Ep126: Our modifications to the Suscovich Chicken Tractor plans

[@cassityart7001]

Great video. The detail is appreciated. We raised meat birds in Joel’s design for years and they worked well. But last year we built John’s design on another field only we rounded the top over to fit the door. I loved it! Our birds were processed the second week of November and the birds were health and predator free. Thanks.

[@davidtheawesomeone5358]

health?

[@rosesmith6208]

I have this book but modified it my tractor is 12 by 8 and I used pvc conduit above ground since I had it now I just have to put the fencing on. and make the door last.

[@shanesmaineshop]

Great info, thanks for sharing.

[@turkeycreekhomestead]

Excellent video! I have done a couple of mods to my versions of johns tractor. I'm 6'3 and hate stooping while in there so I've made mine taller..which added weight..maybe by version 4 or 5 I'll have it figured out.... I am also thinking about adding the bell waterer ( we got them cheap at a flea market) so im glad to see you using one.

[@RedToolHouse]

I'm 6'2" and I knock my hat off every morning. You think I would learn to duck more. I really like the bell waterers. They are some much less maintenance.

[@CreatingEssence]

I love seeing your mods. The videos you all have made were pivotal in helping us choose the design we used when we were ready to build a chicken tractor. Thanks for sharing!

[@tracy7162]

I like the design and it looks like it works well in your neck of the woods. However, if like me, you live on the Texas plains were high winds are common and no large trees for wind breaks, the chicken tractor with a tarp could become airborne.

[@jonsweeney3516]

❤ I have watched several different videos from several different farmers but no one has said what type of grass the chickens should eat. Can someone answer this for me please.

[@catemawson9994]

Re waterer ..... where on the bell waterer did you insert the hose? How did you attach it? Thanks

[@RedToolHouse]

The bell waterer has a connection point on it and comes with a small section of black hose so it is pretty simple to connect. As far as connecting it to the bucket, we drill a hole several sizes smaller than the hose diameter and forced the hose through the hole. The rubber properties of the hose kept it from leaking around the hole.

[@catemawson9994]

@@RedToolHouse We built John's chicken tractor in April and I must admit, going into the tractor to fill the waterer doesn't see to be the smart way to do this! This is the waterer that we have -- www.tscstores.com/5-GALLON-PLASTIC-POULTRY-FOUNTAIN-P1555.aspx Do you think this could some how be modified to use the 5 gallon water bucket on the outside of the chicken tractor, similar to your set-up ...... also, where did buy your bell waterer. Thanks

[@jeffenglishsetter8339]

How'd those untreated timber hold up? I'm in the same boat

[@RedToolHouse]

Still good so far. I raise them off the ground when not in use.

[@papasteve215]

I’ve always wondered how to keep the chickens dry in a blowing rain. I’m looking to build a couple of tractors soon and I’m trying to figure out how to best keep them dry in a summer storm.

[@RedToolHouse]

We turn the tractor sides the direction the storms usually blows in from. It keeps it from blowing in the open ends

[@papasteve215]

Red Tool House - Homestead thanks for the reply

[@fionamcmillan4534]

Hi really enjoy your channel you videos are very informative I am trying to build a water system that you have do you have a video on how they were constructed the problem I am having is I don't know the name of the piece that you put in the hole in the bucket to connect the pipe to feel stupid asking but for the life of me I can't find out what its called if you or anybody else can point me the right direction that would be great Thank you

[@RedToolHouse]

IF you are referring to the bucket waterer in this video, I am not using a special attachment (bulk head fitting) to go into the bucket. I just drill a hole that is smaller than the flexible hose that runs to the bell waterer. When I push the flexible hose through the smaller hose, the rubber of the hose flexes enough to seal off the hole from leaking. If it does drip some, I empty the bucket, dry it, then add some clear caulk around the hose to seal off the hole better. Good luck.

[@fionamcmillan4534]

thank you very much that makes sense a lot cheaper my brain does not work well now a days lol thank you for your quick reply keep up the great work

[@bobcriss600]

I noticed at the beginning of this video that you were towing the chicken coup with your side by side.... any thought of possibly making a sort of removable, wooden tow bar/ tongue type of device? Possibly a slide bolt type connector on either side of main bottom board that you could use the same wooden tow bar to connect to any coup... ?

[@popacresranchandfarm]

How do you permanently attach the wheels? What size wheel did you decide on?

[@RedToolHouse]

I used a carriage bolt and two nuts to keep them from coming loose. A nylon lock nut would work well too. I went with six inch solid wheels.

[@popacresranchandfarm]

How did you connect your tractor to the ATV? Looks like you had a snap or similar?

[@popacresranchandfarm]

Never mind! Saw the beginning again. I have some of those tie-down straps. Thanks for homesteading!

[@arnoldromppai5395]

i built mine many years ago out of cedar being i had tons of it sawed up from my land, back in the 1980's, before John was ever born i think, i try again how old should a pig be before you bread her in your opinion?

[@RedToolHouse]

I go a year but that is because I only breed once a year. I know people that have bred at 7 to 8 months and been ok

[@arnoldromppai5395]

red Tool House, thank you, i have always bought an older sow but they were shipped do to age and low production so now i going to keep some young to bread and i didnt want to bread to young if that was a problem or wait longer then need. like with cows, cows need to be 2 or just over when calf or you end up with a not so good cow

[@tealkerberus748]

I have *never* had chooks that would just sit and watch while I had their door open for that long! Mine would have been all over the yard if I tried that! Otherwise, nice explanation. We don't use treated timber on my place - poisonous timber just isn't something we want to deal with.

[@joenadeau4419]

You have some good ideas but the open bottom makes me nervous, aren't you worried about predators getting under it?

[@RedToolHouse]

This design isn't my idea but we have used it for two years and haven't had any predator loss. We have raccoons, possum, and coyote and I have seen sign of them around but no issues yet. They could possibly dig under but it would take a while. The tractor is too heavy to flip. Bear probably could, though.

[@joenadeau4419]

Thanks for responding, I like the way you present information in your videos, very informative and enjoyable, thanks again.

[@خلاديادريس]

تم

[@emersonkappler9156]

New music ???? Like the bluegrass

[@RedToolHouse]

This is actually my neighbor and his band. They are called Born Old.

[@davidtheawesomeone5358]

neighbor, as in in the proximity of 100sq miles?

[@RedToolHouse]

David The Awesome One! Less than a quarter mile away. Just down the road

[@davidtheawesomeone5358]

huh, i can doubt, and believe, idk what to chose

[@buckaroobonzai8646]

Which was it, did you purchase the conduit bender or did your father buy you one? Maybe you paid him instead of accepting it as a gift.

[@RedToolHouse]

If memory serves, he bought it and gave it to me as a gift.

[@PrepperJournals]

How do you attach the water hose to the bucket?

[@RedToolHouse]

I actually just drill a hole smaller in diameter than the rubber hose. I heat the hose up and push it through the hole. Seals it off fine. I had one after a year start to leak so I put some caulk around it. It is fine now.

[@buildingwithtrees2258]

I skipped like 10 minutes ahead. Don't know when you started talking.

[@brucekiefer2209]

knock off the dam music!!