DIY Chicken Tractor Plans

This my original design for an inexpensive and simple to build Chicken Tractor to house 3-6 large hens or 8-10 Bantams.

I built this chicken tractor out of recycled wood materials and only purchased some wood screws and a 25 foot roll of chicken wire. You can use recycled or new materials.

Watch the video to see the chicken tractor in use and handy tips for raising chickens from chicks, feeding and watering and other ideas for raising your own food.

The tractor is 4' high x 8' long and 4.' wide and is designed so it can be moved by dragging to a new location. This would be a good design for people that just want a few chickens and have a small yard.

Material list:

12) 2x4x8 lumber

3) 4x8 sheets of 1/2 inch plywood or similar material

1) 25 foot roll 48" chicken wire or hardware cloth

1) pound 3 inch screws

1/2) pound 1 inch screws

1) pound small chicken wire staples

Hinges if desired

Approximate cost under $50

You can see many more free and low cost plans for cabins, houses on wheels, and homestead projects on my website and over 120 free videos of my off grid cabin on my youtube channel.

http://www.simplesolarhomesteading.com

http://www.youtube.com/solarcabin

Step 1: Construct the side walls

Side walls are constructed from 2x4 lumber. Attach side braces to bottom and roof brace using 3 inch exterior grade wood screws. The bottom brace is cut at an angle 3 inches from the end so it will slide easier over the ground.

Step 2: Attach Front wall Braces

Braces are attached to the side wall framing using 3 inch screws.

Step 3: Attach rear wall braces

Attach braces to side wall frame with 3 inch screws

Step 4: Attach roof supports

Attach roof braces to side wall framing with 3 inch screws.

Step 5: Attach pen box bottom braces

Side braces attached to side wall frame with 3 inch screws. Attach rear wall box brace and front box brace with 3 inch screws.

Step 6: Attach box bottom panel

Pen box is ½ plywood or similar material. Attach box bottom panel to box frame using 1 inch exterior grade wood screws. Corner slots are 3 ½ inch by 1 ½ inches.

Step 7: Attach side wall panels

Attach side wall panels to braces using 1 inch wood screws.

Step 8: Attach rear wall panel

Attach rear box panel to frame and braces using 1 inch screws.

Step 9: Attach box front panel

Attach the front panel with door cutout to the frame using 1 inch wood screws.

Step 10: Attach roof panel to coop

Attach roof panel to frame and braces using 1 inch wood screws.

Step 11: Attach roof door to pen using hinge

You can make or use recycled or new hinges for the door or just set the panel on top.

Step 12: Attach Chicken wire or hardware cloth to pen

Attach chicken wire using ½ heavy duty staples into the frame and braces. Chicken wire is placed on the inside of the braces and goes to the bottom of the floor braces. Create a ladder or ramp for chickens to get in and out of the pen door.

Step 13: Install nest boxes and roost bar

Roost bar is 2x2 lumber and is placed so chickens can roost off the floor. That is it for the plans and you can modify the plans to suit your needs with additional doors in the box and run.

Put a 3 inch bed of straw or wood chip bedding in the pen box and nest boxes to help insulate the pen. Check fro eggs daily or chickens will break and eat eggs. Water daily and feed good quality scratch. Crunch up old egg shells and feed to the chickens for calcium. Enjoy your chickerbucks!

You can see many more free and low cost plans for cabins, houses on wheels, and homestead projects on my website and over 120 free videos of my off grid cabin on my youtube channel.

http://www.simplesolarhomesteading.com

http://www.youtube.com/solarcabin