A chicken tractor is a portable enclosure used to move chickens around the yard. Our chicken tractor is not a housing unit, but some tractors can be built to house chickens. Ours is essentially a mobile playpen for use during the day. As a change of scenery for non-free range chickens:As a change of scenery for non-free range chickens


My Original Plan
At the time we built our tractor, we weren’t planning to let our flock free-range but did want them to have the nutritional benefit and mental stimulation of foraging in the grass. I didn’t want the chickens destroying our annuals and garden, pooping everywhere or roaming into the neighbor’s yard.

 As a maternity ward for mama hen and her chicks:
As a maternity ward for mama hen and her chicks

The Reality
I changed my mind and decided to let the chickens free-range. The tractor quickly began serving many unintended purposes. Surprisingly, the girlz stay out of the neighbors’ yards. They did destroy some annuals and made a salad bar of my hostas, but I can live with that. The poop? I just clean up after them regularly. No biggie.

As a play-pen for adolescent chicks being slowly integrated into the flock.
As a play-pen for adolescent chicks being slowly integrated into the flock

Uses for a chicken tractor:

As a time-out for broody hens that need to be ‘broken,’  or a step-down unit for injured birds on the mend. Finally, as a training facility for the Avian Olympics in Synchronized Preening:

Windy & Madonna are my Blue Splash Marans hens.

Most of the materials we used to build our tractor were re-purposed or leftover items from other projects. Total cost was about $60.00. Entertainment value from watching my two year old ‘help’ build it: priceless.

As a play-pen for adolescent chicks being slowly integrated into the flock.

After the base was built and wheels attached, in went the rudimentary nesting boxes. The hinged door on the back of the nest boxes opens from the outside for egg retrieval. The black, ribbed material used to make the “hoop” portion of the tractor is irrigation tubing, commonly used for underground sprinkler systems. It’s hollow and very lightweight. Originally we planned on using PVC for the tractor but we learned that PVC isn’t very durable for this purpose and will crack eventually.

Most of the materials we used to build our tractor were re-purposed or leftover items from other projects. Total cost was about $60.00. Entertainment value from watching my two year old 'help' build it: priceless.

It was important to me that this tractor be lightweight. The only predators we worry about during the day are the hawks, so we used plastic poultry netting instead of hardware cloth. It cost $12.00 for a 36″x 50′ roll at Lowe’s.

Most of the materials we used to build our tractor were re-purposed or leftover items from other projects. Total cost was about $60.00. Entertainment value from watching my two year old 'help' build it: priceless.

We attached the netting with zip ties.

After the base was built and wheels attached, in went the rudimentary nesting boxes. The hinged door on the back of the nest boxes opens from the outside for egg retrieval. The black, ribbed material used to make the "hoop" portion of the tractor is irrigation tubing, commonly used for underground sprinkler systems. It's hollow and very lightweight. Originally we planned on using PVC for the tractor but we learned that PVC isn't very durable for this purpose and will crack eventually.

Introducing the girlz to the tractor for the first time

Introducing the girlz to the tractor for the first time

Bessie and Clarice had other ideas in mind for its use.

Bessie and Clarice had other ideas in mind for its use.

Kathy Shea Mormino

Affectionately known internationally as The Chicken Chick®, Kathy Shea Mormino shares a fun-loving, informative style to raising backyard chickens. …Read on

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A chicken tractor is a portable enclosure used to move chickens around the yard. Our chicken tractor is not a housing unit, but some tractors can be built to house chickens. Ours is essentially a mobile playpen for use during the day. As a change of scenery for non-free range chickens:As a change of scenery for non-free range chickens


My Original Plan
At the time we built our tractor, we weren’t planning to let our flock free-range but did want them to have the nutritional benefit and mental stimulation of foraging in the grass. I didn’t want the chickens destroying our annuals and garden, pooping everywhere or roaming into the neighbor’s yard.

 As a maternity ward for mama hen and her chicks:
As a maternity ward for mama hen and her chicks

The Reality
I changed my mind and decided to let the chickens free-range. The tractor quickly began serving many unintended purposes. Surprisingly, the girlz stay out of the neighbors’ yards. They did destroy some annuals and made a salad bar of my hostas, but I can live with that. The poop? I just clean up after them regularly. No biggie.

As a play-pen for adolescent chicks being slowly integrated into the flock.
As a play-pen for adolescent chicks being slowly integrated into the flock

Uses for a chicken tractor:

As a time-out for broody hens that need to be ‘broken,’  or a step-down unit for injured birds on the mend. Finally, as a training facility for the Avian Olympics in Synchronized Preening:

Windy & Madonna are my Blue Splash Marans hens.

Most of the materials we used to build our tractor were re-purposed or leftover items from other projects. Total cost was about $60.00. Entertainment value from watching my two year old ‘help’ build it: priceless.

As a play-pen for adolescent chicks being slowly integrated into the flock.

After the base was built and wheels attached, in went the rudimentary nesting boxes. The hinged door on the back of the nest boxes opens from the outside for egg retrieval. The black, ribbed material used to make the “hoop” portion of the tractor is irrigation tubing, commonly used for underground sprinkler systems. It’s hollow and very lightweight. Originally we planned on using PVC for the tractor but we learned that PVC isn’t very durable for this purpose and will crack eventually.

Most of the materials we used to build our tractor were re-purposed or leftover items from other projects. Total cost was about $60.00. Entertainment value from watching my two year old 'help' build it: priceless.

It was important to me that this tractor be lightweight. The only predators we worry about during the day are the hawks, so we used plastic poultry netting instead of hardware cloth. It cost $12.00 for a 36″x 50′ roll at Lowe’s.

Most of the materials we used to build our tractor were re-purposed or leftover items from other projects. Total cost was about $60.00. Entertainment value from watching my two year old 'help' build it: priceless.

We attached the netting with zip ties.

After the base was built and wheels attached, in went the rudimentary nesting boxes. The hinged door on the back of the nest boxes opens from the outside for egg retrieval. The black, ribbed material used to make the "hoop" portion of the tractor is irrigation tubing, commonly used for underground sprinkler systems. It's hollow and very lightweight. Originally we planned on using PVC for the tractor but we learned that PVC isn't very durable for this purpose and will crack eventually.

Introducing the girlz to the tractor for the first time

Introducing the girlz to the tractor for the first time

Bessie and Clarice had other ideas in mind for its use.

Bessie and Clarice had other ideas in mind for its use.
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Charlotte
12 years ago

I love it. Good information about the PVC vs irrigation tubing. I let my chickens free range now. But it took me about a year to let them out. They are so happy to run around and everytime I go out the door, they come running to me.

The Chicken Chick
Reply to  Charlotte
12 years ago

Thanks, Charlotte! We did the same thing. I was hesitant about free-ranging but, despite the obvious risks, I wouldn't have it any other way. Moving lawn ornaments, that's how I see it! :)

Lauren Scheuer
12 years ago

Wonderful post! Thank you!

ADozenGirlz/the Chicken Chick
Reply to  Lauren Scheuer
12 years ago

Thank you, Lauren! It was my pleasure. (I had the easy part in this tractor project: camera duty!)

Sandy
12 years ago

Isn't it funny how just about everything chicken gets revised, reworked, rebuilt, and repurposed! Now matter how much homework and research you do before building, there are always changes out of necessity or just because we think it might work or look better. LOL! Love the tips.

ADozenGirlz/the Chicken Chick
Reply to  Sandy
12 years ago

Sandy, you are SO right! I wish I had a nickel for every project that got re-designed in my backyard! My 'Virtual tour de coop' blog post has many of the revisions documented in it but there were many more!

Mike
12 years ago

Once again, I've learned something from you. I wished I would've read this before I built my 'tractor'. Now-a-days, my tractor has been turned into a semi-permanent fixture. I can move it with some disassembly, but it is so heavy. Next build, I'll use the Pages for Q & A.

Mike

ADozenGirlz/the Chicken Chick
Reply to  Mike
12 years ago

I'm happy to hear I helped you learn something. I'm sure your tractor will have plenty of uses even if portability isn't its main selling point. :)

Pattie Rollins
12 years ago

Fantastic Job! Thumbs Up!

ADozenGirlz/the Chicken Chick
Reply to  Pattie Rollins
12 years ago

Thanks Pattie! :)

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