AlexR 1,655 #1 Posted May 29 (edited) So I have been working on this chicken tractor coop I thought I would share with you guys. The coop is from vevor not sure I can fully recommend it as it's not that great, but it is cheap I paid about $180 for it. However I also bought the 4x4's which were about $70. And couple bushings, bolts, and screws The coop I had to add some additional bracing with some old galvanized water line piping I had pulled out of the house and barn. Cut those to fit and used self tappers to attach those. All the metal I used, I already had laying around, the wheels too. I have not yet attached the "hitch" to the front of the coop yet. The other part goes to the sleeve hitch on the Wheelhorse so that will lift the front. It's all getting painted regal red! I am thinking about enclosing the coop more but have not yet decided if I will used this for the egg laying hens or if I need to build a actual coop and possibly use this for broilers. I had been thinking of building a coop into the bottom of my barn but reconsidering that now, due to dust from the chickens and I have a concrete pad they would be pooping all over. Edited May 29 by AlexR 10 7 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 28,007 #2 Posted May 29 Very cool!!! Maybe you and @Pullstart can race them... 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlexR 1,655 #3 Posted May 29 (edited) 40 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said: Very cool!!! Maybe you and @Pullstart can race them... I didn't go all fancy like he did, and build a tractor into it haha. Edited May 29 by AlexR 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 65,486 #4 Posted May 30 2 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said: Very cool!!! Maybe you and @Pullstart can race them... Alex would win! Mine gets stuck easy! 3 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 71,595 #5 Posted May 30 10 hours ago, AlexR said: I have been working on this chicken tractor coop I thought I would share Nicely done! 10 hours ago, AlexR said: I HAD BEEN thinking of building a coop into the bottom of my barn but reconsidering that now, due to dust from the chickens and I have a concrete pad they would be pooping all over From our own experiences: Don't do it. The 💩 on the concrete will be annoying but easily cleaned.... The dust though... OH MAN THE DUST!!!!! Everything. Everywhere. All of it. The whole interior of our smaller building that has the coop & run. DUST. COVERS. EVERYTHING. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 43,208 #6 Posted May 30 8 hours ago, Pullstart said: Alex would win! Mine gets stuck easy! Don't tell me you used that bus! 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlexR 1,655 #7 Posted May 30 1 hour ago, ebinmaine said: The dust though... OH MAN THE DUST!!!!! Everything. Everywhere. All of it. The whole interior of our smaller building that has the coop & run. DUST. COVERS. EVERYTHING. That is helpful thanks! We are using the upper part of the barn for gatherings and such as well so dust would definitely be a problem. Looks like I will be building a coop with a roof at some point. I have a place in mind for one. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 58,997 #8 Posted May 30 When I had chickens I built a small six nest chicken coop with an elevated hardware cloth floor so the poop and dust would fall through. The coop was attached to a run much like your chicken tractor and I moved the whole thing around the yard to various places. Natural fertilizer and considerably less bugs. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 65,486 #9 Posted May 30 12 hours ago, Pullstart said: Alex would win! Mine gets stuck easy! 3 hours ago, squonk said: Don't tell me you used that bus! The 16+’ wide frame, and the ability to lift only about 4”, really reminds me that my yard isn’t so flatlander after all… It high centers on a popcorn fart! 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlexR 1,655 #10 Posted May 30 Proof of concept. 4 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 13,581 #11 Posted May 30 2 hours ago, AlexR said: Proof of concept. The short tongue means no sharp turns, but that may be what you wanted. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlexR 1,655 #12 Posted May 30 28 minutes ago, Handy Don said: The short tongue means no sharp turns, but that may be what you wanted. You are correct sharp turns are a no go. No it's not what I wanted, it was a compromise. I couldn't make the hitch on the Wheelhorse longer because the high point where the lift lever locks would make it to high, unless I created more bends and drop it a lot lower. And it would make it harder to lift. I didn't want to make the "tongue" on the coop longer because it would stick out a lot more and I didn't really want that, also would cause more of a twisting action on the 4x4 when it's lifted up. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 13,581 #13 Posted May 31 (edited) 3 hours ago, AlexR said: You are correct sharp turns are a no go. No it's not what I wanted, it was a compromise. I couldn't make the hitch on the Wheelhorse longer because the high point where the lift lever locks would make it to high, unless I created more bends and drop it a lot lower. And it would make it harder to lift. I didn't want to make the "tongue" on the coop longer because it would stick out a lot more and I didn't really want that, also would cause more of a twisting action on the 4x4 when it's lifted up. Yeah, compromise.... You did make those nifty wheel lifts for the sides and they got me thinking (uh oh).... A lever that brings a caster wheel down might work here. The lifting force would be upward at the caster’s tire patch so it’d stay close to the 4x4 and lessen the long leverage “twist” risk. Then you’d only need a (long) tow bar from the cage to the tractor (which wouldn’t be providing lift). Another thought was putting 4 of those clever side wheels near the corners and then just towing it and watching it shimmy over the undulating lawn! Edited May 31 by Handy Don 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlexR 1,655 #14 Posted May 31 2 minutes ago, Handy Don said: A lever that brings a caster wheel down might work here. I actually did have that thought, my Delta table saw has that kind of thing, obviously on a small scale. I think what will determine if I do anything more, is just to use it. And if it ends up being a problem or too annoying to not be able to turn sharp, at that point I can do something about it. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 58,997 #15 Posted May 31 The one I built years back had 20 foot long top rails from a chain link fence on the bottom. They were slightly bent up on the ends and acted as skis when I tower it. The skis were bolted to the framework which was 2 X 2 PT wood about 16' by 16'. If I wanted to change directions I had to make long sweeping turns. Wish I had some pictures of it. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlexR 1,655 #16 Posted May 31 5 hours ago, 953 nut said: The one I built years back had 20 foot long top rails from a chain link fence on the bottom. They were slightly bent up on the ends and acted as skis when I tower it. The skis were bolted to the framework which was 2 X 2 PT wood about 16' by 16'. If I wanted to change directions I had to make long sweeping turns. Wish I had some pictures of it. The common theme is use what you have and make it work! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlexR 1,655 #17 Posted Tuesday at 08:17 PM Here is a short video of it in action low range 1st gear. VID_20250603_140140432.mp4 2 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beap52 1,303 #18 Posted Tuesday at 10:31 PM The girls went right to work and the haint driving the tractor didn't bother them at all! I really like the tractor coop. 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 71,595 #19 Posted Tuesday at 11:25 PM Works slick!!! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 28,007 #20 Posted Wednesday at 12:40 AM See now that's what we're talking about... RC driven, chickens trained to move with the unit, spinners for special effects... @Pullstart you best get the indoor plumbing or something else cool on yours or @AlexR gonna have your chicks flocking to his pad... 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
