lesa
Garden Master
Perfect! That is a great setup! I see many a BBQ in your future.
My new chicken tractor is up and rockin'! :D
- Thread starter journey11
- Start date
NwMtGardener
Garden Addicted
Wow, nice work journey!! That is so smart how when you open the door there is a small piece of fence to keep the little devils in, that you can easily step over. Brilliant!
baymule
Garden Master
I am so glad I was a help to you! I love the chicken nipples! Your tractor is so cool! It looks great and I like the feeder too! How about a pic/tutorial on how to make one?journey11 said:
canesisters
Garden Master
Wonderful tractor!!! What a great job. 
OldGuy43
Garden Ornament
Very very nice(!), but I think tractors are supposed to roll, not rock. 
MontyJ
Deeply Rooted
That's a great looking tractor Journey! That's just exactly what I need for the next batch of CX.
Jared77
Garden Addicted
That is cool! Nicely done
- Thread starter
- #18
journey11
Garden Master
Thanks guys. I am so excited about how much work and stress this new tractor is gonna save me.
I didn't think to take step-by-step pictures, but you can see something similar in how the frame is built if you watch the video in Steve's thread (I put the link in the first post). The main thing I got from the video was how to set one end of the cattle panels in first and then walk it up. They are very stiff and heavy otherwise. That is the safest, easiest way to get them in there. Then I used 1-1/4" fence staples here and there to tack it onto the frame. I slipped scrap 2x4's under the edge of the cattle panel to elevate it to where I wanted to hammer in the staples. That way it wouldn't be too low and dig into the ground.
The other thing I got from the video was the fact that 3 long woodscrews would indeed be enough to hold the frame together and be sturdy. Once the cattle panels are in, they also add support and keep it square.
Framing up the door can also be seen in the video....I just took my 2x4s and held them in place and marked where to cut it. They are held to the cattle panels with 2 staples across the top of the board and then 2 woodscrews below, drilled in at an angle. Get the star bit tipped woodscrews! They don't slip and they go right in. The phillips head ones really annoy me.
From there it's pretty self explanatory. I put some of the details and what sizes of stuff I used in the descriptions below each picture.
I wish I had thought to keep track of what I spent though. Most of it I already had on hand, leftovers from other projects. I did buy new 2x4s and other than the tarp ($24) and the staples (~$5) and the clips for the roost ($2.50 each), I had everything on hand including the cattle panels which usually go for about $20 each.
When I consider that I am raising about $500 worth of meat birds in there and the devastation one dog can do...I think it was well worth the price. It is a quick and easy project too.
I didn't think to take step-by-step pictures, but you can see something similar in how the frame is built if you watch the video in Steve's thread (I put the link in the first post). The main thing I got from the video was how to set one end of the cattle panels in first and then walk it up. They are very stiff and heavy otherwise. That is the safest, easiest way to get them in there. Then I used 1-1/4" fence staples here and there to tack it onto the frame. I slipped scrap 2x4's under the edge of the cattle panel to elevate it to where I wanted to hammer in the staples. That way it wouldn't be too low and dig into the ground.
The other thing I got from the video was the fact that 3 long woodscrews would indeed be enough to hold the frame together and be sturdy. Once the cattle panels are in, they also add support and keep it square.
Framing up the door can also be seen in the video....I just took my 2x4s and held them in place and marked where to cut it. They are held to the cattle panels with 2 staples across the top of the board and then 2 woodscrews below, drilled in at an angle. Get the star bit tipped woodscrews! They don't slip and they go right in. The phillips head ones really annoy me.
From there it's pretty self explanatory. I put some of the details and what sizes of stuff I used in the descriptions below each picture.
I wish I had thought to keep track of what I spent though. Most of it I already had on hand, leftovers from other projects. I did buy new 2x4s and other than the tarp ($24) and the staples (~$5) and the clips for the roost ($2.50 each), I had everything on hand including the cattle panels which usually go for about $20 each.
When I consider that I am raising about $500 worth of meat birds in there and the devastation one dog can do...I think it was well worth the price. It is a quick and easy project too.
ducks4you
Garden Master
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Great job. VERY jealous!!!
