Enjoy all your videos. I would encourage you to look at Sow The Land channels coups. Jason has a wheeled devise on the back that when he’s ready to move the coup he steps on a lever that raises the back end of the coup and engages the wheel. Then he pulls from the front and when he’s done he steps on the lever to disengage the wheel and the coup sits back down on the ground to eliminate the gap. Might be worth investigating for future projects. Best wishes
Awesome job on the A frame! I am looking to build one soon do you happen to have a plan written up and or a product list/cut list? Would love to use this same design.
@@aarontoholsky6679 Try Ana White free coop plan on the web and scale it. My carpenter watched this video and we made 3 meters long, 1,5 metre wide, 1,8 meters height. Other dimensions were decided on the field, but have enough lumber and osb on one side, others will come step by step.
For predators I may have a good solution for you and will also help keep rodents out. I added a folding skirt frame that has hardware cloth mesh on each side, front and back. With the hinges all I have to do is fold them up when its time to move the tractor. I anchor them down with heavy duty tent spikes when i fold them down to the ground.
Agreed. With a few modifications his would work better. We here are having almost nightly discussions on how to adapt Joels to fit our needs better. It's telling when the kids actually look forward to moving the coop on wheels, but loathe moving the "chicken box", lol
Yeah, it's a hard lesson when you learn that critters can reach through a one-inch poultry netting hole. You don't have to redo the entire side, just go up about 16-18 inches with the wire mesh from the bottom, on top of the poultry netting. Critters can't reach through from above to get to the chickens. You can use the j-clips to do this, if you figure spacing correctly. GOOD LUCK! You're doing great! oh, and you can put a narrow strip of trim/baseboard over the mesh on the bottom, to sandwich it between the wood and make it more secure.
The bottom of it is 6x10ft. We will put 5-8 birds in each coop. Right now we have about 12 in there until we can get the next chicken tractor built and space them out properly.
Hi family, dude, we like your A frame chicken tractor, I think I'll build one a little larger. I'll use the wheel design with larger air tires. Also wanted to share with you your latch locks. Make all latches to lock when they drop. If the latch unlocks when it drops, raccoons will figure it out fast. Just wanted to share what I've learned.
Good points. We will likely be converting to air tires soon on out coops. Continual improvement, right?!? And the latch tip...that's a good one. I like your attention to detail.
Yep, I Analyze everything from one side to another. Build my own toys either out of wood or weld it. Putting a sawmill together as soon as my roof is done. Well roof isn't down, 🤪 still isn't done but trying to work on it though I nearly slide off because of humidity and sweat. 🥵
Wow I really love this design! I love A-frames in general as homes but this blows it out of the park for chicken coops too! A-frames have withstood the test of time for good reason! You really improved on that first design it’s impressive!
@@TheSeasonalHomestead Were you ever able to create official plans for this coop? (I may just be missing them.) We are hoping to build one soon and really love your design. We also need it to be very safe as we have raccoons and foxes that come into the yard. No pressure at all, but if it would help or if you have time, we will buy all the supplies and bring them to you if you want to do a tutorial! :) And my kids will help with garden chores while we work on it! ;)
This is a terrific video!! Right off the bat it is obvious you guys are not afraid of hard work!!! Like you, I played around with design. Don't know if a couple of things I did will be useful for you folks or not but since you shared some great stuff with me, I'll proceed. I took the big wheels off a push mower---the raise and lower mechanism as well--and installed that on the back corners. My coop is the A-frame shape like yours. They roll really well through rough terrain. In the process of putting on those big rubber tires on the front...like what you have on a hand truck. About 7" high and 3-4" wide solid rubber. Don't want to mess with having to air them up. I want to rig a way for them to be put on a swivel mount. Pulling that thing around through rough ground and high grass can take a long term toll on your 'innards.' Lower the wheels when you start to take off and raise when you get where you're going. That's my only tip other than I had a Houdini chicken that would always manage to get out even on the flattest ground it seemed (there were times I wanted certain chickens confined for a while.) So I took a rod of rebar a little longer than the length of the tractor and a couple of shorter pieces the width. At each corner I drilled holes about 5 inches back from the corner edge of the pen. Slid the rebar through across the ends and sides. Had to wire it up a couple of places on the long sides to hold it in place. But she was not able to get up close enough to the edge of the pen to scratch a hole and get out. This is only if you are wanting to confine them in the bottom portion of the tractor. Thanks for all your trial and error and sharing such terrific methods. You are a gorgeous family in looks and in heart. Jesus bless. Want to add...I have learned that deer netting zip tied about a foot up from the bottom and flowing out about a foot or so on the ground will tangle a snake up and keep them from getting your chickens/chicks and eggs.
STORY: Two neighbors each had a garden. Neighbor 'A' kept his immaculately neat and weed-free, He had perfect rows of lush vegetables - every row abounding with an abundance of well-watered produce that would be the envy of any gardening magazine. Neighbor 'B', on the other hand, would always let his kids 'help', which often resulted in disaster! Rows of produce got trampled and torn, and much of it was consumed before it ever reached the dinner table. Exasperated, neighbor 'A' couldn't stand it any longer and exploded! "Look what your little brats are doing to your garden!" Neighbor 'B' just shrugged and smiled. "It's OK. We're not raising a garden. We're raising kids."
Great build. A few observations and suggestions. The floor inside the coop-since you mentioned that you move the chickens out of the coop into a warmer area during winters, to reduce the weight, maybe use 1” hardware cloth. That would also reduce the amount of work needed to clean the coop. If you continue to use wheels and therefore have a small gap under the bottom frame, I’ve seen guys run 12-15 inches of hardware cloth on the ground around the outside perimeter of the frame to deter predators from digging. I’ve seen guys mount the hardware cloth to the frame so that is swings up and down like a hinge to make moving the coop easier. Also, if you decide to stop using wheels and instead make the long ends of the bottom frame like skids, maybe attach strips of HDPE plastic (same as the Yard Glider) on the bottom of it so that it glides across the ground easier. Just my 2 cents. Dave
Really diggin the reinforced wheel design. I'm going to try imitating that same concept on the exterior portion so any repairs needed can be done from outside the coop. But fantastic concept. When one kid can move the whole tractor without a tool, you're onto something!
I’m in the same boat…ordered 5 different breeds of chickens in December with thoughts that I would have plenty of time to build 5 A frame tractors. Chicks arrived in April and I still haven’t built a single tractor 🤦🏼♂️😂
Another way to do it is rooster pen, hen pen, and breed pen. Each set of hens from the breed pen would stay fertile about 2 weeks. You would also have to be able to tell each breed's eggs apart. Also the breed pen might be a stationary pen and shelter, which means you just need the 2 tractors. Roos get along a lot better in a group if allowed to free range, if you are able to let them out sometimes. If you raised the whole flock together it might work.
Your LOFT design is really great to hold a small flock. I'm looking at putting a piece of roofing tin along the bottom of my run to keep animals from scratching the wire and other damage, doubles as a wind break. The latches, you may need a common hasp with a snap to secure them.. I'm getting straight run chicks in a few months and will need more coop areas to select 2-3 roosters for my operation.
Can you share your plans for this coop? I love it! I’m doing chickens this spring, but never done any before! So would love the plans! I like that they’re protected at night. Also - how many chickens could I put in this? I’m looking to get a dozen. Thank u!
Nice builds...love how you've done it. On the wheels, install the lawnmower type wheels with the adjustable brackets...allows you to raise it when moving, and lower all the way to the ground when you're parking it for the night.
nice design. I like the wheels. I would install an auto chicken door.. Any issues with predators during the day, trying to get in under the coup frame? I'm planning to build a cattle panel hoop coup, and am debating on using hardware cloth around the outside of the bottom to discourage digging predators.... I guess to be mobile that would be very difficult...
Incredible work you guys! My wife and I are building a small mini-farm out in Columbia, TN. We'll be iterating this build, just a bit smaller for 3-6 chickens. Thanks for the awesome video, and what a beautiful spread! New subscriber here. :)
You said about things taking 3 to 4 times longer than they should. Try having to do everything by yourself. That's the way it is at my place. I'll admit, it has caused me to be more creative at doing things. I have a daughter and son-in-law just up the road from me, but they're always too busy to give me a hand. ☹
Ohh Lord, I am already loving you guys. You are so sweet and real. It's my first time in your channel, I have subscribed and hit the notification bell. I'll never miss any of your videos dear ones.
I want to build something like this to use for my hens in the summer. I have a stationary coop for the rest of the year. I don’t think I’ll have the interior door though. Just roosting polls across from one side to the other, and a nesting box in the back.
You only clip one of the chickens wings, not both. Alot of people who have chickens think, "Oh, I'll clip their wings so they can't fly out but generally windup clipping both wings, but you only clip one wing...if you didn't know, now you do
We have a small barn that we converted half to a coop. Indoor and outdoor. We used what we thought was heaven gage chicken wire for door and 2 Fisher Cats proceeded in one night to rip a hole in it and drag the chickens through. It killed 16 chickens and 4 ducks. Short of using rebar, nothing stops these weasels.
Do your chickens eat off the grass? Do you feed them grain? I was wondering because I’m trying to find a way for chickens to potentially live off grass. I love your content, and would love to start a homestead of my own one day! God bless you!
If you put a two foot mesh wire around each side the varmints can’t get in use a fencing nail to put the pieces on. Then you can swivel it up and tie it before moving it.
love y’alls videos! 😍 they are so encouraging!! how do y’all keep snakes out? we want chickens but that’s our main concern because we’ve been seeing a lot of snakes around our property lately…
Thank you! We have lots of snakes too. One of my boys got bit by a copperhead in my garden a few years back! 😬 But more often we see black rat snakes. They have never bothered the chickens or the eggs. With our new coop design there is no chance of a medium to large size snake getting in the top coop area when it’s all closed.
Great video I was working on a A frame design for our chickens and came across your video I was going to add wheels to outside but after watching your and how you did your wheels I'm going to go with that idea it will be stronger that way .thanks for great video
Awesome!! Definitely had a contraption like that on some old coops. Will definitely rig something up when the kids get tired of getting in and out of the coop. 👍
Just subscribed! Started to binge watch your videos! Thank you I’m learning so much! Just a ideia for the chicken cop door, you could attach a “leg” so when you open it to collect the eggs you could put a basket on top of the door.
"leg" could be designed for multiple locking positions......one for flat area for basket and also another extended position to ground to make the ramp less steep for the chickens to enter/exit.
I have so many projects I'd like to do but the cost of building materials is so high that it's just not feasible. Envious of your ability to build things you want.
you should put roosters separately or the hens will get hounded, they will all be cross bred at this point. Also better not too have too many breeds. I breed rare heritage chickens and I have 7 different breeds and that is way too many! Especially if you want to keep improving genetics etc
It could be configured like that, with some slight modifications to give both sides of the axle some needed support. Perhaps I'll try that with Chicken tractor 2.0 :) (this is Cam)
My husband and I just love this design! If we were to make this, is it good to overwinter our chickens in them? We're in Maine with zero below temps? Thanks
Thanks! If I were in your shoes- the tractor would work for the warmer months but I would move the chickens to a greenhouse or DIY tunnel of some sort if you have it during winter, it would keep them warm and they would lay more. We don’t get much snow, so it’s easy for us to move tractors around through winter. I am from upstate NY and with the amount of snow and cold we got there these tractors would have not been practical all the way through winter. I imagine Maine is similar! I hope that helps!
I like this design, of course I would change a few things to make my own, but 90% of what you have there. I have six coming in July, will this be large enough you think.?
THE ONLY CRITIQUE (WHAT? SOMEONE ON THE INTERWEB HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE WAY YOU DO WHAT YOU DO!? THE NERVE! LOL) BUT SERIOUSLY, ID HANG BOUGHT FEED AND WATER. IVE HAD ISSUES WITH CHICKEN TRYIN TO ROOST ATOP WATERERS ON THE GROUND. I JUST USED A CHEAP HOOK . IVE L EARNED TOO THAT FEEDERS ON THE GROUND END UP GETTING "FERTILIZED",SO I HANG BOUGHT FEED TOO. NEVER SEEN YOUR CHANNEL BEFORE THIS VIDEO,REALLY LIKE THE CONTENT,THX FOR SHARING! LOVE THAT THE KIDS ARE SO INVOLVED AND LEARNING WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM,AND NOT IN A " STUDIO CHAIR" GETTIN FAT EATIN PROCESSED GARBAGE,SWIGGING MTN DEW,PLAYIN HOURS OF VIDEO GAMES!! INSTANT SUB!! BIG THUMBS UP!!
I make a frames from old pallets. Put 2 2x8s on the back end sticking out a few feet. Makes em way easier to move. I use an old hand truck to move em around. Mine are HEAVY, I use the boards as roofing.
Nice design! Hardware cloth!! Yes!!! That is all we ever use. Question, with freezing temperatures, how do your chickens do in that coop. Just wondering about how thermal it is for them. Again, great design, love it.
Great video. Playing with chickens gets to be full-time work ! We love to let them run free. They come back to their coop at night. They dig around in the garden and love the soft the dirt or mulch areas, the woods. But there is always a chance some predators can sneak up. Raccoons killed all of our chickens at night. It was terrible. Broke down the door of the coop more than once. The predators had to be terminated. They (2) were caught in separate live bait trap cages. It had to be done. They took off all the little chicks and just killed the big ones. Ripped one's head off. It was awful. Just like they ate a bite or two, and left the rest. The evidence was overwhelming. There was no trial. Predators gone, no more chickens killed for several months now. Not yet.
Do you use a meat chicken that also lays eggs? If so what is the breed you use? I know y’all said in one video you don’t like Cornish hens but i couldn’t find that video to go listen again.
Our meat chickens do lay eggs as well. The breed we use is Delaware Broilers. We have also tried Freedom Rangers in the past, but like the Delaware's better.
Good mantra, “Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do or do without”. Fine chicken tractor. The best thing was watching your son…working by himself, independently, tugs on the heart strings.
If the outside has gaps under it, then what’s the point of using hardware cloth around the run? It seems that the chickens are really only protected when they’re in the actual coop anyways. If an animal really wanted to get to them while in the run, they would just easily dig under and bypass the hardware cloth. I would have just put chicken wire on the run. Good build though, and thanks for the video.
which work gloves are you using by the way, they seem realy to be doing the job. in mine I can only hit a nail or something when I am lucky because they aren't sitting around my hands precise enough (tried to build a greenhouse, used a hammer in the end. I didn't find anything like yours in whole internet. best regards from germany, jane :)
I suggest getting rid of the wheels and making the bottom like skis so that it can slide on the ground, grass or gravel. A strip of aluminum on both sides would work very well.
@@TheSeasonalHomestead I don't know what your winter situation is like. I'm in British Columbia and have lots of snow. I often use a plastic sled to move heavy items around my farm all year round. It slides on the bumpy soil or grass VERY well without sinking into mud or ruts.
I know! It’s been a while! We finally found someone to help us with the plans. Goal is to finish them around summertime 2024. It’s good we waited though- we have made some tweaks to the tractors and they are better than before!
Great question. Moving the animals enriches the overall nutrient content of the soil and helps the animal health as well. Chickens get new ground each day to forage, their "bodily waste" is left behind to fertilize the ground. Currently we have the chickens on a few of our garden rows to help with weed control, eat the bad bugs and fertilize the ground for next spring. When done right, the way it all works in harmony is pretty amazing, and effective. Also, moving creates no smell. When you come to our farm, there is no smell. Just fresh pasture, and good sunshine!!!
@@TheSeasonalHomestead Wow!!! Interesting!!! Thank you for answering my question. It makes great sense. One more thing I learned! I plan to buy some land next year and will definitely have chickens.
Mine have trip wheels I'm sorry I didnt say that in my comment I move all four from pen to pen when I move the pens saves on back and time takes half as long
I love your husbands attitude "I didn't sign up for that" and then he just plugs away. LOL Ya'll are so nice to watch. Thanks for sharing.
He has no other option 😂😂😂
Your kids are just on track to becoming amazing human beings!! I wish I had grown up like them!!
“Use it up, wear it out ….” That right there shows having depression era mentality in yer background. 😁
Enjoy all your videos. I would encourage you to look at Sow The Land channels coups. Jason has a wheeled devise on the back that when he’s ready to move the coup he steps on a lever that raises the back end of the coup and engages the wheel. Then he pulls from the front and when he’s done he steps on the lever to disengage the wheel and the coup sits back down on the ground to eliminate the gap. Might be worth investigating for future projects. Best wishes
Awesome job on the A frame! I am looking to build one soon do you happen to have a plan written up and or a product list/cut list?
Would love to use this same design.
Yes! A cut list would be amazing. Agreed.
@@aarontoholsky6679 Try Ana White free coop plan on the web and scale it. My carpenter watched this video and we made 3 meters long, 1,5 metre wide, 1,8 meters height. Other dimensions were decided on the field, but have enough lumber and osb on one side, others will come step by step.
Plans or a detailed CUT LIST and/or Full materials list would be helpful for those new to chicken tractors. Thanks for the basic vlog overview.
Yeah. I'm trying to watch the video over and over again to see how to put it all together 😬
Same boat as you lol
@@byzantinex Have you had any luck figuring it out?
@@tammyb6244 I built a different style. I posted a video on my channel
For predators I may have a good solution for you and will also help keep rodents out. I added a folding skirt frame that has hardware cloth mesh on each side, front and back. With the hinges all I have to do is fold them up when its time to move the tractor. I anchor them down with heavy duty tent spikes when i fold them down to the ground.
Thank you for the idea! I was wondering how to incorporate that into a tractor. Can you explain it more in-depth?
From what I have seen the Joel Saladin chicken box only really works for Joel himself. I love your mobile coop❣️
Agreed. With a few modifications his would work better. We here are having almost nightly discussions on how to adapt Joels to fit our needs better. It's telling when the kids actually look forward to moving the coop on wheels, but loathe moving the "chicken box", lol
Yeah, it's a hard lesson when you learn that critters can reach through a one-inch poultry netting hole. You don't have to redo the entire side, just go up about 16-18 inches with the wire mesh from the bottom, on top of the poultry netting. Critters can't reach through from above to get to the chickens. You can use the j-clips to do this, if you figure spacing correctly. GOOD LUCK! You're doing great! oh, and you can put a narrow strip of trim/baseboard over the mesh on the bottom, to sandwich it between the wood and make it more secure.
What are the dimensions for the new coop? And how many birds would you put in there?
The bottom of it is 6x10ft. We will put 5-8 birds in each coop. Right now we have about 12 in there until we can get the next chicken tractor built and space them out properly.
Basic dimensions, please? (Footprint and peak height? I could finagle the rest.)
If you put those plans together I’ll purchase them from you!
I second this.
I third it
Hi family, dude, we like your A frame chicken tractor, I think I'll build one a little larger. I'll use the wheel design with larger air tires. Also wanted to share with you your latch locks. Make all latches to lock when they drop. If the latch unlocks when it drops, raccoons will figure it out fast. Just wanted to share what I've learned.
Good points. We will likely be converting to air tires soon on out coops. Continual improvement, right?!? And the latch tip...that's a good one. I like your attention to detail.
Yep, I Analyze everything from one side to another. Build my own toys either out of wood or weld it. Putting a sawmill together as soon as my roof is done. Well roof isn't down, 🤪 still isn't done but trying to work on it though I nearly slide off because of humidity and sweat. 🥵
Wow I really love this design! I love A-frames in general as homes but this blows it out of the park for chicken coops too! A-frames have withstood the test of time for good reason! You really improved on that first design it’s impressive!
I would love to see plans!
This is so helpful! So do you let them just “free range” in the coop or do you move them around with that electric fencing?
You are the cutest family. I enjoy seeing all of you participate in your homestead dream. You make me smile.
Thank you so much! Definitely a lot of work but yes, definitely a dream too! We are grateful!!
I have been getting trampolines for free and repurposing them into chicken tractors
Do you have written up plans for this coop by any chance? My husband and I love this design
No, not yet. We’re looking into it though!
Also would love to see your coop plans. Love your videos. Thank you 😊
Yes, yes, yes! Love the chicken tractor and want to build one. Just need the plans. Thank you for the awesome video!
I would love plans as well!
@@TheSeasonalHomestead Were you ever able to create official plans for this coop? (I may just be missing them.) We are hoping to build one soon and really love your design. We also need it to be very safe as we have raccoons and foxes that come into the yard. No pressure at all, but if it would help or if you have time, we will buy all the supplies and bring them to you if you want to do a tutorial! :) And my kids will help with garden chores while we work on it! ;)
This is a terrific video!! Right off the bat it is obvious you guys are not afraid of hard work!!! Like you, I played around with design. Don't know if a couple of things I did will be useful for you folks or not but since you shared some great stuff with me, I'll proceed. I took the big wheels off a push mower---the raise and lower mechanism as well--and installed that on the back corners. My coop is the A-frame shape like yours. They roll really well through rough terrain. In the process of putting on those big rubber tires on the front...like what you have on a hand truck. About 7" high and 3-4" wide solid rubber. Don't want to mess with having to air them up. I want to rig a way for them to be put on a swivel mount. Pulling that thing around through rough ground and high grass can take a long term toll on your 'innards.' Lower the wheels when you start to take off and raise when you get where you're going. That's my only tip other than I had a Houdini chicken that would always manage to get out even on the flattest ground it seemed (there were times I wanted certain chickens confined for a while.) So I took a rod of rebar a little longer than the length of the tractor and a couple of shorter pieces the width. At each corner I drilled holes about 5 inches back from the corner edge of the pen. Slid the rebar through across the ends and sides. Had to wire it up a couple of places on the long sides to hold it in place. But she was not able to get up close enough to the edge of the pen to scratch a hole and get out. This is only if you are wanting to confine them in the bottom portion of the tractor. Thanks for all your trial and error and sharing such terrific methods. You are a gorgeous family in looks and in heart. Jesus bless.
Want to add...I have learned that deer netting zip tied about a foot up from the bottom and flowing out about a foot or so on the ground will tangle a snake up and keep them from getting your chickens/chicks and eggs.
Thank you for sharing your coup progression and experience! You are awesome for encouraging your kids to go and dream big!
STORY: Two neighbors each had a garden. Neighbor 'A' kept his immaculately neat and weed-free, He had perfect rows of lush vegetables - every row abounding with an abundance of well-watered produce that would be the envy of any gardening magazine.
Neighbor 'B', on the other hand, would always let his kids 'help', which often resulted in disaster! Rows of produce got trampled and torn, and much of it was consumed before it ever reached the dinner table.
Exasperated, neighbor 'A' couldn't stand it any longer and exploded! "Look what your little brats are doing to your garden!"
Neighbor 'B' just shrugged and smiled. "It's OK. We're not raising a garden. We're raising kids."
Great build. A few observations and suggestions. The floor inside the coop-since you mentioned that you move the chickens out of the coop into a warmer area during winters, to reduce the weight, maybe use 1” hardware cloth. That would also reduce the amount of work needed to clean the coop. If you continue to use wheels and therefore have a small gap under the bottom frame, I’ve seen guys run 12-15 inches of hardware cloth on the ground around the outside perimeter of the frame to deter predators from digging. I’ve seen guys mount the hardware cloth to the frame so that is swings up and down like a hinge to make moving the coop easier. Also, if you decide to stop using wheels and instead make the long ends of the bottom frame like skids, maybe attach strips of HDPE plastic (same as the Yard Glider) on the bottom of it so that it glides across the ground easier. Just my 2 cents. Dave
You are raising your kids the right way! 😊 very cool!
Really diggin the reinforced wheel design. I'm going to try imitating that same concept on the exterior portion so any repairs needed can be done from outside the coop. But fantastic concept. When one kid can move the whole tractor without a tool, you're onto something!
That's a really nice coop, i like that the chickens can be locked up in the sleeping area at night.
I’m in the same boat…ordered 5 different breeds of chickens in December with thoughts that I would have plenty of time to build 5 A frame tractors. Chicks arrived in April and I still haven’t built a single tractor 🤦🏼♂️😂
Another way to do it is rooster pen, hen pen, and breed pen. Each set of hens from the breed pen would stay fertile about 2 weeks. You would also have to be able to tell each breed's eggs apart. Also the breed pen might be a stationary pen and shelter, which means you just need the 2 tractors. Roos get along a lot better in a group if allowed to free range, if you are able to let them out sometimes. If you raised the whole flock together it might work.
You got your egg door latch on upside down. If a coon tapped it it would fall open
Are there plan? If not please please put out plans. I’m an older lady and desperate to find something I can move alone.
Your LOFT design is really great to hold a small flock. I'm looking at putting a piece of roofing tin along the bottom of my run to keep animals from scratching the wire and other damage, doubles as a wind break. The latches, you may need a common hasp with a snap to secure them.. I'm getting straight run chicks in a few months and will need more coop areas to select 2-3 roosters for my operation.
Can you share your plans for this coop? I love it! I’m doing chickens this spring, but never done any before! So would love the plans!
I like that they’re protected at night. Also - how many chickens could I put in this? I’m looking to get a dozen. Thank u!
Nice builds...love how you've done it. On the wheels, install the lawnmower type wheels with the adjustable brackets...allows you to raise it when moving, and lower all the way to the ground when you're parking it for the night.
Has anybody done this so that we can see how it works?
Any info on dimensions and how many chickens it can handle comfortably?
My friends what about paradedters. That would get a chicken to
eat them. You should
have Dog's that would guard them that is an idea. 🎉
Nice!
I will need to copy this.
nice design. I like the wheels. I would install an auto chicken door.. Any issues with predators during the day, trying to get in under the coup frame? I'm planning to build a cattle panel hoop coup, and am debating on using hardware cloth around the outside of the bottom to discourage digging predators.... I guess to be mobile that would be very difficult...
Incredible work you guys! My wife and I are building a small mini-farm out in Columbia, TN.
We'll be iterating this build, just a bit smaller for 3-6 chickens.
Thanks for the awesome video, and what a beautiful spread!
New subscriber here. :)
I love this design. I would love to know what you do to winterize your coop.
You said about things taking 3 to 4 times longer than they should. Try having to do everything by yourself. That's the way it is at my place. I'll admit, it has caused me to be more creative at doing things. I have a daughter and son-in-law just up the road from me, but they're always too busy to give me a hand. ☹
Very cool! That is exactly what I’m looking for
Thank you for watching, and enjoying!
Ohh Lord, I am already loving you guys. You are so sweet and real. It's my first time in your channel, I have subscribed and hit the notification bell. I'll never miss any of your videos dear ones.
I want to build something like this to use for my hens in the summer. I have a stationary coop for the rest of the year. I don’t think I’ll have the interior door though. Just roosting polls across from one side to the other, and a nesting box in the back.
You only clip one of the chickens wings, not both. Alot of people who have chickens think, "Oh, I'll clip their wings so they can't fly out but generally windup clipping both wings, but you only clip one wing...if you didn't know, now you do
We have a small barn that we converted half to a coop. Indoor and outdoor. We used what we thought was heaven gage chicken wire for door and 2 Fisher Cats proceeded in one night to rip a hole in it and drag the chickens through. It killed 16 chickens and 4 ducks. Short of using rebar, nothing stops these weasels.
Do your chickens eat off the grass? Do you feed them grain? I was wondering because I’m trying to find a way for chickens to potentially live off grass. I love your content, and would love to start a homestead of my own one day! God bless you!
We supplement our chickens with a layer feed, but yes the forage in the grass for bugs and other good stuff.
If you put a two foot mesh wire around each side the varmints can’t get in use a fencing nail to put the pieces on. Then you can swivel it up and tie it before moving it.
Any chance you could include the plans?
Pretty much what I’m building..
love y’alls videos! 😍 they are so encouraging!! how do y’all keep snakes out? we want chickens but that’s our main concern because we’ve been seeing a lot of snakes around our property lately…
Thank you! We have lots of snakes too. One of my boys got bit by a copperhead in my garden a few years back! 😬 But more often we see black rat snakes. They have never bothered the chickens or the eggs. With our new coop design there is no chance of a medium to large size snake getting in the top coop area when it’s all closed.
Great video I was working on a A frame design for our chickens and came across your video I was going to add wheels to outside but after watching your and how you did your wheels I'm going to go with that idea it will be stronger that way .thanks for great video
Maybe you can put a string and a pulley thru the hardware cloth so you can raise and lower the ramp from the outside
Awesome!! Definitely had a contraption like that on some old coops. Will definitely rig something up when the kids get tired of getting in and out of the coop. 👍
Curious how your wheel axle held up after a few years. I’m building a chicken tractor now and deciding how to attach
God Bless you for including your children in the adventure of life.
Love it.
I just built the joel salatin version with wheels for my meat birds. What state are y'all in?
Nice!!!!! A great design that serves a great purpose. We are in Arkansas. You?
Tennessee
Just subscribed! Started to binge watch your videos! Thank you I’m learning so much! Just a ideia for the chicken cop door, you could attach a “leg” so when you open it to collect the eggs you could put a basket on top of the door.
"leg" could be designed for multiple locking positions......one for flat area for basket and also another extended position to ground to make the ramp less steep for the chickens to enter/exit.
I have so many projects I'd like to do but the cost of building materials is so high that it's just not feasible. Envious of your ability to build things you want.
Just one thing at a time.
you should put roosters separately or the hens will get hounded, they will all be cross bred at this point. Also better not too have too many breeds. I breed rare heritage chickens and I have 7 different breeds and that is way too many! Especially if you want to keep improving genetics etc
Very true!! We are learning as well that we may have too many breeds. eek!
The 4 foot long rat snake (aka. chicken snake) I saw on my property yesterday afternoon would love this design. The chickens... not so much.
Mix him in with the orange chicken recipe next time. No more rat snake.
Your coup/tractor is AWESOME! I would love more info on the wheels that you used.
There's kids so discipline and hardworking
I like your design thanks Glenn
If the wheel was on the outside it would be easier to change and replace. Could you have triangulated and put it ont be outside?
It could be configured like that, with some slight modifications to give both sides of the axle some needed support. Perhaps I'll try that with Chicken tractor 2.0 :) (this is Cam)
Impressive innovations! Thanks.
I am going to build a tractor coop from parts from a steel shed. Pop rivets
Sounds awesome!!
My only issue with this plan would be the cleaning.
Nice video! Thanks for sharing
My husband and I just love this design! If we were to make this, is it good to overwinter our chickens in them? We're in Maine with zero below temps? Thanks
Thanks! If I were in your shoes- the tractor would work for the warmer months but I would move the chickens to a greenhouse or DIY tunnel of some sort if you have it during winter, it would keep them warm and they would lay more. We don’t get much snow, so it’s easy for us to move tractors around through winter. I am from upstate NY and with the amount of snow and cold we got there these tractors would have not been practical all the way through winter. I imagine Maine is similar! I hope that helps!
I'm very curious about how you would clean the closed coop part 🤔
The back door where we gather eggs is large enough for cleaning that inside part.
@@TheSeasonalHomestead if you could do a video on that sometime I would love that!
I like this design, of course I would change a few things to make my own, but 90% of what you have there. I have six coming in July, will this be large enough you think.?
It’d be easier to move if you mowed your grass😂
Great vid!! We’ve learned as well, don’t throw anything out, quit vanity, aside, and functionality first.
THE ONLY CRITIQUE (WHAT? SOMEONE ON THE INTERWEB HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE WAY YOU DO WHAT YOU DO!? THE NERVE! LOL)
BUT SERIOUSLY, ID HANG BOUGHT FEED AND WATER. IVE HAD ISSUES WITH CHICKEN TRYIN TO ROOST ATOP WATERERS ON THE GROUND. I JUST USED A CHEAP HOOK . IVE L EARNED TOO THAT FEEDERS ON THE GROUND END UP GETTING "FERTILIZED",SO I HANG BOUGHT FEED TOO.
NEVER SEEN YOUR CHANNEL BEFORE THIS VIDEO,REALLY LIKE THE CONTENT,THX FOR SHARING! LOVE THAT THE KIDS ARE SO INVOLVED AND LEARNING WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM,AND NOT IN A " STUDIO CHAIR" GETTIN FAT EATIN PROCESSED GARBAGE,SWIGGING MTN DEW,PLAYIN HOURS OF VIDEO GAMES!!
INSTANT SUB!!
BIG THUMBS UP!!
I make a frames from old pallets. Put 2 2x8s on the back end sticking out a few feet. Makes em way easier to move. I use an old hand truck to move em around. Mine are HEAVY, I use the boards as roofing.
Great video ! Got some good ideas ! Thanks !
That’s a great coop. I would make a longer pull handle.l though. Or maybe if your me feeling fancy a longer, detachable one.
Nice design! Hardware cloth!! Yes!!! That is all we ever use. Question, with freezing temperatures, how do your chickens do in that coop. Just wondering about how thermal it is for them. Again, great design, love it.
Great video. Playing with chickens gets to be full-time work !
We love to let them run free. They come back to their coop at night. They dig around in the garden and love the soft the dirt or mulch areas, the woods. But there is always a chance some predators can sneak up. Raccoons killed all of our chickens at night. It was terrible. Broke down the door of the coop more than once. The predators had to be terminated. They (2) were caught in separate live bait trap cages. It had to be done. They took off all the little chicks and just killed the big ones. Ripped one's head off. It was awful. Just like they ate a bite or two, and left the rest. The evidence was overwhelming. There was no trial. Predators gone, no more chickens killed for several months now. Not yet.
Do you use a meat chicken that also lays eggs? If so what is the breed you use? I know y’all said in one video you don’t like Cornish hens but i couldn’t find that video to go listen again.
Our meat chickens do lay eggs as well. The breed we use is Delaware Broilers. We have also tried Freedom Rangers in the past, but like the Delaware's better.
@@TheSeasonalHomestead Thank you so much!
💕 love the design! 💕Love your kids more!!! Sweetest little one at end with holding the rooster and hen!!! 💕
Good mantra, “Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do or do without”. Fine chicken tractor. The best thing was watching your son…working by himself, independently, tugs on the heart strings.
If the outside has gaps under it, then what’s the point of using hardware cloth around the run? It seems that the chickens are really only protected when they’re in the actual coop anyways. If an animal really wanted to get to them while in the run, they would just easily dig under and bypass the hardware cloth. I would have just put chicken wire on the run. Good build though, and thanks for the video.
which work gloves are you using by the way, they seem realy to be doing the job. in mine I can only hit a nail or something when I am lucky because they aren't sitting around my hands precise enough (tried to build a greenhouse, used a hammer in the end. I didn't find anything like yours in whole internet. best regards from germany, jane :)
Definitely works well. Great vid! Thanks for sharing your ideas
Great design for a mobile chicken coop! Should work great for your kids and their plan to make money selling chicks.
one of the best growing vegetable youtube channels. 👍
So nice of you. We try hard to put out quality videos, so that means a lot!
I suggest getting rid of the wheels and making the bottom like skis so that it can slide on the ground, grass or gravel. A strip of aluminum on both sides would work very well.
We may have to try that on future chicken tractors, and evaluate which one "rolls" better :)
@@TheSeasonalHomestead I don't know what your winter situation is like. I'm in British Columbia and have lots of snow. I often use a plastic sled to move heavy items around my farm all year round. It slides on the bumpy soil or grass VERY well without sinking into mud or ruts.
Fast forward three years do you have the written plan for this chicken tractor? Thank you!
I know! It’s been a while! We finally found someone to help us with the plans. Goal is to finish them around summertime 2024. It’s good we waited though- we have made some tweaks to the tractors and they are better than before!
Where can I find the plans and dimensions for the latest chicken tractor you built? Thank you!
How many chickens in that ???
Looks to many .
Only about 4 of mine will fit
Oh good I'm not the only one who built 4 different types of coops already because the book ones looked cheap.
Instead of building 12 coops, can you mix the chickens until you breed a particular type? At which time you separate that type into a second coup?
Then you could have even more breeds too? But maybe the roosters need to be separated? Smaller coups for them? Idk
How often do you move the tractor?
How many birds can you keep in thar size A-frame?
I just subscribed bcse I love learning new things. I just don't understand why does it need to be moving all the time?
Great question. Moving the animals enriches the overall nutrient content of the soil and helps the animal health as well. Chickens get new ground each day to forage, their "bodily waste" is left behind to fertilize the ground. Currently we have the chickens on a few of our garden rows to help with weed control, eat the bad bugs and fertilize the ground for next spring. When done right, the way it all works in harmony is pretty amazing, and effective. Also, moving creates no smell. When you come to our farm, there is no smell. Just fresh pasture, and good sunshine!!!
@@TheSeasonalHomestead Wow!!! Interesting!!! Thank you for answering my question. It makes great sense. One more thing I learned! I plan to buy some land next year and will definitely have chickens.
Mine have trip wheels I'm sorry I didnt say that in my comment I move all four from pen to pen when I move the pens saves on back and time takes half as long
great vid. New sub.
Awesome thank you!
How often do the coups need to be moved? Daily?
Yes, the new one is setup to be moved daily, to provide fresh forage grass for the chickens :)
please kindly post plans for this lovely coop
Working on it. We've had surprisingly a lot of requests for this. :)
How many chickens can you fit in each? And what’s the entire footprint of the tractor?
Footprint is 8x10ft. Fits between 8-10 chickens comfortably in each tractor.
@@TheSeasonalHomestead thanks!!
Great coop. It does take longer than expected to finish a few projects. Experiencing this problem myself