin for the roof. Nothing amazing I just screwed it together then painted the whole thing! Just go for it !!!!!!!!!!

[jeffery19677]

Nice, informative video.. Perhaps a script and a tripod for the next video..Thanks for posting.

[london1817]

Rob Zombie doesn't use a script why should I?

[jeffery19677]

Rob is a metal GOD! You need a script..lol

[london1817]

Haha, Yeah i know.........thats cool man! He made some good movies too!

[magmaguppy]

I don't have any chickens but have always liked them. Have you seen the Onagadori at the start of the raregallus video Japanese Poultry Show-Part 1? Holy tailfeathers! Your chicken tractor is awesome!

[london1817]

Thanks for the comment. I will check out the video you were talking about.

[magmaguppy]

I especially like how you put the nest box at the back so you can get the eggs without having to go into the tractor. Nice idea!

[london1817]

I made a really crappy one years back & it was a pain to get the eggs. I am happy with this design. Thanks for the comment.

[Tsavah]

Not bad for getting into the hobby. Bet your future videos in the years ahead will be very informative. Great start.

[london1817]

I have had 60+ free range chickens before......... but they kept gettin eatin alive by those dang hawks!! It was terrible to watch..they were very sneaky & fast!

[vikidobe]

Great!

[london1817]

Thanks!

[imperialcrypt]

oh dude I remember your video, the one with the solar panel a few months ago. I actually built my solar thing since then.

So are you new to all this and trying to live a self sustainable life and learning along the way and uploading it to youtube to show others?

Looks great.

[london1817]

Well some stuff I am learning.

 I grew up in a house that had a solar water heater and a garden. We always recycled everything. Thanks for your comment!! Rick.

[imperialcrypt]

ah, Well your video is one the first videos I saw when I took an interest in Solar power. However it wasn't as succesfull as I first thought. Solar panels are far to expensive. I have a 60W, 600W inverter and a Deep cycle marin battery. It can power a 10W compact Folru for 2 days. Cant run anything much on it.

I use now to just recharge batteries, or power my Growing Light. Becuase I do enjoy gardening also, and now beginning a collection of heirloom seeds. rock on!

[peaceloveandHVAC]

good job, I love chicken/ chickens

[london1817]

Well, When you get tired of eggs....there are always chicken sandwithches.

[MegaMeaty]

a bobcat can also reach through and eat a chicken through the wire, ive seen the aftermath of that in a bunny cage

[london1817]

Oh shit thats something I don't want to see..

[SEAhris]

awesome bro!!! Love your videos, you have really great ideas! The design of your tractor is perfect!! I may just have to build one myself!!!

[london1817]

Thanks I copied it from the web somewhere. It was made from all recycled wood and tin. The only thing I bought was the chicken wire & screws. Thanks for your comment!! Peace

[WoundedEgo]

The chicken wire is effective at keeping animals out, but a racoon will reach through the holes and rip a chicken apart and eat it through the holes. You might want to consider half inch hardware cloth.

But this is a sweet setup. Kudos.

[london1817]

Wow ..that is terible!! Thanks I will do something about it. I have to keep my birds alive.

[sgrant82]

This is a great Chicken Tractor! We're using your design for ours! Thanks!!

[london1817]

Hey! Cool! Hope you make a video of it! Thanks for the comment.

[ArashiNage]

How many eggs does a chicken lay per day? I think it would be pretty cool to have fresh eggs every day. My heart would love the cholesterol! We've been thinking about getting some chickens, my daughter would love it. Only down side would be the neighbors who keep threatening to call the cops on us because of our barking dog. I'm sure they would be pissed hearing the chickens all the time. I think I need to further out of town. :(

[london1817]

hey bro !!!!!!!!! Well a chicken can sometimes lay 1 egg a day and way less in the winter depending on how much sunlight they get. It is fun for kids to get baby chics cause they can hold them and they are nice pets. Chickens are not that noisy. I have a neighor here that hates my noisy yelling goats,,,,Tell your neighbors your getting goats!! Goats are wayyyyyy louder than any dog!! Hahaha. Rick.

[N7JZF]

You might consider that dogs love the taste of a chicken. Once they eat one, they won't be cureable. Perhaps you already know this, just passing on from a bad experience.

[london1817]

Yeah ....I had a dog like that before only one way to cure it........get a new dog.  Thanks for the comment.....

[sammieluvsdoomy]

very cool, don't think it ever would have occurred to me to put fencing on the bottom to keep critters out...that is a great tip =)

[sammieluvsdoomy]

btw, what are those little thingys called that are attached to the waterbottles?

[london1817]

I am not sure but I don't use them anymore cause they leak and you have to fill them up like 3 times a day ......I recently got the 1 gallon waterer.

I wish I got that in the first place.

[godsend420]

yay a new vid w/b :D 5*