DIY Chicken Tractor Lift System - ChickLift Simplified

Chicklift Redesigned and Simplified. My feeble attempt at building a system to raise and lower my John Suscovich chicken tractors.
A grinder and paint make a welder everything he aint.....

[@Steve-yq5fh]

My best parts list: All 3/8” thickness steel, all 4 inch wide unless stated otherwise Bottom piece: 18 inches long Top flap: 7 inches long Upright: 4 inches long Flap catch piece (?): 1.5inch angle iron Tractor mount bracket piece: 1.5inch angle iron 24inches long Hinge: 4 inch door hinge Wheels: unsure / varying depending on needs. Hoping to build one of these myself! Thanks.

[@seriouslynow22]

Thank you so much! I am a newbie to chickens and recognize the necessity of being able to move my little flock to fresh spots on my land when I don't want to let them free range. My bleary eyes have gone through many a chicken videos in the night for weeks. I like your chicken tractor lift system the best. I am tired. Your system wins. Thanks!

[@theElderberryFarmer]

Nicely done! I plan to shamelessly copy this for my own chicken tractors ;-) Sure beats paying full price for the ChickLift mechanism. Take care and God Bless.

[@pendopendo7166]

Great visual demonstration and verbal description, thanks

[@MrMrblackcreek]

great job! I'll add that the name brand company takes a month to get your order to you. I placed an order and paid , then built the chicken coop and put chicks in it and here I am 1 MONTH LATER with no chicklift wheels installed yet. They took a week just to reply to my email (after 3 weeks) to tell me that they were working "now" on boxing up my shipment. For $200 with shipping I would think they'd be a little more eager to mail the dang things.

[@MrBwinslow]

Dude, this is great idea. I'm going to try and make some of these for my chickens tractors next spring.

[@petenelson8136]

Love the design. I've got a welder, used it twice so maybe I'll try to make one of these. Heck if I screw it up it NBD, it's only for a chicken tractor so no one's going to see it except me. I built a Joel Saladin chicken tractor last spring, used it for 55 birds last year, and disassembled it this week. I'm building 2 chicken tractors like the one's you've got next week, and I think I'll be adding your modifications to it. Thanks for sharing.

[@commonsense1085]

Best idea ive seen by far, amazing

[@denniscleveland669]

Looks like a clever idea!

[@masonbaylorbears]

Looks pretty great!

[@theroost9693]

works great. I am also planning on building these. Guess I better build my chicken tractor first

[@mydearamy]

Well done! Thanks for sharing.

[@davidfineren479]

Brilliant idea.

[@fjwrt]

Excellent idea

[@howlie58]

Very nice!

[@paulaharkleroad7708]

Vary good job

[@vannemocilac274]

good timing. these are out of stock!

[@garyallen3938]

That looks so good! Do you happen to have a parts list in order to make one?

[@bowhuntr311]

The parts are listed as I describe them. Its just raw steel and some wheels from harbor freight.

[@charlielewis6849]

That's great 👍

[@paijoaf]

Amazing 👍💯💯💯💯👍🤩

[@Simplehandworks_]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@robertleski3307]

What kinda system did you use for the back or the same system for the back but 1 on each side for stability, I'm a retired welder and I think you did a great job of making something that works great and on the cheap homestead stile,💯👍

[@bowhuntr311]

This is the backside of the tractor. I have a rope tied to the front runners with a 45 cut on them and you can skid or lift and pull the front of the tractor. I could fabricate another lift system for the front but havent found the need yet.

[@dfishman76]

Do you have a cut list and parts list for this build? I am guessing 2 hinges for each?

[@bowhuntr311]

This is from memory. 2 - 4inch door hinges. 1 -18inch 4in wide flat, 1 5inch long 4inch wide, 1 7inch 4inch wide, 24inch piece of angle iron, 1 4inch piece of angle iron, 1 24inch piece of 3/8th rounds stock. 1 I-Bolt, 2 tires, 2 washers (3/8ths arbor), 2 cotter keys or pins.

[@user-th7zi3zc3r]

Merci

[@docpierceranch9329]

Very nice job! How high off the ground is the tractor raised?

[@bowhuntr311]

4-5inches in the very back. It high enough 2week old chicks can easiy get out when you move it.

[@PierceWellnessCenter]

How do you keep the 2 week old chicks in?? My new system also lifts about 4" I dont have a welder so I had to go a different direction. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGPbdqx4o9JkfdU

[@brich2929]

​@@bowhuntr311that's not good

[@jodiewhittaker5777]

So the bottom plate is connected to the angle iron by a hinge as well?

[@bowhuntr311]

Yes, Bottom plate is welded to the hinge. That bottom hinge is welded to the upright piece, the upright piece is welded to the top hinge, the top hinge is welded to the 7inch piece.

[@jacoblee8311]

How long is your riser that attaches the 7”, that your hinge is attached to?

[@bowhuntr311]

There is a 4inch piece of steel I didnt mention. The hinges are attached to that. The bottom piece and 7inch flap are each attached to a hinge.

[@nottinghamfan1]

Do you think this could be made with 2x4s or other wood?

[@bowhuntr311]

Yes. 3/4plywood and 2x4s. Axle keep metal but drill holes for the axle through a couple 2x4s screwed to under side

[@michaelmendez8516]

Hi, that 1 1/2 inch angle iron. how many inches from the bottom hinge on that 18 inch piece?

[@bowhuntr311]

1inch less than the length of the flap. I think thr flap was 7inches long.if you add that piece last you can eyeball its location.

[@bigb6411]

How much would you sale me one or two.

[@brich2929]

How are these holding up?

[@bowhuntr311]

Im half way through my 2nd season with them and they work like the day I put them on. I have one of the 3 that I suspect is the board is breaking where I drilled the bolts through the near the bottom which reassures me that these should be built with all 1.5in angle iron.

[@marybaldetti6750]

Where can I buy the hardware with wheels

[@bowhuntr311]

I got these wheels from Harbor freight. Look for solid rubber / no flat tires. The steel was purchased from my local steel supply place, hinges from the local hardware store.

[@marybaldetti6750]

@@bowhuntr311 thank you

[@larryboise3748]

@bowhuntr311 what size are the wheels 8in?

[@deanl4193]

Look like 6inch

[@kevinlowder8555]

Just 1 hinge at the top or is there a hinge in the bottom also. Thanks for showing this