There are times inwards every flock when i or to a greater extent than chicken needs to live on kept physically separated from the others inwards the yard, inwards which cases, a lightweight chicken playpen tractor comes inwards handy to render continued visibility to the flock spell protecting the bird(s) from each other. A playpen tractor is useful when novel chickens are existence integrated into an existing flock, when a aeroplane bully needs to live on removed for others' safety, when a minor injury requires existence kept inwards protective custody, or when feather loss from over-mating or picking warrants existence provided alongside a security zone. It tin besides live on used to bound growing chicks during a plain trip inwards the yard on warm day. Such times produce not include when birds are sick or inwards quarantine.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 playpen tractor is a temporary, daytime confinement facility located inwards the chicken yard. It is not predator-proof in addition to is non intended to identify chickens at night. It is spacious, lightweight in addition to slowly for i somebody to movement lonely without the added weight of wheels, but non in addition to thus lightweight that it could blow over inwards the wind. The instructions for this playpen tractor are provided courtesy of Mr. Chicken Chick who built it at my asking for 3 bantam Cochin teenagers existence integrated into the flock. This was a figure-it-out-as-you-go project. (don't judge) Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 constituent of the structure was filmed alive on Facebook in addition to tin live on seen HERE.
NOTES: Chickens should e'er bring access to water, feed, in addition to shade inwards the playpen tractor. Either locate purpose of the playpen tractor inwards a shady location or attach a slice of shade stuff or tarp to a constituent of it. Bonus points if you lot tin adjust for a dust bath inside!
The lack of a door was intentional every bit it would serve no purpose. The tractor is easily tipped upwards on its side for access.
The lack of a door was intentional every bit it would serve no purpose. The tractor is easily tipped upwards on its side for access.
4.5 ft broad x 10 ft, 11” long
SUPPLIES
- (8) 3/4 in. x 10 ft. Schedule forty PVC electrical conduit
- (9) 3/4 in. Schedule forty PVC 90-degree elbow connectors
- (12) 3/4 in. Schedule forty PVC tee connectors
- One gyre of chicken wire (3 ft x fifty ft)
- PVC cement
- 22 estimate wire (or zip ties to attach the chicken wire to the tractor frame)
- (5) 1/4" x 3 1/2" galvanized wagon bolts alongside nuts
TOOLS
- Tape stair out & marker
- Saw or PVC pipage cutter
- Tin snips (to cutting chicken wire)
- Drill alongside 3/8" bit
- Adjustable wrench (for bolts & nuts)
2. BOTTOM ENDS: Measure in addition to cutting (2), 54” pieces of conduit. Position them on the ground, perpendicular to the bottom side pieces.
3. CREATE BOTTOM CORNERS & COMPLETE THE FRAME: Cut (4), 2" pieces of conduit. Loosely attach an elbow connector to i terminate of each 2" piece. Now loosely bring together each elbow connector to an terminate conduit slice in addition to a side tee connector to consummate the frame.
4. Measure, score in addition to cutting each base of operations conduit slice every bit follows: at 35”, 65”, 73” in addition to 96”. Install a T-connector at each cutting location. (see bluish arrows inwards photograph below) Orient the openings of the tee connectors at the 35, 65, 96” marks towards occur of A-frame at 45° angles.
5. CREATE BOTTOM CENTER SUPPORT: Cut (1), 54" segment of conduit. Loosely attach it to the base of operations to the tee connectors at the 73” marks. (see yellowish arrows inwards photograph above)
6. CREATE A-FRAME WALLS: Cut (10), 37” pieces of conduit. Loosely attach each slice to a base of operations tee connector. Join conduit pieces on opposing sides of frame alongside elbow connectors.
8. GLUE CONNECTIONS: secure all conduit pieces to connectors alongside PVC cement next instructions on cement can.
9. PREP TOP OF A-FRAME: Drill a 3/8" hole vertically downwardly through each PVC elbow at the v frame peaks. (this pic gets a petty ahead of the instructions, but you lot tin encounter where we're headed)
10. CREATE PEAK SUPPORT CONDUIT: Cut (1), 5” segment of conduit. Apply PVC cement to the exterior of the 5” segment in addition to insert into the flared terminate of a 10 ft slice of conduit.
11. Align peak back upwards conduit underneath A-frame elbows. Suspend conduit inwards identify alongside wire.
12. Using the existing holes inwards PVC elbows (from pace 9) as a guide, drill straightaway downwardly through conduit.
13. Insert bolts through drilled holes in addition to secure alongside nuts.
14. ADD CHICKEN WIRE: Roll out chicken wire along each side of frame in addition to cutting to jibe using tin snips. Attach chicken wire to each conduit yesteryear threading wire through in addition to unopen to both. Bend dorsum all precipitous ends of chicken wire.
6. CREATE A-FRAME WALLS: Cut (10), 37” pieces of conduit. Loosely attach each slice to a base of operations tee connector. Join conduit pieces on opposing sides of frame alongside elbow connectors.
9. PREP TOP OF A-FRAME: Drill a 3/8" hole vertically downwardly through each PVC elbow at the v frame peaks. (this pic gets a petty ahead of the instructions, but you lot tin encounter where we're headed)
12. Using the existing holes inwards PVC elbows (from pace 9) as a guide, drill straightaway downwardly through conduit.
13. Insert bolts through drilled holes in addition to secure alongside nuts.
