Building a Chicken Tractor

[baymule]

I am building two chicken tractors. They are well named, for indeed, I will have to drag them with my tractor! As usual, I’m using scrap and materials I already have. I had some 2x12’ five feet long, so our neighbor Robert cut them in strips on his table saw. We did have to buy some 2x4’s for $47.

Here’s what I’ve done so far.

 

[baymule]

Chickens are in their new house! We worked all morning, knocked off at 12:30 because some friends came over. We went back to work after they left at 2:30. The evening sun was shining in on them so I stapled a Feed bag over the door.

We put radiant heat barrier under the tin on the roof to help keep it cooler.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

She's a doll! But, my question is this: How is she NOT covered in paint?

 

[baymule]

Old hay! Wealth! Only a gardener gets excited over rotten hay!

My husband wants me to put a flat roof on the tractors with hinged sides. I was originally going to put a A shaped roof on it to keep the dogs and sheep from laying on it, with the front part hardware cloth, the back part tin roofed. I was going to hinge the wire part, both sides.....then I realized I've built them 7 feet wide and I can't reach very far.

So I have decided on a A roof, but just tall enough for me to walk in. I think bending a little and being able to reach every part of the tractor is better than standing on my head and can't reach nothing.

As usual, I am overbuilding.

 

[baymule]

Today I measured and cut the pieces for the door frame and the door. I’m trying to get one finished. Didn’t get a lot done today on it, but that’s ok. We had help!

Papaw gave painting lessons.

She got the hang of it and painted all by herself.

Time to clean the brush!

She adores that Pepto Bismol pink!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

My puny little chicken tractor. It's 4 x 8 and has wheels. It's still pretty heavy, but I can push it around the yard.

 

[BarredBuff]

Looks like you have a good foundation started. I am thinking about building some eventually when I get settled.

 

[milkmansdaughter]

I love your neighbor Robert! Everyone needs a Robert in their neighborhood!

Now I know why you needed the 2x4's. I think I'm almost out of ours too. I've still got a big wood pile, but 2x2's and 2x4's go fast. I'm starting to run low on 4x4's too. Time to start scrounging!

I didn't pick up any free wood today, but I did pick up 1 free 2yo 600# round bales of hay. And it was not sprayed with herbicides. The man has almost 30 bales and we're welcome to all of them. One of the sweetest phrases I know, "Please, come back!" We told him we'll take them all!

 

[baymule]

Sometimes I get that up to my A$$ in alligators feeling.......but I never let on that I made a major OOPS.

 

[sumi]

It's already freaking heavy. I bought paint today, purple and an awful bright pink. My 3 year old grand daughter's favorite colors. My husband thinks I'm a looney. He's right.

Well, that should keep any predators away