When I’m asked what is a chicken tractor by some of my friends, who literally think it’s a tractor for chickens lol.
I give the same answer as most people who know what a chicken tractor is and that is a moveable chicken run or coop. The chicken run is attached to the coop and can be moved all in one go.
The image of the chicken tractor for this post is one that I designed in SketchUp which you can get a free version following the link. This is really easy to use program that’s good for designing animal housing and other structures. It also helps you understand the number of materials and the costs involved in your own design.
So Many Types Of Chicken Tractors
There are so many types of chicken tractors out there from Large Commercial Tractors to Small Garden Tractors. All do the same thing and that is move the hens around to fresh pasture. Basic chicken tractors will have no wheels and can be lifted from spot to spot.
Your Large Commercial Tractors will need a proper farm tractor to move around the farm. These large commercial tractors are fully automated from watering and feed to collecting the eggs etc.
You also can get medium-sized chicken tractors with wheels on them either at the rear or on all four corners. Like the one, I’ve just designed below.
This Chicken Tractor Above Has 12 Square Meters Of Run Area For 7 Hens
This new design above will give the hens more room to move around. It also has the coop raised off the ground. A ramp-up to the coop entrance and a windshield under the coop.
Chickens don’t like the wind or rain. It also a storage area above the nesting boxes to place all their feed and water so it will not have to be carried to each tractor.
The food and water will be added from outside of the run.
You can see that there are 4 wheels on this larger tractor. This will make it simple to move up and down the field by myself.
The build cost for this chicken tractor here in the UK is £400 and that is using new timber and wire.
You Can Have Any Size Chicken Tractor You Want
What I would suggest if you are going to be building a chicken tractor is make it large enough for your chickens.
In my first chicken tractor, the chickens had 1.2sq meter each. That tractor housed 7 birds 6 hens and 1 cockerel.
In the larger chicken tractor above they will have over 2sq meters each with the chicken tractor only housing 7 birds altogether. I will also be moving them daily for fresh pasture.
But if you don’t have the land to move daily then you can still use a movable chicken tractor. Just move it less often and let the land recover over a couple of days or weeks.
Want To Build Your Own
If you are looking to build your own and don’t have any ideas about what design would suit you. Then you can always check out “Pinterest” there are hundreds of DIY projects click the link and it will take you straight to the page.
I will also be placing the design, cutting list and materials needed for the larger tractor above in a new post. So come back and check that post out.
These chicken tractors are not hard to build and do not have to cost a fortune or any money at all.
If you check sites like “FaceBook Marketplace” look for pallet wood free. You can also check the “Freecycle Site” for free materials. If you do have to purchase materials to build your own, then purchase reclaimed materials.
Why They Are Better For Your Chickens
This means everything does not have to be millimeter perfect. If you are a couple of mil short then that’s ok. Your chickens are not going to mind this.
You also have to remember that you are not building a cuckoo clock.
This way of raising your chickens is one of if not the best way to raise your hens.
Check out my post “Best way To Raise Your Chickens”.They keep the hens safe and the hens will always be on fresh pasture.
Also, they will be collecting all the fresh bugs and grubs on the new piece of ground, YUM..!
If you have kept chickens in the past or are keeping chickens now. You will understand how fast they turn lush grassland into a “Muddy bog”.
These muddy areas will carry all sorts of disease over time and its not good for the chicken’s feet. Chickens do not what to have wet feet all the time. I also put a roosting pole in my tractors so that the hens can sit and rest outside through the day time.
They love to sit on there through the day and rest it also helps them get away from chickens that are causing trouble.
I would also advise making your chicken tractor high. Every time I let my hens out they like to flap around. This is great for the health and fitness of the chickens. Low tractors stop this type of behavior and keep the chickens low to the ground.
Remember not to overcrowd your chicken tractor, just because you can move it around. Your hens will still want their own space and there is nothing worse than seeing feather pecking in your coops. It is also not nice for the hens if they are stuffed together like sardines.
How I Move My Chicken Tractor
Simply by attached piece of strapping at the front. It’s simple and easy to move maybe a little harder going up hill but still movable.
