How to Build a Simple Chicken Tractor

TODAY I WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO BUILD A SIMPLE CHICKEN TRACTOR WITH 2X4’S AND PLYWOOD THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO KEEP YOUR CHICKS SAFELY OUT ON GRASS.

I’m not sure when we made our first two chicken tractors, but it has to have been well over 15 years ago. One finally had to be scrapped a couple of years ago, but the other is still going. It is looking a little tired and the chicken wire has had some patching but we are still using it. This year it is housing our 9 turkeys.

We first heard of the idea of chicken tractors from Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms a good 16 or 17 years ago. He was using these ‘tractors’ to move his meat birds around a pasture to keep them on new grass every day. I honestly can’t remember where we found the plan for our smaller chicken tractor, but they have served us well for many years.

Now our meat chicks are getting big and really need to be on pasture so we are hurrying to get a new one built. With all the busyness of our farm right now this project got put off a few days longer than would be optimal for our birds. But then, when is life always optimal!

Simple Chicken Tractor dimensions

This simple chicken tractor is made with basic materials found at the lumber yard or hardware store. We made our entirely of scraps of lumber, chicken wire and hardware we had on hand. We even had the wheels because we thought we were going to build this a couple summers ago and then didn’t need it.

Also, it can easily be constructed by one person in just a couple of hours. In fact, my son that buil the raised beds built this chicken tractor pretty much alone just by looking at the old one.

It measures 8’x8′ outside to outside so it fits two sheets of plywood perfectly on the top and works well with standard 8′ dimensional lumber.

It is just a little over 30″ tall with the wheels on and just under 30″ on the other side where the handles are. This works well with 3′ chicken wire. It also allows us to easily reach into it if necessary to move feed or water or pick up a bird.

Our first chicken tractors had chicken wire on half of the roof and a plywood hinged lid. But, because we have goats in this same pasture that proved to be a bad combination. The goats love to play on top of these and they stretched the wire until it was nearly to the ground and it was ruined.

We then replaced it with solid plywood and it has lasted fine. There is a little less sunshine for our chicks but since it is so hot here that hasn’t been an issue. If you don’t have goats and this isn’t an issue you may choose to make the top with chicken wire.

Simple Chicken Tractor Materials List

Don’t let this long list intimidate you. A lot of it is simple supplies most people keep on hand. In fact, we built the entire frame and the gussets with scrap or salvaged wood from other projects.

• 2 – 4’x8′ sheets of 1/2″ plywood
• 4 square feet of plywood scraps to cut corner gussets
• 12 – 8ft 2x4s
• 6′ 2×2
• 32′ of 3′ wide chicken wire
• 2 – 7 or 8″ lawn mower wheels
• 2 – 5″ bolts to fit in the diameter of the wheel hole
• 4 washers to fit the bolts
• 2 nuts to fit the bolts
• staple gun & staples
• Screwdriver and 2″ and 3″ wood screws
• Drill and drill bit one size up from your wheel bolts
• 2 or 3 large heavy duty hinges
• wood dowels or 1″ od pipe to make handles

Steps to Build a Simple Chicken Tractor

Simple Chicken Tractor Frame

1. Cut 1 1/2″ off the end of 8 2″x4″x8′ studs
2. On a level surface build the base frame and the top frame, each with four 2″x4″x94 1/2″studs. The studs should be stood on their edge and screwed together in an overlapping manner as you go around so that the outside dimensions remain 8′ square.
3. Cut four 22″ pieces from one 2″x4″x8′ stud to use as the corner upright pieces.
4. Screw these pieces on top of the base frame by toe-nailing in the screw. Then screw on the top frame in the same manner.
5. Use 36″ roll of chicken wire and a staple gun to cover the outside of the frame completely with chicken wire. Begin at outside bottom and roll over the top edge and secure on the inside of the top frame.
6. Cut eight 12″ squares of plywood and then cut each in half to form 8 triangles. Screw these on to the top and bottom of the corners (over the chicken wire) as shown in the picture to stabilize and strengthen the frame

Simple Chicken Tractor wheels, handles and optional roost

1. Cut two 2″x2″ pieces, each 29″ long and screw to inside of frame at two corners for stabilizing the wheel bolts.
2. Prop up the frame off the ground about 1 1/2-2″ (we set the extra wheel under the frame) and place wheel against the outside of frame where you attached the 2″x2″ piece on the inside. Line up the center hole of a wheel with 2″x2″ piece on inside and drill through all layers at the center of the wheel.
3. Place bolt through the wheel and then through the frame. Place the washer on and screw on the nut.
4. Drill holes for the pipe or wood handles in the frame on the opposite side from the wheels. Place a larger piece of pipe or wood on the ends of them so they do not slip out. Slide them in from the inside so the handles stick out the back.
5. Optional roost: add two 22″ 2×4 pieces to sides of frame toward the back of the chicken tractor and place dowel or pipe into holes drilled in those wood pieces about 8 to 10″ off the ground for a roost.

Build the roof and hinged lid

1. Cut three 2x4x8′ pieces to 93″ length. Place them on edge inside top frame and screw in place at 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 way across. These should run from side to side the same way as the wheels. The center one needs to be dead center so the two top plywood pieces will hinge on it.
2. Place one sheet of plywood on the back of the frame (the side that has handles), square with edges and middle support piece and screw in place every foot around the perimeter. One half of the middle support stud should be showing to support the lid.
3. Place the second sheet of plywood on the frame up tight against the first piece, square edges.
4. Screw on hinges over the seam line between two plywood pieces.
5. Optional: hang your waterer from the support bar under the lid so that it moves with the tractor when you roll it.

Simple Chicken Tractor Video

Advantages of having your meat chickens on grass

It is optimal to get your meat chicks out on grass as soon as they are big enough to transfer, stand the temperatures and be safe from predators.

We keep a heat lamp in our chicken tractor and cover it with a tarp on cool nights. By doing this we can usually move the chicks out to the chicken tractor by two weeks of age. This year we were a little behind and they were almost 3 weeks old.

Advantages to keeping your chicks on grass:

• Cleaner than a dry pen or a brooder which means less disease
• Water stays cleaner without dirt or pine shavings
• More nutrients – chickens can scratch up minerals, bugs, and worms on a new patch of grass every day

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Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse today!

Please drop me a line below if you enjoyed this and the information for helpful. Or if you have questions about anything to do with the blog please feel free to email me at julie@thisbeautifulfarmlife.com I truly want this blog to be helpful to you and bring value to your life. Let me know if there is something you’ve been wondering about that I can address.

Thanks again for joining me here in the farmhouse today! Have a blessed day! Julie

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