SMALL FLOCK PVC CHICKEN TRACTOR [ + the engineer who built it!]
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ค. 2024
- One of my favorite things about my wife is her ability to visualize, research, and build amazing homestead projects. This is a PVC chicken tractor that she's been working on for a few days and we finally have our first chickens in there.
In the video we say that it cost around $50. It actually cost us $57... Still, a great price for something that can comfortably hold 15 birds or even more if we wanted to.
The benefits of a PVC tractor for a small flock is that it's lighter, and easier to move. Not to mention it doesn't damage our lawn, which is where the tractor will mostly be.
We'd highly recommend a PVC chicken tractor for anyone looking to do small scale chicken raising for meat. We look forward to using this one to get these hens (maybe one is a rooster) big enough to integrate with our layer flock and then we'll have another batch ready to raise in here.
UPDATE:
An easier way to mount the chicken wire to the PVC would just be zipties, or just bits of wire. the screws with the washers was kind of a pain in the butt.
This continues to be incredibly useful to just have around the homestead for both rabbits and chickens. We've never kept a rabbit in it overnight though because they may dig out. But they're happy to hang out in it during the day.
I live in subtropics with extreme heat, humidity and rain. The wood just doesn't last and is heavy for me. This is wonderful! Thumbs up
Perfect! Thanks for sharing
After watching this video, I watch several other vids on your channel and I must say you married way out of your league.Haha. Your wife is special and I think we would all like to see her in more videos. I am building her tractor this week so thanks for sharing your insight.
Yep, she's pretty amazing! She edits all of these so in a way you're getting her in the videos. But, yes some screen time would be cool too. I'll see if I can convince her 😜
Tell your wife Natalie. She done an awesome job
She builds everything around here. She's remarkable. In the past 7 days she's finished a few planter boxes, built a water-catch system, and a small greenhouse.
One of the best chicken tractors I've seen.... Many others are too big for our use....
Looks great.
Looks great! I am thinking we will making something like this during the summer
She is a very talented woman.thumbs up girl and thx for your idea i like your work.
Yeah, she's the best!
Having built chicken tractors & coops, using PVC definitely was a wise choice (weight wise)! I would probably recommend using hardware mesh instead of chicken wire, as predators can eat thru chicken wire.
Dang! Eat through chicken wire!?! I'll take that into account next time for sure! There's also a couple other things I would differently next time like use zip ties instead of screws and washers. Maybe not as pretty but easier to maintain and build.
Luckily nothing has happened yet to our chickens in this.
@@homesteadingwithPJ Definitely use hardware cloth. 1/2" is heavier. 1/4" isn't as heavy, but it keeps out more tiny critters. Most just go with the 1/2". If you get a lot of rain, the way you have the roof oriented some of it will pour into your chicken tractor. You want it to pour off both sides instead of off the end and into the pen.
PVC will eventually become brittle from being exposed to the sun. So just have a plan to replace it when that happens.
Looks GREAT!!! If you want added protection you can add the yard wire or garden fence to the outside of the chicken wire, It has helped mine alot with preds!!! Awesome job!!!
Since publishing this we've had to do a few modifications. I'm sure at some point we'll end up using garden fence!
What about keeping them from digging? I haven't seen a skirt added to a tractor so I can't figure out how to stop that. Any thoughts?
@@scarlettcranford2177 I've never had that problem with chickens. None of them try to dig out.
@@homesteadingwithPJ Sorry, I meant how do you keep predators from digging in?
@@scarlettcranford2177 oh I see. I guess it hasn't been a problem in the 6 months we've been using it.
Hi I put peepers in my other chickens and mixed the pullets
together with them .
I’m thinking of this as well pvc nifty idea !”
Good job. How do keep predators from digging underneath. Thanks.
We never had a problem with that. I think it's because at this location we were pretty much in a neighborhood, so the chances of a coyote walking around was very low.
I am doing a pvc coop now but I could use some advice on how you connected the hinges. That part wasn’t very clear.
The hinges holding on the roofing? small screws. Other than that everything is either zip ties or fitted to a pvc fitting. Best of luck!
@@homesteadingwithPJ I could see some wood also. Could you please let me know what size the wood was. I got some 2x4’s and it looks way too big so I was going to go get some smaller wood but with the price of wood I would like to get it right this time 😬
Looks good! Do you have a material list please?
I don't have one handy, but I'll see if I can dig on up!
The dimensions are probably 4'x8' so you can figure it out from there.
Hang or attach to side the water so you dont have to pull them out.
That's a good idea. I think eventually we did that with this tractor.
What about wind flipping it over?? Ever an issue?
We never had a problem with it, and we had some nasty winds come off mountains in Utah. However we're in North Carolina now (and had to leave this tractor behind). But we have a new build that took way more time, but is sturdy as a rock. My latest video shows that if you're interested in seeing it.
th-cam.com/video/F2d7BxwB2jc/w-d-xo.html
Will this work for egg layers as well?
You'd want to adjust the design to include an egg laying box. But the frame could certainly work. Also egg layers are bigger chickens than young meat birds, so you'll want to give them more room per bird and move it more frequently.
Could this be used for an egg laying chicken coop?
Ehh, maybe. If it was moved often enough and your only had a few birds.
What size diameter pipe did you use
Oh man, this was a long time ago, but I think 3/4 inch pipe.
Do y’all leave them out when it rains?
Yes.
Plz tell me name and cost of this pipe
Pvc pipe, it's very cheap compared to wood.
What is a cost of that Iron jali
The chicken wire?
@@homesteadingwithPJ yes
@@RajuSingh-sb7uw well I remember that the cost of the whole project was around $50. Chicken wire is between $20 and $30 for the length and height we required.
What’s the dimensions?
4' x 8'
Height?
@@calvinsassoon6679 2 feet
@@homesteadingwithPJ thx
can i use zip ties
Yes, but use black ones. They will last longer in the summer heat and sunshine.
Sorry. Made a similiar pvc tractor. Came home from work and a pack of dogs pushed up and under it and killed all 12 young chickens. The weight is just not enough to protect them.
That's true. Man, I hate dog attack stories. Chicken, sheep, pigs, whatever. People need to monitor their dogs!
Might be ok with an electric fence line. I was unaware at the time that it was an issue. Never lived anywhere where dogs roamed like that. But then people are moving into our rural areas and people are dumping their pets. 😔