Self Powered Chicken Tractor

[Pullstart 62,834]

I have this thought in my head.  I have about 10 days to make it work!  We have 125 meat birds on the way, I need to make them a house.  Momma wants it to fertilize our yard.  I was planning on it fertilizing the deer pasture.  Hey!  What do I know?

 

I have this thought of a greenhouse type frame, with a Predator 6.5 belt driving a truck axle to push it along.  The drive and steer axles will need to be on some type of pivots, so the machine can drop to the ground once parked.  I figure go-kart style swing arms, if you will.  I might run a kart clutch, to start it up, and run the throttle from inside to be sure I don’t run any bawk bawks over.  I can’t really delay.  I’m starting by finding some material for the base structure.  These pallet racking crossmembers are 6” tall and quite thick.  They should do a decent job, once butt welded together.

 

 

[Pullstart 62,834]

I’ve got some hoops and various types of axles.  Front wheel drive steer axle?  Rear steer rear wheel drive?  Rear straight drive axle and pivot steer front axle?  Lots of thoughts, lots of options.

One thing is for sure.  The birds are coming whether I’m ready or not!

 

[ri702bill 8,316]

This here's gonna be a fragrant one, for sure !! Google "DIY Manure Spreader" and Manure Spreader Plans - there are some YT videos you could watch of what others have done (if you are not banished for life - I just could not let that go...)

 

Maybe run the HF engine on methane spray?? 

Bill

Edited April 1, 2023 by ri702bill

[ri702bill 8,316]

Why confused, Kev??

[Pullstart 62,834]

The idea and purpose of it being mobile, is to reduce the manure build up all in one place.  Daily movements (of the tractor of course) will lend fresh pasture and fertilizer.  

[Pullstart 62,834]

Apparently I’m not the only being who is fond of these crossmembers!

 

 

[Pullstart 62,834]

I’m not the first person to do this, and it won’t be the most involved ever, but I just hope it works the first time!

 

 

 

[Pullstart 62,834]

I will only be able to do so much welding INSIDE the shop, then it’s out to the gravel driveway.

 

I am not doing every measure to make these beams PERFECTLY straight, just close enough.

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,535]

Why not a trailer style and use a  to move it. Jacks to raise / lower. No need to power it... way less involved maybe? 

[Pullstart 62,834]

9 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Why not a trailer style and use a  to move it. Jacks to raise / lower. No need to power it... way less involved maybe? 

I thought about it.  I might use a jack of sorts, or a winch.  In the end, it would be a lot of work each day to lift the jacks (or lower), run the out, hook up, move it, return said .  If I can build it to be all inclusive, I may find help easier 

[953 nut 55,189]

If you put a foot wide ski or some trailer tires  on both ends of both side rails it should slide across grass so you could tow it to the new location each day. your yard looks very level.

[ebinmaine 67,422]

[johnnymag3 2,519]

   

[Pullstart 62,834]

I did a little cleaning up, not much more I can do inside.

 

I found a good running Honda GX engine on a pressure washer frame.  I planned on using @elcamino/wheelhorse via @19richie66’s 6.5 Predator engine from the 2018 Big Show, but I might as well keep that one N.O.S. A little while longer!

 

 

[Pullstart 62,834]

It is squared up and tack welded in the corners.  We pulled this Chevy 10 bolt around front, flipped and rotated the springs, and now I’m working on a lift design.  In my head of course!

 

 

[Pullstart 62,834]

This frame structure is probably .100” thick.  I’ll build whatever wall uprights needed.  I’m thinking a large lever of sorts to lift the frame off the ground when needed.  
 

Crude drawing, but this is what is in my head.  @wallfish, my lead hammer mechanic engineer? You out there?  Have any ms paint drawings available for me?     @8ntruck, my lead manufacturing design engineer, if my main frame is 24’ long, how far back does the stationary axle need to be to lift the frame an inch or two?
 

 

[Pullstart 62,834]

Today, I’ll be working on the rest of the frame work and hoops.  I plan to have a solid upright and roof truss in the center of the structure, then hoops over top.  Gussets where applicable, but I need to make sure the structure can flex and conform to the mostly flat ground.

Edited April 3, 2023 by Pullstart

[Pullstart 62,834]

I made a “jig” of sorts to measure the hoops.  I’ll cut them to the shortest height and mount ‘em up.

 

 

 

[Pullstart 62,834]

I have all the hoops welded.  
 

 

 

 

 

I had a thought.  Run a winch cable through a couple pulleys.  Let front and rear lift each other.  The length of the lever and the fulcrum point to be decided once the machine is built.  I’d like 4-6” lift travel if possible.

 

 

[wallfish 16,994]

Do you have an old log splitter hanging around? Hydraulics

I believe you are going to need to lift both ends to get 4-6" lift because I assume this needs to sit flat on the ground for the birds to stay in.

What about Dick's ski/skid idea on one end and drag it with the drive end? Then you only need to lift one end. Doesn't appear like it's going to be very heavy

Edited April 3, 2023 by wallfish

[SylvanLakeWH 25,535]

 

Couple bottle jacks to raise / lower tires... combo skid / roll. only need to go length of the building...

 

Still suggest trailer with dedicated  puller... way less "stuff"...

[Pullstart 62,834]

Lots accomplished.  Weather break!

 

 

[wallfish 16,994]

Here's another idea

What about keeping it a fixed height all the time with the drive wheels and then put a thick rubber skirt around the bottom?

It can flex for moving it and it should be heavy and stiff enough to keep the birds in

 

[Handy Don 12,212]

2 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

 

 

Planning on really tall chickens, eh? 

[Pullstart 62,834]

56 minutes ago, wallfish said:

Doesn't appear like it's going to be very heavy

 

one corner is all I got to lift and I’m nowhere near completion.