DIY Chicken Tractors From IBC Totes

Our free rangers are ranging out of range and we need #Chicken #Tractors to contain them for the time being. So, #IBC totes to the rescue! We #DIY a few from some totes - and they work great!
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Homestead Fresh
PO Box 121
Buffalo, SC 29321
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[@HomesteadFresh]

Since this video, we have built all four and power-washed them - they came out great!

[@d.s.3551]

How many chickens does each one house?

[@HomesteadFresh]

Chickens actually don't need much room, but since they aren't free ranging, I wouldn't put more than 6 per tractor.

[@WestTexasGentleman]

Durability and ease of cleaning are the most appealing qualities about IBC totes, IMO. I’ve used one for a brooder… chicken poo comes off the HDPE bladder like it was Teflon. I put 1” of construction sand in the bottom… it’s like a huge litter box! I do quick cleanups with a kitty litter scoop… thorough cleaning by sifting through a window screen. The chicks think it’s their spa/dust bath.

[@HomesteadFresh]

Oh! I love this idea!! Thanks for sharing 😊

[@MBHeritageFarms]

I think its a great idea and perfect for in a pinch/quick situation. Love the craftiness yall have going on, yall have some great ideas.

[@HomesteadFresh]

Thanks! And yes, quick & in a pinch is the perfect description for our current situation 🤣 Thanks for watching and commenting- really appreciate it 😊

[@H3LLZ]

Genius idea I love this and I will be doing the same thanks

[@HomesteadFresh]

Appreciate it, so glad you like it. They have come in SO handy! And we have used them for growing out ducks, and even to hold in some goat kids when we needed to move some fencing. Thanks for stopping by 😊

[@debp9483]

Great idea. I can see this being handy for lots of things- brooder pen for chicks, rabbit tractor, even a kid pen for weaning goat kids...well done!

[@HomesteadFresh]

We think so much alike - though brooder is one we had not considered..hmmm... Thanks for the idea! Appreciate you stopping by and watching 😊

[@cabotbluegill]

those totes have hundreds of uses for sure should work real well

[@HomesteadFresh]

They really do! We try and get them every time we find a good deal! Thanks for stopping by 😊

[@LifewithBlindaandChuck]

Looks like it will do the job just fine. Our dogs just run our neighbors chickens off when they aren't too lazy, but I don't mind the chickens hanging around personally. It's the dogs that seem to have the problem with them. lol I'm building a coop right now for my own, so I'm hoping I can train them to go through the woods to the neighbors and eat their food, then come back and lay eggs for us. Win/win! Never trained chickens before, so, we'll see. lol Have a great day!

[@HomesteadFresh]

This comment cracked us up - LOL Thanks so much for watching and good luck with training the chickens :)

[@DreamweaversHomestead]

How creative! Love this.

[@HomesteadFresh]

Thank you, they are working out great 😊 Appreciate you stopping by 😃

[@stevelucier8346]

We would need 1/2" or smaller ground cloth here. Snakes and I believe they are called martens in PA. Got a snake grabber stick because the larger black snakes and the like keep poisonous snakes away. Plenty other chicken killers on our property almost daily not counting the hawks. lol Never saw a fox on our property in 21 years till we got chickens. Even saw an Ohio badger in 2018. They are not supposed to be this far south and east but they are now!

[@HomesteadFresh]

You've got your hands full... Thank goodness we don't have badgers!! We do have fox and plenty of snakes, but haven't had an issue with these tractors except for once when our Old English Game hen only wanted to roost by the front door and lost her head to a crafty raccoon 😔 Really appreciate you stopping by 😊

[@mikeclement5383]

This is a tremendous chicken tractor. I'm going to make them. Hey, sell me some of that bamboo rizome. I absolutely LOVE that bamboo grove. Holy cow.

[@HomesteadFresh]

It is such a headache! You can have all the bamboo and rizome you want for FREE! The chicken tractor has worked out so well, and it doubles as a goat house, dog house, etc. We have so many!!

[@johnfitbyfaithnet]

Interesting idea

[@HomesteadFresh]

It has worked out perfectly! Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@flatsville1]

Rig some shade covering or you may have fried chicken. That translucent plastic area on the end will heat-up out in the open in the summer.

[@HomesteadFresh]

Yes, if we use them in the summer, we will put them in a shaded area. For now, we have been able to create a new space with new fencing to keep them out of the neighbor's yard. These were a fantastic temporary solution for us. Appreciate you stopping by 😊

[@gypsy3257]

Maybe drill some holes in the sides for ventilation. I love this concept 💜

[@HomesteadFresh]

We considered cutting some semi-circles (like a "c" on it's back" and then push the "flap" up to give some ventilation while preventing rain from getting inside, then push them down in the colder months - but right now all the chickens have been moved to a new fenced area. We do plan on using these again, so this is a definite thought :)

[@gypsy3257]

@@HomesteadFresh simply brilliant with the flap idea!

[@flatsville1]

@@HomesteadFresh A PVC half hoop or cattle panel arch would support the shade cloth in summer & a tarp for extra snow/rain protection in winter.

[@aaronwallace5853]

Really liking this idea. Thinking about constructing mine to to be used as brooder pins. Would be sure cheaper than buying one. Just a thought tho.

[@HomesteadFresh]

Totally agree! We're still trying to come up with the best way to make a nesting box - will give an update when we figure it out. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@DownunderFarmandForge]

Great way out of a situation, another problem solved with totes. Next time have a welder handy when Jeff goes in Shawna.

[@HomesteadFresh]

Hahahaha... Oh, that would have been a great idea!

[@andresmurillo5117]

Great idea...

[@HomesteadFresh]

Thanks! These have been working out so well. Have a great weekend 😊

[@skysoldier1733]

Cool idea. Let’s go 1k. Stay blessed 🙏

[@HomesteadFresh]

Thanks so much 😊 Blessings to you as well 🙏

[@margueritemcnair1784]

I love you idea I think ill ask my husband to do it

[@HomesteadFresh]

Glad you like it... It's so easy! Appreciate you stopping by 😊

[@dhqoraksdnjs9912]

it's great!!

[@HomesteadFresh]

Thanks, appreciate you stopping by and watching 😊

[@genefowler948]

What was iside those of the containers. Why not just is a poltery electric fance. Its moveable I us it it works great just stick the fence post in the ground. You your wire is a big a weasel can get in and you have no more chickhens. Just trying to help.

[@HomesteadFresh]

The contents was food grade dye. We didn't put up poultry netting, because all our netting is currently being used on goats and we didn't have any extra on hand. Had to contain the chickens right away to keep from upsetting the neighbors. We have netting in order, it's just not here yet. We were planning on making tractors out of these totes anyway, just not for a few months. We have plans to build an entire new set-up for the chickens and still need to get our perimeter fence installed... Alas, everything takes time and some $$$. With us both working full time jobs, we are limited to weekends and when we can, the evening. We'll get there eventually 😃 Appreciate you always having great comments - keep 'em coming 😊

[@elenascott081]

I have some new neighbors that will be moving in probably next spring,I sure hope I don't have any issues with them and my chickens. As ya was building this I was thinking ,why not take 2 cattle panels and attach them so they will be 8ft tall (one on top of the other) and build a pen for them.

[@HomesteadFresh]

Not a bad idea, as long as it's stable, it should work! I hope your new neighbors are pleasant regarding your chickens - just remember good fences make good neighbors 😊

[@gypsy3257]

I subbed just because you closed your hubs inside 🤣🤣🤣 Great build!!

[@HomesteadFresh]

Your comment cracked me up - thanks! We have a good time and love goofing around with each other 😂 Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@gypsy3257]

@@HomesteadFresh always great to laugh and have fun. You definitely have a new fan here. Have a most blessed and fun day!!

[@HomesteadFresh]

You're too kind 😊 Thanks so much and have a beautiful weekend!

[@sharoncourt75]

Hello I am tarting this today,o a keeing the floor in the tote, how do you lock the door? I tough about deting more han 1 spot lockable, haven figure out how to stop aracoon from praying it open I guess

[@HomesteadFresh]

We've been using a bungee cord to keep the doors closed... Pull it tight enough and the raccoons can't open it

[@user-ds2ej3wn8p]

Just use a rainwater tank on its side

[@HomesteadFresh]

That would be awesome if we had one! Always on the lookout for rainwater tanks, but they are few and far between (at a decent price). Appreciate you stopping by 😊

[@WestTexasGentleman]

Is the intact IBC bladder (by itself) predator-proof? How many adult chickens will a single IBC coop accommodate? Why is it necessary to cut the bottom out?

[@HomesteadFresh]

As far as predator proof, I can't say 100%, but I can say we have never lost a chicken to a predator in the tractor since we've started using them. As far as how many... That depends. If your just using it to grow out meat chickens, I would say moving it daily, 10 chickens would be fine. If you're using it to quarantine or as a barrier to introduce new chickens to the rest of your flock and it's short term, about 5. If you're thinking long term and aren't planning on moving it to new grass daily, I would stick to 3 per tractor for them to be happy. But even then, you'll want to move it every 2nd or 3rd day at least. We do have two roos in one right now as they are waiting for freezer camp and are perfectly happy with sharing their space.

[@alarry31]

How many can you place per tractor. Might extend the run area

[@HomesteadFresh]

If they are in the tractor 24/7, I would say no more than 3 per tractor... But, if your using it as a temporary are while you create something else, then you could keep up to 15 I would think. If they're just meat birds like the Cornish cross, I don't see it being an issue to keep them in there until processing. Hope that makes sense. Ours were in there as a temporary fix, and now our layers are in a new run area and we currently have one rooster per because we are about to process.

[@jakedaswson8757]

Did you ever have any issues with predators digging under?

[@HomesteadFresh]

We have not. We do have a large racoon and fox presence, and they are quick to walk right into the large coop if we forget to close the hatch - but the tractors have been great to the point

[@lediashields9611]

Had the same question, I had to tack chicken wire around my hen house to stop them from digging to get in. Id personally wrap the wire under the pen as well, with the racoons I have here they are determined 😮

[@HomesteadFresh]

So sorry to hear that! We did lose one in the tractor recently, it was a very small bantam that refused to go inside, but instead slept right nest to the cage door... The Racoon pulled her right through 😞

[@d.s.3551]

Will they over winter ok in one of these?

[@HomesteadFresh]

Depending on your winters... We did have about 4 days straight of snow, and they were fine - but it warmed up pretty quick in the afternoons (in the 40's) Ours are all adults, and we kept a close eye on their combs because the snow came out of nowhere! Appreciate you stopping by 😊

[@scottcareau1808]

Are these predator proof?

[@HomesteadFresh]

I can't say for certain, but we haven't had a predator get in on yet. Happy to answer any additional questions you have - thanks for stopping by 😊

[@scottcareau1808]

Are they we are thinking about making some

[@scottcareau1808]

@@HomesteadFresh what do you use for a door and ventilation

[@HomesteadFresh]

We don't have ventilation in them because we don't have a door in the tote itself. The cage door has been working just fine.

[@sdgarden4310]

Good idea. But too much unwanted talk. Wasting time. And this is not a love story I think.

[@HomesteadFresh]

Appreciate you stopping by and commenting, but these videos are not only instructional, but also a vlog of our lives on building our homestead. So a lot of our personality and our lives come across in our videos like most vlog channels. Thanks again for your feedback 🙂

[@mattallen9546]

what is the finished dimensions?

[@HomesteadFresh]

Approx. 47" x 7 1/2 ft These have worked out so well for us! Appreciate you stopping by 😊