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Pullstart

Self Powered Chicken Tractor

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Pullstart
7 minutes ago, JoeM said:

I kind of cheated and jump from page 1 to 4 but there is something missing. Need a integrated rubber paddle accessory mounted for plucking. they are meat chickens. :D

(with a lawn vacuum to suck up them feathers)

 

I see you got the kiddos to help, best help ever!


I’ll have to build an attachment is what you’re saying?  :handgestures-thumbupright:

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Pullstart

And now the rest of the story…

 

 

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Pullstart

Yes, ground clearance and uneven ground even on our flat land, is lending a hand at carnage.  New belts already, I snapped the others.  Live and learn…

 

I’m working on food provisions, water source, etc now.  The adjustable strings are too high to reach on most occasions, they need a drop kit apparently.

 

 

D4C885BA-CE86-46C8-8D6B-4EF37F88F1D9.jpeg

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ebinmaine
2 hours ago, Treepep said:

@ebinmaine.  I would be honored and quite interested.  I,m ashamed to admit I do not know how to look that up?  Driving to Maine is not in my plans this year...Yet:D.  Although allowed chickens are probably happening at the next (hopefully final) house. 

Thanks again for the inspiration @Pullstart.  I have been appointed the safety coordinator in my field along with other responsibilities of course. You scare/excite me:helmet:.  No videos of me so nothing unsafe happens:handgestures-fingerscrossed:

 

I threw you a "mention"  at the end of the other thread.

As with many of my threads there's a bit of highly encouraged banter regarding everything and nothing but there's also a ton of great information about chicken stuff.  

 

 

 

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ebinmaine
2 hours ago, Pullstart said:


 

I’ll hand it to ya, that is about 4.5” on my map… but EB will cook ya up some cowboy coffee for the afternoon trip home!

 

 

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ABSOFLIPPINLUTELY!!

 

I contribute good coffee and a bad attitude. 

Trina is the nice host.  

 

 

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Pullstart

 

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Handy Don
51 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

I contribute good coffee and a bad attitude. 

Trina is the nice host.  

Don't let the growl discourage all y’all, but do be cautious of the coffee! :)

 

Also note the I-95 through Philly got shut down yesterday due to a gasoline tanker burning under a northbound overpass and causing it to collapse while weakening the southbound side. Months before it’ll be fully restored.

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davem1111
9 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Don't let the growl discourage all y’all, but do be cautious of the coffee! :)

 

Also note the I-95 through Philly got shut down yesterday due to a gasoline tanker burning under a northbound overpass and causing it to collapse while weakening the southbound side. Months before it’ll be fully restored.

 

I don't know if this was brought up because someone is going to be driving through there, but I know that area well and highly recommend hopping onto I-295 through South Jersey and across the Del Mem bridge into Delaware to get around Philly, I'm sure it's a HUGE cluster mess.  It typically is even on a good day...

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Sailman

Hot Damn! That is an amazing bit of Yankee ingenuity, creativity and perseverance there @Pullstart ! In this day of many people lacking a good work ethic and expecting someone else or the govt to do it for 'em...your an inspiration. I bet Elmer and Cecil would approve....

And happy chickens to boot! :greetings-clappingyellow:

Edited by Sailman
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Pullstart

Engineering change #1 - more ground clearance for the lead axle.

 

Cause - bottoming out more than assumed.  Backyard hammer mechanic assumptions made an assofme.

 

By extending the wheels past the fulcrum, I should net up to twice (maybe more) the lift.  I can limit this with blocks on the lift lever if needed.

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Pullstart

Much better.  I have been advancing it about 6-7’ shy of a full enclosure.  It gives them a chance to peck the spilled food off the ground before I write it off.

 

I’d like to hang some type of curtain (chain link fence?  PVC pipe?) inside the frame to fill the gap when it is off the ground.   Conveyor belt was mentioned earlier in the thread.  I’ll be looking for something around here to take apart and do wonders with, as 1-3 birds generally escape during the moving process.


They are provided with 100 lbs of food at all times.  They are consuming about 25 lbs per day, or $6-7 per day.  The waterer has a float to continually fill it.  It has an internal float to provide the green tray water without spilling over.

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ebinmaine

Quite the system!! 

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SylvanLakeWH

:text-yeahthat:

 

They got quite the life... Can i be one of your chickens? :confusion-confused:

 

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Pullstart

I have made a few changes, but this thing is awesome if you ask me!

 

 

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Sailman

A really great innovative solution to your "chicken ranch". Look like some fat and happy chickens!

Dumb question here....With just the netting above the wire mesh on the end caps, is there a chance a predator could easily get through that? You mentioned predator traps so maybe that solves the problem but boy, if the wrong critter got in there it could be heart breaking...

Maybe wire mesh all the way up on your "to do list"?

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Tractorhead

Cool Chicken Tractor Project.

 

There be allway‘s things they can be improved, thats a definitely normal,

but i like the Way how you constructing it.

As far as i knew it right it is simple with mostly things have on hands and give them all a senseful reuse.

 

👍

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Pullstart
9 hours ago, Sailman said:

A really great innovative solution to your "chicken ranch". Look like some fat and happy chickens!

Dumb question here....With just the netting above the wire mesh on the end caps, is there a chance a predator could easily get through that? You mentioned predator traps so maybe that solves the problem but boy, if the wrong critter got in there it could be heart breaking...

Maybe wire mesh all the way up on your "to do list"?


From what we have found so far, the poultry netting is quite tough, and it’s plenty to get animals caught up in.  My inlaw’s dog got snagged, and yesterday I even found a bird tangled and rolled up in it.  It’s recovering in our basement right now.  The metal fencing on the bottom, is to prevent the birds on the inside from getting tangled easily.

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