Does anyone out there have plans or know of a magazine that that lists what is needed to build a chicken tractor/plans that will hold 10 hens. I saw one on an internet site - those folks want over 1,500 dollars for it. Go figure! Some sensible help would be very much appreciated. It goes without saying that 1500 seems very, very steep and completely unreasonable.

Thanks in advance for your help...

She

-- Sheila Lutz (glutz43@alltell.net), December 02, 2001

Answers

Hi Sheila, My husband has made three chicken tractors for me. He went by the plans in the book titled "Chicken Tractor" by Andy Lee. I actually got a copy through my public library. I ended up liking the book enough that I purchased a copy. I am 5'2" and opted to make my tractors 2' tall (4' wide and 10' long). I think that has made it easier for me when it's time to put in waterers and feeders. This spring I really enjoyed having an extra tractor available to move a setting hen into. One exclusively for that purpose wouldn't need to be as large as mine are. Look at plans but think about your indiviudal needs too. Wishing you luck.

-- Mel Carroll in N.C. (frank.a.carroll@worldnet.att.net), December 02, 2001.

Basically, it can be built out of just chicken wire & 2x2's.

I built a framework about 8' square by 3' high, covered it with chicken wire and put two small wheels on one end and a rope on the other to drag it to new grass. You can put some sort of roof -- a plastic tarp or whatever -- on half of it where they roost. That plus a door, suspended feeders and waterers and it's done, for a bit less than $1500.

-- bruce (rural@inebraska.com), December 02, 2001.

Hi, Sheila. I have to second Mel on the book she mentions. It's a good one to own. It includes very specific plans but they are very easy to modify for your specific needs (I, too, happen to be of the diminutive persuasion!). There were plans for a tractor on wheels in an issue of Countryside in the past few years. I'll try to find out for you which one.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), December 02, 2001.

My hubby has built me 2 chicken tractors so far for less than $100 each. Each one is 2 4 ft x 4ft sections that can be taken apart to make moving them around easy.

This site might give you some ideas:

http://www.gsu.edu/~biojdsx/fowl/tractor.htm

I move mine weekly as I do not have a lot of flat land. We enclosed one end in plastic to protect against the elements.

-- Anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), December 02, 2001.

I was at a homestead this summer that had two chicken tractors, one had wood for the framework, the other pvc or electrical conduit. They were about 10'x10' and 3' high and wrapped with chicken wire(what else). The one side and part of the top were covered with old tin roofing to protect against the elements. They had no wheels. He liked the pvc pen better because it was light and conformed to the uneveness of his land. If you make a lightweight pen, you'll probably have to pin it down to keep from blowing away.

-- Don W. (rwrong@yahoo.com), December 02, 2001.

Sheila, I designed a chicken tractor for my chickens. I now have 4 working tractors in my yard now. They are designed for 6-7 chickens and I move them daily. I figure that the cost of each tractor is around $100. They are made of 2x4 frames, plywood, chicken wire and pvc pipe. I keep chickens in them year round. (Cheaper then a hen house.) If you are interested in plans let me know.

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), December 02, 2001.

Chicken tractors:


ONE


TWO


THREE


FOUR

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), December 03, 2001.

ok ill bite what is achicken tractor do?

-- dennis wayne powell (gumbomudder@webtv.net), December 05, 2001.