My Chicken Tractor Chronicles: building my Mobile Coop that includes the goat too!
- Bloulou Lifestyle: natural body, yoga
- Mar 5
- 3 min read
While market gardening, I came across the idea of a chicken tractor. My brother Keith and his girlfriend Gaby undertook a project during the Covid period to return to our family farm and cultivate vegetables and flowers. Keith constructed a mobile coop using recycled tempo frames. Inspired, I decided to create one myself that could house my laying hens, meat chickens, and provide a shelter for the pygmy goats. Essentially, a chicken tractor is a movable structure that is moved daily to securely house the animals, allowing them to feed on grasses and bugs while enriching the soil with their manure.
Understanding the Concept of a Chicken Tractor
Before diving into construction, I wanted to truly understand what I needed my chicken tractor to accomplish. At its core, a chicken tractor is a portable coop that allows chickens to forage for food while keeping them protected from predators.
Unlike traditional coops that can become muddy and smelly, the chicken tractor promotes a healthier living space. For instance, studies have shown that chickens that can forage in a movable coop have improved diets and lead healthier lives. And since my meat chickens will be consumed and my laying hens produce eggs. I wanted to have the best nutrition I can too!
Planning My Chicken Tractor Design
Following some research and inspiration, I created a design prioritizing functionality and ease of construction. I imagined a lightweight yet robust frame that could accommodate 20 meat chickens, a second level for my laying hens, complete with nesting boxes and an automatic door. Beneath the second level, there is a small space for my pygmy goats, Oatmeal and Peanut. The chicken tractor is enclosed by a movable electric fence to protect against predators. My hope is to leave the dogs Rolo and River for an added level of protection and warning signal.
The primary materials I gathered included:
4 x 4 wood for the frame ( I will paint instead of going with pressure treated)
Hardware cloth to keep the chickens safe (BMR Uniag)
Wheels for easy mobility (Princess Auto)
Four tempo frames
1 x 3 for the door and side boards to secure the hardware cloth
Automatic drinking bowl for the goats
Solar powered automatic chicken door
A door access will allow for me to check on the animals and clean out the waterers from time to time, making my daily routine smoother. My plan will include feeding and watering that can be done from the outside of the chicken tractor.
Getting Started: The Construction Phase
This Friday March 7th I pick up all my construction materials and the construction offically begins on Sunday March 9th. Keep you posted.
Adding Comfort for My Chickens
I installed two prefabricated nesting boxes to house six layers on the second floor, with a ramp to access and a solar powered automatic door to let them out in the morning. I also installed automatic drinkers for them.
The meat chickens will arrive May 14th they will live in a brooder until they are old enough to go outside.
Moving the Chicken Tractor
It is important for me to build the chicken tractor in a way that I will be able to move the structure by hand and not have to start my tractor to move it.
Whether you're an experienced homesteader or just starting out, exploring the world of chickens opens a door to numerous opportunities for learning and growth. I hope my chicken tractor chronicles inspire you to embark on your own adventure—who knows what delightful experiences await on your journey?
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