nice job on the chicken tractor. i think it might fix your waterer problem if you just put a couple of bricks or a block of wood or something like that under the waterer. this would take the stress off of the downward pull from the weight and the hanging cord left on there would keep the chickens from knocking the container around if it happens to get empty before someone comes around.
• Some people get a rooster to protect the hens. They will die protecting them. I don’t like the noise. We don’t have one. Also if you let the hens out the rooster will keep an eye on the sky and shoo them back into the pen if he spots a hawk.
• All of this depends on the type of chickens. We have Barred Rocks. Good disease resistance, good cold tolerance, don’t brood, don’t fight. If you get brooding hens, they may want to find nests in the brush and sit on them.
• We now let the chickens out for free ranging from about 2 to 9 pm. They come back to the roosts and we just close the door at night. So far, the dog and cat don’t bother them. Reason we leave them in till 2 is to make sure they’ve laid the eggs for the day.
• In the winter, run an extension cord out and provide at least 15 hours of daylight (use a timer). Otherwise production drops from a dozen a day to 1-2 day.
• Also in the winter we put the water in a 2-3 gallon bucket which is screwed to a plank so it doesn’t tip. That’s enough water to keep from freezing most days (here in Tennessee) frozen water is a bear. Happy chickens (not thirsty) produce better.
If I was doing it again I would scale down the amount of weight yet even more:
• The large box with the nesting boxes inside: the chickens only use 2 of six, so I would cut this down by 1/3 the width
• Rip some of the 2x4’s to even narrower
I would also build in a watering system using nipples or a gravity watering bell. Watering twice a day in the heat of the summer is not something I want to spend my time doing.
@Kansaseq There are 1x1x43" wood bars spanning across the arches inside. These are 2x4s ripped down the middle and screwed in with a single 2" drywall screw on either side. There is plenty of ventilation since the tarp does not cover the wire completely. In the summer they do crowd towards the sunlight, not relax under the shady tarp. Odd. We let them out after 3pm and then they come back to roost at night. Different breeds of chickens will be better or worse about returning at night.
nice idea i think im gonna make one just like this. I also made a greenhouse thats very similler, except its 2x the size with a door thats very similer. it works great and very flexible in the wind.
@lookin4space: All around the edges on the ground, I stapled chicken wire that is 12-18 inches wide. It does reduce the available area for scratching, but the chickens can still get to the grass that pokes through. Even when parked on a rough spot in the field, this keeps chickens from popping out and critters from getting in. Frankly speaking though, we have had no issues with raccoons, possums, owls, bobcats, weasels, mountain lions like the neighbors have. Get a dog- that helps the most.
Excellent! What is the cost of this? what state are you in? I'm planning on raising Chickens in the future and doing some research - you can email me at ZeSauce@hotmail.com thanks! Great work
$100 IS A LITTLE TO MUCH, CAUSE IT LOOKS CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAPADY, CHEAP. CHEAP
MoribitoLover 1 week ago
@MoribitoLover HA! I think you mean cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep.
bruhaha66 1 week ago
nice job on the chicken tractor. i think it might fix your waterer problem if you just put a couple of bricks or a block of wood or something like that under the waterer. this would take the stress off of the downward pull from the weight and the hanging cord left on there would keep the chickens from knocking the container around if it happens to get empty before someone comes around.
itsearlable 2 months ago
on the hanging water problem you could try hanging it by both of the top pvc pipes in a triangle shape or fashion
MultiWallrunner 2 months ago
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aizat496 4 months ago
great job!!!!! we made one and it was all out of wood super heavy...you gave me a great idea!! with the wheels!
crazyfarm31 4 months ago
great job!!!!! we made one and it was all out of wood super heavy...you gave me a great idea!!
crazyfarm31 4 months ago
• Some people get a rooster to protect the hens. They will die protecting them. I don’t like the noise. We don’t have one. Also if you let the hens out the rooster will keep an eye on the sky and shoo them back into the pen if he spots a hawk.
bruhaha66 6 months ago
• All of this depends on the type of chickens. We have Barred Rocks. Good disease resistance, good cold tolerance, don’t brood, don’t fight. If you get brooding hens, they may want to find nests in the brush and sit on them.
bruhaha66 6 months ago
• We now let the chickens out for free ranging from about 2 to 9 pm. They come back to the roosts and we just close the door at night. So far, the dog and cat don’t bother them. Reason we leave them in till 2 is to make sure they’ve laid the eggs for the day.
bruhaha66 6 months ago
A couple of pointers.
• In the winter, run an extension cord out and provide at least 15 hours of daylight (use a timer). Otherwise production drops from a dozen a day to 1-2 day.
• Also in the winter we put the water in a 2-3 gallon bucket which is screwed to a plank so it doesn’t tip. That’s enough water to keep from freezing most days (here in Tennessee) frozen water is a bear. Happy chickens (not thirsty) produce better.
bruhaha66 6 months ago
I had 15 birds in it for a long time. The roosts were the only crowded part.
bruhaha66 6 months ago
If I was doing it again I would scale down the amount of weight yet even more:
• The large box with the nesting boxes inside: the chickens only use 2 of six, so I would cut this down by 1/3 the width
• Rip some of the 2x4’s to even narrower
I would also build in a watering system using nipples or a gravity watering bell. Watering twice a day in the heat of the summer is not something I want to spend my time doing.
bruhaha66 6 months ago
@Kansaseq There are 1x1x43" wood bars spanning across the arches inside. These are 2x4s ripped down the middle and screwed in with a single 2" drywall screw on either side. There is plenty of ventilation since the tarp does not cover the wire completely. In the summer they do crowd towards the sunlight, not relax under the shady tarp. Odd. We let them out after 3pm and then they come back to roost at night. Different breeds of chickens will be better or worse about returning at night.
bruhaha66 6 months ago
Where do they roost at night? Looks like they'd have to sleep in the next boxes, which makes for poopy eggs. Also, do you have any ventilation?
Kansaseq 6 months ago
Where do they roost at night? Looks like they'd have to sleep in the next boxes, which makes for poopy eggs.
Kansaseq 6 months ago
hahahahah hello chichen
but dont you think that from the top its to light that maybe a rocoon
nother animal might get in?
sharys37 9 months ago
@sharys37 It is covered with standard chicken wire. The dog tried to get in from the top but couldn't. In 15 months we have had no critter issues.
bruhaha66 9 months ago 2
nice idea i think im gonna make one just like this. I also made a greenhouse thats very similler, except its 2x the size with a door thats very similer. it works great and very flexible in the wind.
Matsutton 9 months ago
How do you keep critters from getting underneath?
lookin4space 1 year ago
@lookin4space: All around the edges on the ground, I stapled chicken wire that is 12-18 inches wide. It does reduce the available area for scratching, but the chickens can still get to the grass that pokes through. Even when parked on a rough spot in the field, this keeps chickens from popping out and critters from getting in. Frankly speaking though, we have had no issues with raccoons, possums, owls, bobcats, weasels, mountain lions like the neighbors have. Get a dog- that helps the most.
bruhaha66 1 year ago
Excellent! What is the cost of this? what state are you in? I'm planning on raising Chickens in the future and doing some research - you can email me at ZeSauce@hotmail.com thanks! Great work
spiritartman 1 year ago