'Justin Rhodes Style' Chicken Tractor Build (with modifications)

We recently got our first batch of 25 meat chicks on our new homestead, and wanted to build a chicken tractor similar to Joel Salatin's style, but smaller. We originally built a hoop coop design, but it ended up being too heavy to pull without wheels. (We'll end up using that one for our turkeys coming soon!) We also looked at the John Suscovich style tractor, but as if by fate, Justin Rhodes came out with this smaller tractor design right when we needed it!
He graciously gave out the plans for this design for free while raising awareness for the Kickstarter for his new book "Homestead Builds".
Justin Rhodes Kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
Get the free plans here: homesteadbuilds.com/
Links to Products we used in this video:
Hardware Cloth: amzn.to/3X0sID7
Deck Plus Wood Screws (Multiple Sizes): amzn.to/3CrGjtO
Kilz Barn & Fence Paint: www.lowes.com/pd/KILZ-KILZ-Si...
3-1/2" Latch Post: amzn.to/3P8Tk2E
6" Corner Brace: www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-...
4" Strap Hinge: amzn.to/3NquJVL
White PVC Roof Panels: www.homedepot.com/p/Palruf-26...
Door Hinges: amzn.to/3qzXx5f
Staples (For Hardware Cloth): amzn.to/3Nr3evi
1" Black Roofing Screws: amzn.to/3Nr0gac
Milk Crates: amzn.to/43YeNj2
Plasson Broiler Drinker: farmerboyag.com/broiler-drink...
Tools:
Milwaukee Cordless Narrow Crown Stapler: amzn.to/462Z7Nc
Dewalt 12" Miter Saw with XPS Tech: amzn.to/3CrvlEw
Porter Cable Grinder: amzn.to/3CordVV
SawStop Mobile Table Saw: amzn.to/3X2b162
*** Amazon products are affiliate links. We may make a small commission with no cost to you, when you use these links. We appreciate your support and hope you found this content helpful.

[@francoismassin8649]

Nice clean build 👍
You could do the same (Albeit simplier) for rabbits
When I was a kid, I had a bottomless cage for mine

[@McVeyMcFarm]

This tractor could be adapted for quite a few animals. I think the ultimate goal was to even put on top of raised garden beds for the chickens to fertilize. We’ll see how long it holds up with the pvc roofing panels! Thanks for watching!

[@stijnt2377]

I made Justin's chickshaw and had the same concerns about the paneling, particularly to keep weasels and marten out in our area. I decided to put hardware cloth and then the paneling over top of that. So far after 6 months I have had zero predator issues, how has yours held up this past year?

[@McVeyMcFarm]

Great question! Still holding up great! We’ve had zero predator issues although we don’t have a ton of small/slinky type predators like it seems y’all do. Smallest here would be coons, skunks, etc …. We haven’t needed to add any sort of hardware cloth under the panels.

[@patricksul71]

Will the chickens life in this 365 days/year? Or is this only for good weather season use?

[@McVeyMcFarm]

We only raise meat chickens in the spring and summer. It would depend on your climate. It gets a bit too cold here in north Georgia to raise them outside during the winter, but our regular egg laying chickens do fine in their outdoor coop all year round. We just put our first batch of meat chicks (3 weeks old) outside in the tractor since nighttime temps will be in the 50s for the foreseeable future.