Simple Chicken Tractor

by ravenc83 in Living > Gardening

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Simple Chicken Tractor

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I have a few chickens, and I am about to get some more. I also have a lot of green grass.  So I had to make a chicken tractor to take care of both issues.

Materials.

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24 1x2x8ft lumber  $24
1    24x 50ft  chicken wire $15
1   box of 3/4 screws  $6
6 packs of washers $6
4 hinges $4
2 latch $6
total: $61 for 2
$30.50 for each tractor

Tools: 
wire clipers
drill w/ drill bit and phillips driver
gloves.
saw.

Putting Together the Sides.

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ends are 2 4ft pieces and 3 2ft pieces and the sides are 2 8ft pieces and 3 2ft pieces.
for each tractor you will need to cut
6x   4ft 
4x   8ft
12x 2ft
plus bits for a door.

when you line up the lumber make sure to pre-drill the holes, because the wood will split and you will have to re-cut the wood again.
it will always happen on that last piece too.

Putting the Frame Together.

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this is a fun balancing act when you are doing this alone. but again pre-drill the screw holes.

The Door.

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this is a edit, as when I built it i made the door prior to adding the wire. but to save yourself a ton of headaches just build the door prior to attaching it. 

Skin It.

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remember those washer? this is when you use them. start the roll at one side of the door and roll it along (attaching it with the screw/washers). the chicken wire will give you some room to goof up.
you can also roof the tractor with the same wire, I had some welded wire around so I used that.

Laying Box.

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a laying box is necessary if you don't want to crawl in after the eggs. putting in next to the door is an even better idea.

A Little Shade and Just Add Chickens.

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a little canvas or a tarp will work just fine for some shade for your chickens. 
then put the tractor on some grass and add some chickens.