I have built many different styles of PVC chicken tractors. I am all for improving existing designs as well as making new innovations. If you are building a custom tractor out of PVC or even other materials I am going to share design ideas that are worth incorporating into your model.

Imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery. If I find a better way of doing something I incorporate it as soon as possible. Nobody should be offended by someone copying their ideas, they should be flattered. I have copied many ideas and came up with a few myself. Often I will think of something myself only to find someone else is already doing it. If I had knowledge of those ideas in advance I could have saved a step or two.

Here are my hints and suggestions in no particular order:

#1: Top rib for the hoops. I have seen tractors built without this, and it makes them weak and liable to collapse. There are different ways of doing this. I use crosses and glue everything together. Another way is to use a pipe or a board under the hoops and secure them with zip ties or wire

#2: Raised Shelf Feed Area. Even if you don’t fence off your feed area for whatever reason a raised shelf is worth having. Being portable is the best part of a chicken tractor and anything that aids that mobility is a plus. Running over feed bowls or having to dig them out of the back of the coop is no fun, with a raised shelf the feed bowls move with the tractor.

#3: Fenced feed area. This is one of the best designs to improve the cleanliness of your feed area. With a fenced feeding area chickens can only get their heads to the feed. Cleaning crap from the feed bowls is no fun, so prevent it from happening in the first place.

#4: Chicken Nipple Waterers. This is the best invention in chicken care in decades. This is by far the best method to water your chickens. Chicken nipple waterers keep your water clean, reduce labor and if used in combination with a automatic watering system will reduce labor even further.

#5: Door Supports: Using poly, wood or similar materials to support all one way hinged doors to prevent them from swinging to far in the wrong way. This will strengthen the door and door frame as well as the entire chicken tractor.

 

#6: No Back Nest Boxes. Nest boxes that have a door as their back side make cleaning easier. Just open the door and throw out the bedding. Using buckets is an easy way to accomplish this design feature, but it is just as easily incorporated into wood nesting boxes.

#7: Wheels. Wheels make everything move easier. While they are not needed on very small tractors like the PVC Row Crop Cultivator, anything larger will benefit.

#8: Roosts. Roosts make chickens happier, and makes free ranging easier. If your chickens like their home they will gladly return to it each evening. Making a tall roosting area in your tractor will make your chickens happier, and your life easier.

#9: No Floors. Chicken tractors are great because they get new grass carpets frequently. Don’t mess up a beautiful thing by putting a floor there to catch detritus. Floors are no guarantee of safety, and there are plenty of ways to insure the security of your chickens.

#10: Safety Push Bar. Something to push your chickens forward while moving the coop is a good idea. I had a chicken get its foot caught under the PVC frame while moving the chicken tractor and it ended up with a broken leg. I use a piece of 1/2″ PVC in front of the coop to prevent this.

 

While everyone’s needs are different I think most people who keep chickens could benefit by some of these ideas, so use what you like and if you have a good idea send it my way or put it in the comments below.