Simple Chicken Tractor

by ravenc83

12K526

Intro: Simple Chicken Tractor

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.

STEP 1: Materials.

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.

STEP 2: Putting Together the Sides.

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.

STEP 3: Putting the Frame Together.

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

STEP 4: The Door.

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. 

STEP 5: Skin It.

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.

STEP 6: Laying Box.

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.

STEP 7: A Little Shade and Just Add Chickens.

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. 

6 Comments

micksmom2 6 years ago

I love this! I would like to make something similar to this but taller so I can walk in it. Thanks for the instructable!

chicken boy 11 years ago

how muck did it cost you to build it?

karylb 12 years ago

I've used this same design with 1" pvc instead of wood. I like the functionality. But I'm concerned about how the wood joints hold up to being moved around the yard.

sir_h_c 12 years ago

I'm curious; how durable has the untreated lumber been? Less than a year so far... Looks good.

ravenc83 12 years ago

its still in great shape, rain and sunshine hasn't taken that much of a toll on the wood structure. the canvas is another story.