There are many options for your chicken house, and one of the most flexible is the chicken tractor. A chicken tractor is portable – you can transfer the location anytime you want. It will give shelter to your chicken and provide them with protection against predators. Mobility is an essential factor to consider in building your DIY chicken tractor.
A portable tractor can improve the health and the welfare of the chicken. Below are some types and parts of chicken tractors which you can do yourself.
Open and Closed are the two basic designs of the chicken tractor.
Open chicken tractors
An Open tractor has its door which you can open or close like a coop. It gives more room to the chicken to roam around and hunt with each other.
Closed chicken tractor
A closed tractor does not have a door, and it is an area intended for the chicken to roam. The top of the tractor is covered partly. If you don’t have many chickens inside a close tractor, you need to rotate it daily or after a few days.
Usually, chicken tractors have the following vital parts.
Chicken Nesting Area
It is where the chickens lay their eggs, and it is where they sleep at night. It resembles a small shed. This area should be weather-tight and predator-proof. There should be a door or a hatch to access all the eggs outside the tractor.
Also, this needs cleaning at least once a week. Hang a watering device in the nesting area to keep the chicken hydrated at night. You may also add a feeder, but it is optional.
If you are not an early riser, this may help so that the chicken can eat before dawn since they are usually up before that. A small window opening is also essential for proper ventilation.
Chicken Running Area
It is an integral part of the chicken tractor because it is where the chicken roams around during the day. The run must have an access point for the humans so that you can come close to the chicken door.
Without having a solid floor, the running area for the chicken can become vulnerable to the nocturnal predators and may try to dig under the side. If you already have a watering device or a feeder inside the nesting area, these are optional inside the run.
Chicken Tractor Frame
The nest and the run area of the chicken are usually built around the wooden frame. It is either rectangular or triangular shape. More often, the base of the frame is made up of a pair of a stout beam that acts as a ski to glide the chicken tractor to the grass. A rope, chain, or cable is attached at the front end of the frame to pull by hand.
Chicken Tractor Wheels
For smaller chicken tractors, wheels are optional. However, for large tractors, it is necessary to have them. Depending upon the size of the chicken tractor, you can use the wheels for lawnmowers if you need small wheels.
If you need a medium-sized, use wheelbarrows and for larger chicken tractors, look for garden carts available at most of the stores. Those chicken tractors that are very heavy, you need a tire that is made for a tractor or vehicle.
If you enjoy reading our DIY chicken tractor guide, you might want to check out our guide on DIY Chicken Coop.
