Built a chicken tractor this weekend! Captured the build in photos...

[FenDruadin]

How many chickens?

2-4

 

[cluckmecoop7]

2-4

Oh, you said you hatched 21 chicks but only 2-4 are moving in? What are gonna do with the rest?

 

[FenDruadin]

Oh, you said you hatched 21 chicks but only 2-4 are moving in? What are gonna do with the rest?

Only about half will be hens. That brings it to 10-ish. I'm giving three hens to a friend. That's down to 7-ish. And I'm building another tractor. That's 3-4 per tractor.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Only about half will be hens. That brings it to 10-ish. I'm giving three hens to a friend. That's down to 7-ish. And I'm building another tractor. That's 3-4 per tractor.

Glad to hear! Thank you for the information. Good luck with raising chickens!

 

[aart]

I applaud your building efforts.

Oh, one more thing! I need to decide how to cover the top of the coop. It's going to be prone to leaks and decay if I don't put some kind of roof covering over at least the apex

Indeed, as will the access door in the coop.
Aluminum ridge cap might work on apex, with some bending.
Not sure about access door.
A-frames are tough to weather proof and ventilate.
How big is that floor platform?
Do you expect them to sleep in the nests?

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Ashlee22]

Sadly, they won't be able to free range unless I'm with them... and then only if they're really well behaved. We live in a neighborhood, and the neighbors would not appreciate chickens in their yards, nor would the chickens get along with the neighbors' dogs. So they'll have to be satisfied with what's available inside their run most of the time.

I'm looking to make a chicken tractor very similar to this; so excited to see how it turned out for you. Thanks for all of the pictures. I did start a post with a question you guys might be familiar with as well - how often do you have to move this thing so they don't kill your yard? I am in a neighborhood as well and planning on moving in a year so trying to keep the dead yard/smell issues minimal.

 

[RoosterML]

How do you plan to keep the water from getting into the nesting area? Water will likely run down the roof and go right into the cracks of the door.

 

[Justso]

My first coop was an A-frame for my single hen. I used a piece of stove pipe from home Depot for the very top. The stove pipe is split lengthwise and I clamped it over the top of the A-frame. It sat over and covered the ridge line but still allowed airflow. I'm not sure if I have any pictures, it was a long time and many phones ago.

 

[aart]

My first coop was an A-frame for my single hen. I used a piece of stove pipe from home Depot for the very top. The stove pipe is split lengthwise and I clamped it over the top of the A-frame. It sat over and covered the ridge line but still allowed airflow. I'm not sure if I have any pictures, it was a long time and many phones ago.

That's a great idea!

 

[Justso]

That's a great idea!

It looked quaint too.