Chicken tractor #1 – complete with quilt squares for some flair.
It seems like it took forever to get the first chicken tractor in move-in condition. Every time we tried to work on it, the weather hindered our plans. But we finally were able to move the largest group of chickens into the tractor. There are still a few little things that need to be completed, but they are little things that did not affect moving the chickens in.
Safety
For safety, the run area is covered in welded wire to keep out the most likely predators we have here – coyotes, stray dogs, hawks, and owls. The run also has chicken wire which helps to keep smaller chickens and chicken body parts INSIDE the run. Chickens are like cows – they swear the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.
Nuts & Bolts
The feeders and waterers, inside the coop and in the run, are hanging from pulley systems that allow us to regulate their height as the chickens grow. The troughs should be at the level of the chickens’ backs to help keep poop out of the troughs and keep the feed and water in the troughs.
The chicken door slides up and down on a pulley and can be operated without going into the run.
The wheels in these photos were too thin, and have been replaced by “racing tires” – larger, wider tires that don’t bog down in the pasture as much when it rains. We haven’t gotten the “trailering” equipment on the front yet, so we are still using a makeshift device to hook up to the riding mower and pull the chicken tractor to new spots.
Right side showing the people door, storm flaps on the windows, and another quilt square (and the old tires).
Fun
Despite storms and high winds, I have managed to get some decoration painted on the coop in the form of quilt squares, inspired by the barns in Ohio and Iowa. Hubby thinks they add some whimsy and break up the wide expanse of white on the coop.
Two of the girls checking out the new digs. On the right you can see the ropes holding the feed/water containers from the ceiling pulleys, and the cardboard keeping the chickens out of the nest boxes until they start laying eggs.
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With as many chicken tractors that we may end up with, it’s a good thing I’ve got quilt books that have literally hundreds of quilt square illustrations to choose from!
Now to get more housing built!
Backside of #1: the nest boxes are on the back so they don’t take up floor space inside the coop. The back of the nestboxes are hinged for easy access to collect eggs and clean.
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