DIY Chicken Tractor

A chicken tractor is a portable cage used to contain chickens. The chickens scratch and prepare the ground for gardening as they forage for food. The birds remove insect pets, loosen the sod, eat the weeds and leave fertilizing droppings behind. The tractor is moved to a new spot each day. Chickens are highly inquisitive and active birds that enjoy a variety of range conditions, from brush and leaf litter to pasture areas. If conditions are safe, or keepers are available to watch the chickens, it is better to allow the birds free-roaming access with only a few hours spent in the tractor. An A-shaped tractor is simple to build and attractive.

Things You'll Need

  • Chicken wire
  • Two-by-four-by-six lumber (or two-by-four-by-eight)
  • Strapping
  • Screws
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Instructions

    • 1

      Decide the size of the tractor you wish to build. Note that the larger the tractor, the heavier it will be to move. Form four of the two-by-fours into a square for the base of the tractor. Screw or bolt these together. Screw stabilizing braces to each corner of the box frame for stability.

    • 2

      Cut several two-by-fours with a 45-degree angle on both ends to create the sides. You will need three side boards on each side for a small tractor. Cut another two-by-four for the cross beam. Cut the cross beam to fit the entire length of the tractor. Screw the side beams to the floor boards and to the cross beam to create the A-shaped tractor.

    • 3

      Cut the chicken wire into panels to fit across the frame. Cut a piece of strapping the length of the cross beam. Cut four pieces of strapping to correspond to the lengths of the bottom frame. Set the chicken wire to the frame and place the strapping on the top edge. Screw to the crossbeam. Screw another piece of strapping to the bottom of the wire and screw this to the bottom frame. Repeat on each side.

    • 4

      Lift the finished tractor and place the chickens inside. Always supply fresh water inside the tractor for the chickens. Watch that the tractor is not in direct sunlight, for it does not provide adequate cooling for the chickens (adding a roof will only heat the small space up).